Ethics Reform
April 12, 2016
The City of Portland is committed to open, transparent and accountable government.
Tomorrow, Nick will bring an ordinance to Council, establishing new disclosure and reporting requirements for “Political Consultants.” It builds on ethics reforms adopted by the City to cover lobbyists, and is modeled after reforms pioneered by the City of San Francisco.
Political Consultants help to elect City officials, and enjoy privileged, confidential access to them. Locally and nationally, they increasingly play an important role in shaping public policy. Consultants who provide advice to elected officials may also act as registered lobbyists.
Nick’s proposal would require disclosure of the relationships between City elected officials and their Political Consultants.
In developing this new policy, Nick worked with the elected City Auditor and the City Elections Officer, as well as public interest groups including the Oregon League of Women Voters, Represent Us, Common Cause Oregon, Portland Alliance for Democracy, and the ACLU of Oregon.
The public has a right to know who is influencing the City Council’s public policy decisions. This reform will bring more sunshine to the City’s work.
Proposed ethics rules at City Hall deserves Council's support
The Portland Tribune Editorial Board
Council to consider lobbying ethics reforms next week
Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune
Hall Monitor: Campaign Operatives, Catalogued?
Dirk VanderHart in the Portland Mercury