One question of interest to me is that regarding conflict of interest. Apparently, applicants for the Independent District Commission are being told that they might have a conflict of interest if they are thinking about running for the council. If so, why doesn't a Charter Commission member-who designed the new government, powers, and the election system with districts- also have a conflict of interest?
Starting at about 1:21:30 at the June 29 2002 meeting (linked above) you will hear Dan Ryan do an excellent job of broaching this question, essentially asking commission members if they thought there was a conflict of interest for someone writing the charter and designing the system to then run for city council in the first round. He compared it to someone writing a job description, and the hiring process, and then apply for the job themselves.
At about 1:22:38, Candace Avalos asks Commissioner Ryan why he (or anyone, for that matter) might think there is a conflict of interest if a Charter Commission member ran for city council (as many people think several Charter Commission members are planning to do).
And then at about 1:33:26 the city attorney says that there is not a conflict of interest because there would not be a financial gain (even though, at least currently, council members get paid $125,000 or so plus benefits).
So it would be helpful if the city explained why, on the one hand, someone on the Independent District Commission might have a conflict of interest if contemplating a run for city council, while on the other hand a Charter Commission member like Ms. Avalos- who apparently might be contemplating another run for city council- this time under the system that she designed- does not have a conflict of interest.
Finally, for me the issue of whether a conflict arises or not is not simply the technical, legal interpretation of that term as explained by the City Attorney. It is also whether or not a reasonable person might perceive there is an ethical conflict of interest or, equally important, an appearance of a conflict of interest, if a Charter Commission member ran in the first round of elections for a council seat under a system that he or she designed.
Thanks for the article.
One question of interest to me is that regarding conflict of interest. Apparently, applicants for the Independent District Commission are being told that they might have a conflict of interest if they are thinking about running for the council. If so, why doesn't a Charter Commission member-who designed the new government, powers, and the election system with districts- also have a conflict of interest?
https://www.portland.gov/council/agenda/2022/6/29
Starting at about 1:21:30 at the June 29 2002 meeting (linked above) you will hear Dan Ryan do an excellent job of broaching this question, essentially asking commission members if they thought there was a conflict of interest for someone writing the charter and designing the system to then run for city council in the first round. He compared it to someone writing a job description, and the hiring process, and then apply for the job themselves.
At about 1:22:38, Candace Avalos asks Commissioner Ryan why he (or anyone, for that matter) might think there is a conflict of interest if a Charter Commission member ran for city council (as many people think several Charter Commission members are planning to do).
And then at about 1:33:26 the city attorney says that there is not a conflict of interest because there would not be a financial gain (even though, at least currently, council members get paid $125,000 or so plus benefits).
So it would be helpful if the city explained why, on the one hand, someone on the Independent District Commission might have a conflict of interest if contemplating a run for city council, while on the other hand a Charter Commission member like Ms. Avalos- who apparently might be contemplating another run for city council- this time under the system that she designed- does not have a conflict of interest.
Finally, for me the issue of whether a conflict arises or not is not simply the technical, legal interpretation of that term as explained by the City Attorney. It is also whether or not a reasonable person might perceive there is an ethical conflict of interest or, equally important, an appearance of a conflict of interest, if a Charter Commission member ran in the first round of elections for a council seat under a system that he or she designed.