Boyles appeals Candidate claims ADA Protections in her filing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2006
Contact: Susan Francois (503) 823-3546
Boyles appeals
Candidate claims ADA Protections in her filing
PORTLAND, OREGON – City Hall – Portland City Auditor Gary Auditor announced that candidate Emilie Boyles filed an appeal of the revocation of her public campaign financing. Her response stated "Due to Candidate’s Disability and the disabilities of campaign workers, the identified office space was the only building available to meet the needs within the requirements of the ADA."
"The Boyles campaign provided additional documentation at the request of my office, but it was not sufficient to support the one-year lease of the campaign headquarters as an allowed expense," said Blackmer.
Candidate Boyles was penalized on April 19 and her funding revoked when she was cited for violations of spending guidelines with the one-year lease. Boyles was also cited on April 26 for additional penalties for paying too much for the services of her daughter and Vladimir Golovan, as well as the cost of a telephone in her residence. Just one violation disqualifies her. Boyles received $144,905 in public financing, and also faces $14,000 in penalties.
The Citizen Campaign Commission will arrange for a Hearings Officer to hear the appeal, which will occur later in May, after the election.
Blackmer said that Portland’s new system is reducing the cost of elections and creating more opportunity for everyday Portlanders to be genuinely involved in local politics. "We are replacing a campaign financing system that had many well-documented problems. Future candidates and the public are learning that this system works for those who adhere to the rules, and has controls to quickly spot concerns."
In addition, the Citizen Campaign Commission has been monitoring all the campaign activities and interviewing candidates to develop recommendations for improvements and additional safeguards for the new system. The Citizen Campaign Commission is preparing a report and analysis on public campaign financing for the City Council to be delivered prior to next election cycle.
Copy of Hearings Request filed by Emilie Boyles (PDF document, 109kb)
Copy of Letter from Auditor to Emilie Boyles (PDF document, 46kb)