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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2020)
A4 East Oregonian Tuesday, January 14, 2020 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner ANDREW CUTLER Editor WYATT HAUPT JR. News Editor JADE McDOWELL Hermiston Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Public records proposal fixes old flaws T he Oregon Legislature created the office of pub- lic records advocate in 2017, and Ginger McCall was appointed to the post in January 2018 by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. One year and nine months later, McCall was gone, having resigned in protest over interference from some on Brown’s staff. Now lawmakers, with the advantage of hindsight, are doing what they should have done in the beginning. They’re propos- ing changes in the current law that will give the public records advo- cate and Public Records Advisory Council the independence they need. Members of the state Senate’s Interim Committee on General Government and Emergency Pre- paredness will get a first formal look at the draft legislation when it meets Monday. All in all, what’s being pro- posed fixes most of the flaws that McCall’s departure exposed. The EO Media Group file photo The Oregon Legislature created the office of public records advocate in 2017, and Ginger McCall was appointed to the post in January 2018 by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. One year and nine months later, McCall was gone, having resigned in protest over interference from some on Brown’s staff. public records advocate will be independent, appointed by the Public Records Advisory Coun- cil and subject to hiring and firing only by the council. Too, the council itself will have the right to support or oppose leg- islation as well as to ask lawmak- ers to introduce legislation for it. That’s particularly important. In her resignation letter to the gov- ernor, McCall said she had been pressured by members of the gov- ernor’s staff to represent the gov- ernor’s interests, even when they conflicted with those of the advo- cate and the council. Worse, she was told not to tell anyone about the request. The proposed changes would make it clear to all that the advo- cate and the council are, in fact, independent, not answerable to the governor or any other elected official. One problem still remains in the law, however, and lawmakers should address it in the proposed legislation. Of the 14 members of the Public Records Advisory Council, nine represent govern- ment agencies or public employ- ees’ labor unions; three are jour- nalists, and one is a member of the public. At the very least, the coun- cil should have as many members of the press and public as it does of government. AS I SEE IT Pendleton leaders dealing with political potholes? oday marks a new endeavor asked everyone to read his lips at the for me. I find myself writing 1988 Republican National Convention a column for the East Orego- when he pledged no new taxes. Con- gress promptly raised taxes two years nian, and the powers that be want later, and two years after that Presi- me to do it every month. When they dent Bush was welcoming Bill Clin- first approached me to do this I was ton into the White House. honored. I mean, who wouldn’t want Pendleton isn’t much like Wash- to hear what I thought about the ington, D.C., but losing isn’t popu- goings-on in my community, right? lar anywhere. However, would los- However, once the narcissistic col- ing an election be that big of a deal oring on my glasses wore off, I real- for someone on the Pendleton ized I needed to actually write City Council? I suppose it’s a compelling things. I want to write things that make you matter of pride; it’s certainly think, and I want to focus on not about the money. The positive things in our commu- mayor and city council mem- bers receive a small monthly nity. Here’s the catch, much stipend in exchange for all like junk versus treasure, one the emails, the conversations person’s positive is another with constituents at the gro- person’s negative. C orey cery store, and attending their I’ll start off my new gig N eistadt many meetings. The renumer- with a bang. Because of the COMMENT ation hardly covers the time risks our mayor and the city they commit to their positions. council are willing to take by It cannot be the money that motivates proposing new taxes and fees, Pend- leton’s potholes are half full, change them to run for local office. It’s for my mind. this reason I believe they are a lot like After years of kicking the can volunteers. Volunteers give of them- selves with the expectation of noth- down the increasingly rough road, ing in return. As far as I can tell, city the city of Pendleton’s elected leaders council members give of themselves have decided to perch themselves on with the expectation of less than min- the edge of the political cliff and pro- imum wage and reading nasty com- pose a series of revenue-generating ments about their decisions on social fees to tackle $12 million in deferred media. street maintenance. They aren’t stop- ping there. Pendleton voters are going Personally, I am thankful for the to have the opportunity to vote on a mayor and council are putting forth new gas tax, as well. some ideas, and glad it’s not me try- ing to figure out the best way to pay Many politicians have found them- selves on the wrong side of the vote for road repairs, or deal with home- lessness issues, or housing issues, totals during the election immediately or PERS funding, or public safety, after a proposed tax increase. The or … well, you get my point. I’m not question upon which Pendleton vot- ers will be deciding is: do they pay excited about the opportunity to pay enough in taxes? If the voters think new taxes and fees, and no one else they pay enough already, will there be should be either. I am encouraged this some turnover on the city council? issue has risen to the top of the city of Whether you support their reve- Pendleton’s to-do list. nue-generating ideas or not, it took As I see it, by committing them- selves to try to solve this issue of courage for the mayor and city coun- cil to start walking down this path, deferred road maintenance, Pendle- ton’s potholes are half full already. and I commend them for taking a ——— stand that could result in losing their Corey Neistadt is a certified public next election. No one likes to lose, but accountant at Newhouse & Neistadt, increasing taxes is unpopular. George LLC in Pendleton. H. W. Bush was a victim of this. He T YOUR VIEWS Fairley was one of the best Scott Fairley wanted to work with everyone on the council and had quite the sense of humor. I first met him up at KUMA while campaigning. The father of one of my friends scheduled me on a day that they were interviewing Fairley. Fairley thought I might be a rival for that North Hill ward that he was cam- paigning for; turns out that the pro- ducer doesn’t read detailed information very closely. Fairley and I got along good enough for me to consider him a friend. Kathy Aney made me cry a little with her write-up about one of the only Pendleton city councilors who stood up to the good ol’ boys successfully. If only he had written a book. James Tibbets Pendleton CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES U.S. SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 La Grande office: 541-962-7691 Greg Barreto, District 58 900 Court St. NE, H-38 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1458 Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 Pendleton office: 541-278-1129 Greg Smith, District 57 900 Court St. NE, H-482 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1457 Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us U.S. REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR Greg Walden 185 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6730 La Grande office: 541-624-2400 Bill Hansell, District 29 900 Court St. NE, S-423 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1729 Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to the editor to editor@eastoregonian.com, or via mail to Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
