03/23/2008

Associated Press

The entire planning commission of the city of Elgin has resigned rather than comply with a new state law that requires them to disclose financial information.

"As volunteers in a small community, they all resigned rather than have the state post their personal and financial information on the Internet, and further having the state threaten them with fines and a Class C felony for protecting their privacy," said Elgin City Administrator Joe Garlitz.

A 2007 amendment requires more public officials to submit a statement of their economic interests to the state Government Ethics Commission.

Most such officials in Oregon have had to submit the statements since 1974, including such bigger neighbors of Elgin in northeast Oregon as La Grande, Baker City and Union, as well as Union and Wallowa counties.

But 97 smaller communities and six counties had been exempt.

The statements, due April 15, must identify the source of income for the officeholder, their relatives or member of their household — anything above $1,000, though not the specific amount.

The statements also address property holdings, shared business with lobbyists, honoraria and certain types of debt and investments.

Tammy Hedrick, a trainer with ethics commission said the data hasn't yet been posted on the Internet, but the law requires that by 2010.

Elgin Mayor Carmen Gentry said the requirement will hurt volunteer work in local government.

"What's going to happen is that everyone is going to resign because they are all volunteers and don't want to file this paperwork," said Gentry.

In Cove City, city council member Jim Lundy defended the rules as a reminder of the responsibility of public office. He said most officials abstain when it comes to voting on issues that affect them, though not all.

"Rules are made for people who break them ... These things, to me, are common-sense type things," he said.

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Information from: The (La Grande) Observer, http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/