Page 2 May 3, 2017 Elected Leader Files Racial Bias Tort Allegations of racial bias are raised by Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith in a tort claim notice she has filed against the county and County Chair Deborah Kafoury. It follows an investigation into the commissioner’s conduct when two of her former staffers filed complaints stating that Smith had mistreated her employees and abused county funds, directing some toward her own campaign expenses. Smith denied the allegations, but now says the investigation should have been closed when the county reached a settlement agreement on April 5, and that the county’s continued exploration into the employees’ claims is the result of bias against her. Loretta Smith Established 1970 USPS 959 680 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 CALL 503-288-0033 • FAX 503-288-0015 Mark Washington, Sr. e ditor : Michael Leighton e xecutive d irector : Rakeem Washington A dvertising M AnAger : Leonard Latin Office Manager/Classifieds: Lucinda Baldwin c reAtive d irector : Paul Neufeldt P ublisher : PO QR code r ePorter /W eb e ditor : Smith’s notice, which informs the county of her intent to sue, claims the investigation has al- tered her capacity to effectively lead, maligned the commission- er’s reputation and caused her to lose sleep. The notice also says that Kafoury is politically motivat- ed to maintain the investigation because Smith could run against her for election to the position of County Chair in the 2018 election cycle. Kafoury’s office said they would not comment on pending litigation. Smith, who represents District 2 of north and northeast Portland, is only the second black County Commissioner to ever be elected in Multnomah County’s 163-year history. The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Man- uscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All creat- ed design display ads become the sole property of the newspa- per and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent of the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, RE- PRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PER- MISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Observer--Oregon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication--is a member of the National Newspaper Association--Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Pub- lishers Association. Christa McIntyre P ublic r elAtions : Mark Subscribe! 503-288-0033 Washington Jr. r ePorter : Zachary Senn Fill Out & Send To: Attn: Subscriptions, PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208 $45.00 for 3 months • $80.00 for 6 mo. • $125.00 for 1 year (please include check with this subscription form) Name: Telephone: Address: or email subscriptions@portlandobserver.com news@portlandobserver.com • ads@portlandobserver.comn • subscription@portlandobserver.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Portland Observer , PO Box 3137 , Portland, OR 97208 Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer - Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com