Investigation into Boyle & Tate underway
The City Auditor has announced an investigation into the Emilie Boyles and Lucinda Tate city council campaigns.
Gary Blackmer, Portland City Auditor, and Leslie Hildula, Chair of the Citizen Campaign Commission announced that an investigation is underway for possible criminal and civil violations regarding campaign contributions to the Boyles and Tate campaigns for City Council. Facts and circumstances related to fundraising have been forwarded to the Portland Police Bureau for the investigation. Both candidates are participating in the City's Public Campaign Financing program which provides city funds to campaigns that meet qualification requirements. For city council races, this means gathering 1000 qualifying contributions of $5 each from Portland residents."We are investigating various allegations to determine whether laws were broken. If we find wrong-doing we will take strong action," Blackmer said. "Depending on the violations, the law allows us to fully recover public campaign funds from candidates, charge interest, levy additional fines, and refer any criminal activity for prosecution."
Of course, critics of the system are arguing that any alleged fraud points out the failures of the system, while defenders of the system argue that the benchmark is whether the fraud is caught and prosecuted.
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April 03, 2006
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Apr 3, '06
Thank you Auditor Blackmer.
Perhaps a letter requesting assistance from the Secretary of State is in order as well? Jurisdictional protocols in play? I've seen State AG mentioned here too. Input?
Apr 3, '06
Every candidate that got the "clean money" should be investigated.
5:21 p.m.
Apr 3, '06
RJ... of course they should. That said, there haven't been any allegations against Amanda Fritz or Erik Sten. They're both the ones calling for an investigation -- nothing like seeing someone else waltz in easy after you've done it the hard (and legit) way.
[Disclaimer: I built Erik's website, but I don't speak for him or his campaign.]
5:34 p.m.
Apr 3, '06
I appreciate Blackmer's statement and his willingness to revoke all VOE funds from the Boyles campaign depending on what the investigation turns up.
Arnold -- I believe Voter-Owned supporters are also pursuing this at the state level, both with the AG's office and the SOS.
5:54 p.m.
Apr 3, '06
"Depending on the violations, the law allows us to fully recover public campaign funds from candidates, charge interest, levy additional fines, and refer any criminal activity for prosecution."
A few days ago, he was claiming he didn't have the power to do anything, even though I kept posting the text of the administrative code everywhere. Heh.
6:08 p.m.
Apr 3, '06
I hear Vladimir used to work at Gard & Gerber.
Apr 3, '06
If Sharon Tate is running for city council I think we have bigger issues than varifying campaign contributions.
6:59 p.m.
Apr 3, '06
Thanks JH.... Sharon Nasset, Lucinda Tate. (Sharon Tate is someone else altogether.)
Apr 3, '06
jack, maybe you should look into whether this burdick is related to this burdick.
Apr 3, '06
IF you're going to correct your own mistakes, you could at least correct my spelling errors for me.
7:16 p.m.
Apr 3, '06
Sharon Tate = murdered wife of Roman Polanski. Gruesome, but no impailing involved.
Apr 3, '06
Auditor Blackmer's about-face reminds me of the response attributed to Sam Rayburn, long-serving Speaker of the U.S. House, after a couple of members changed their position on a controversial topic:
"I don't know if them old boys saw the light, but I know they felt the heat."
Kudos to everyone who helped generate pressure on Blackmer and his elections deputy, Susan Francois, who made a similarly ineffectual and inaccurate response about their powerlessness at the beginning of this scandal.
Re Arnold's question at the beginning: The next venues for enforcement accountability should also include Multnomah District Attorney Michael Schrunk.
My question to the DA: Shouldn't you assign someone to Blackmer's task force now, rather than waiting for a potential referral, so you don't waste time while the electoral clock continues to count down?
Let's keep those cards and letters rolling in!
Apr 3, '06
We were wrong about this one, buddy, but don't worry. Tomorrow's another day.
Let's find something wiseass to say about the county at 2:00 a.m. Make sure your tone has a hollow authority.
9:43 p.m.
Apr 3, '06