As everyone know, Fred Messerle, newly appointed to the Coos County Commission, has extensive land and business holdings that may result in conflicts of interest with the county. Further, his spouse works for the South Coast Development Council and his brother Ken Messerle is a registered lobbyist. Both SCDC and Ken Messerle actively support issues, including ORC and Jordan Cove LNG, that come before the county commission for a vote. Even if Messerle recuses himself from certain votes it will still be hard to avoid the appearance of impropriety as demonstrated by the Port commission. For example, when Dave Kronsteiner, president of the Port commission and owner of West Coast Contractors is awarded a contract for work for or even seen to be related to the Port eyebrows are raised even though he may recuse himself.
As citizens we made need some guidance on what constitutes a conflict of interest and I recommend that everyone contact the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to register concerns about the appointment of Fred Messerle to the Coos County Commission.
“The Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC), established by vote of the people in 1974, is a seven-member citizen commission charged with enforcing government ethic laws. Oregon government ethic laws prohibit public officials from using office for financial gain, and require public disclosure of economic conflict of interest. The OGEC also enforces state laws which require lobbyists and the entities they represent to register and periodically report their expenditures. The third area of OGEC jurisdiction is the executive session provisions of public meetings law”.
It is important to register concerns with the county commission now in the event complaints are filed in the future.
Contact information for OGEC
3218 Pringle Rd. SE, Suite 220
Salem, OR 97302-1544
ogec.mail@state.or.us
Phone: 503-378-5105
Fax: 503-373-1456
(naturally govt ethics is not a top legislative priority so the office is suffering from budget cutbacks)
Also contact the
Oregon Department of Justice contact info is –
Mailing address:
Oregon Department of Justice
1162 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301-4096
General phone number: (503) 378-4400
Mary, This is good. I think you should ask the Ethics Commission to send all the Messerles some written guidence about what would constitute a conflict of interest. That way we all know what the rules actually are and what can be done in the event of a violation. It seems odd that in a county so divided on the many important issues, the commission chooses someone so given to the same old bunch that has guided Coos County into the proverbial ditch. Where is the diversity of opinion so needed to bring the public to work together. That is the only real solution to the problems facing Coos County; working together. Instead we get everyone not in favor of massive industrial development frozen out again. Again and again. These guys are really scared of any ideas not heavy industrial. Any ideas but what they were told was acceptable. When will the public be heard?