Conflict of interest alert
The local blog BRO Watch apparently is dedicated to blogging about Basic Rights Oregon, which is itself a PAC dedicated to equal rights.
Well, the blogger at BRO Watch has pointed out a teensy-tiny conflict of interest.
BRO gave Diane Linn its endorsement in the election for Multnomah County Chair. And I'm sure the endorsement had nothing at all to do with Alisa A. Simmons' being on the Board of Directors for BRO and Diane Linn's campaign manager.
In the comments over at BRO Watch, Ms. Simmons claims, post-facto, that she comported herself with "absolute integrity".
Why do county executives and their hirelings seem to think that denials are the best way to approach a conflict of interest? From my vantage point the problem is systemic.
Let me spell it out for any county managers (or anyone else confused by this concept) who may be reading:
The way to address even the appearance of a conflict of interest is to publicly remove yourself from the entire process.
Claiming afterward that you were fair just doesn't cut it. Sorry.
As a side note, the blogger(s) at BRO Watch link to the BRO Board of Directors page and say that Ms. Simmons was the Chair. That page shows Jim Morris as the Chair; Ms. Simmons is listed as the "Political Organizer". I wonder if BRO changed their website recently? Like, since BRO Watch posted about this issue?
The most recent entry for that page at the Wayback Machine is dated 14 May 2005, and lists Ms. Simmons as "Co-Chair". Too bad there isn't a more recent entry. If I hear back from BRO on this I will update this post.
Well, the blogger at BRO Watch has pointed out a teensy-tiny conflict of interest.
BRO gave Diane Linn its endorsement in the election for Multnomah County Chair. And I'm sure the endorsement had nothing at all to do with Alisa A. Simmons' being on the Board of Directors for BRO and Diane Linn's campaign manager.
In the comments over at BRO Watch, Ms. Simmons claims, post-facto, that she comported herself with "absolute integrity".
Why do county executives and their hirelings seem to think that denials are the best way to approach a conflict of interest? From my vantage point the problem is systemic.
Let me spell it out for any county managers (or anyone else confused by this concept) who may be reading:
The way to address even the appearance of a conflict of interest is to publicly remove yourself from the entire process.
Claiming afterward that you were fair just doesn't cut it. Sorry.
As a side note, the blogger(s) at BRO Watch link to the BRO Board of Directors page and say that Ms. Simmons was the Chair. That page shows Jim Morris as the Chair; Ms. Simmons is listed as the "Political Organizer". I wonder if BRO changed their website recently? Like, since BRO Watch posted about this issue?
The most recent entry for that page at the Wayback Machine is dated 14 May 2005, and lists Ms. Simmons as "Co-Chair". Too bad there isn't a more recent entry. If I hear back from BRO on this I will update this post.
posted by Brian Moon at 12:17 PM
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