It's the start of Sunshine Week, the week in which we are supposed to acknowledge and celebrate the idea that government works best, and is most accountable, when its actions are done in the full light of day. Shine a light, so the notion goes, and the darkness and corruption recedes.
So here goes. I am going to be sharing a few facts here, and asking a few questions. I will try to keep this as brief and clear as possible.
First questions: In general, should elections be up for sale? In other words, should it be possible to essentially buy an elected office? Does the influence of money, and the nurturing of greed, enhance our democracy, or corrode it?
Now, as you know, I am running for Benton County Commissioner as an independent, unaffiliated candidate. But most candidates, either locally or nationally, run as a member of either the Democratic or Republican Party. For the last couple of decades, the Democrats have had a lock on all three seats for our County Commissioners. In other words, whatever Democrat has made it through the primary, would be the next County Commissioner.
So, in a crowded Democratic primary, such as the one we have now, with SIX candidates, you can imagine the pressure to come out on top might be intense. Some candidates might even be tempted to do whatever it takes to ensure victory.
Second set of questions: Is it ethical for officials in a local political party to also have for profit "political consulting" businesses that they pitch to candidates? In other words, when it comes to the business of selecting the best candidate for the local party to support, is it honest, ethical or aboveboard to have people in positions to make those decisions personally standing to profit from them? Does that not raise the specter of whichever candidate is willing to pay the most for "consulting" getting the official, institutional support they need?
The current Chair of the Benton County Democrats, Rick Osborn, has such a consulting business. The current First Vice Chair, Lauana Beaty, does too. Beaty is also, conveniently enough, seemingly the sole member of the Benton County Democrats Fund Raising Committee. (See links to the Benton Democrats website here: http://bentondemocrats.org/about-us/ Just click on committees for drop down membership information.)
On January 17, 2018, Pat Malone paid Lauana Beaty $800 for "social media & photography." (See link to the Oregon Secretary of State's office record here: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/gotoPublicTransactionDetail.do?tranRsn=2732800 ) In my mind, that is a huge red flag, raising all sorts of ethical alarms about her mixing her roles as a Democratic Party leader and a for profit business owner.
It is especially alarming given that, once that transaction had taken place, many behind the scenes actions started occurring - all of which either benefited Pat Malone, and/or worked to the detriment of the other Democratic primary candidates. (My next piece in the Sunshine Week series here will be about how you buy important endorsements.) And now, just next week, Beaty and Osborn are "hosting" a supposedly non-partisan debate - one that will feature only Democrats - and, while the public is invited, Beaty and Osborn will be screening all questions asked. Beaty may like to go by the name "Sunny Blue," but it sure seems like she is trying to block sunshine, not let more in.
Finally, to go back to the start of this whole process for a sort of bonus ethical question...Who were the local Democrats on the Candidate Development Committee? Well, that would be Pat Malone and Rick Osborn. (See link here: http://bentondemocrats.org/about-us/ Again, just click on the committee name for drop down membership information.) On the national level, Democrats called foul when Dick Cheney led a search for Vice Presidential candidates and found, gosh, Dick Cheney. So the question becomes will local Democrats also smell something foul in this process?
Is it any wonder that I'm running as an unaffiliated candidate? I know you have to spend at least a little money to run for office, but I refuse to pay to play. I'm willing to pay legitimate costs, but not anything that costs me my integrity.
Full disclosure: I am writing this after having exchanged a number of pleasant and informative phone calls and e-mails with other candidates running for Benton County Commissioner. From my perspective, looking ahead to the general election, I believe that Pat Malone would be one of the easier candidates for me to best at the ballot box. But I would rather we wind up with a general election in which the public simply gets to choose between the best candidates. That is what would be best for the public good, and the public trust. In terms of candidates who are ethical, honest, and viable, I believe there are just three of us: Myself, Vince Adams, and Nancy Wyse. If anyone reading this wants to consider this a split endorsement for the primary, I am comfortable with that.
So here goes. I am going to be sharing a few facts here, and asking a few questions. I will try to keep this as brief and clear as possible.
First questions: In general, should elections be up for sale? In other words, should it be possible to essentially buy an elected office? Does the influence of money, and the nurturing of greed, enhance our democracy, or corrode it?
Now, as you know, I am running for Benton County Commissioner as an independent, unaffiliated candidate. But most candidates, either locally or nationally, run as a member of either the Democratic or Republican Party. For the last couple of decades, the Democrats have had a lock on all three seats for our County Commissioners. In other words, whatever Democrat has made it through the primary, would be the next County Commissioner.
So, in a crowded Democratic primary, such as the one we have now, with SIX candidates, you can imagine the pressure to come out on top might be intense. Some candidates might even be tempted to do whatever it takes to ensure victory.
Second set of questions: Is it ethical for officials in a local political party to also have for profit "political consulting" businesses that they pitch to candidates? In other words, when it comes to the business of selecting the best candidate for the local party to support, is it honest, ethical or aboveboard to have people in positions to make those decisions personally standing to profit from them? Does that not raise the specter of whichever candidate is willing to pay the most for "consulting" getting the official, institutional support they need?
The current Chair of the Benton County Democrats, Rick Osborn, has such a consulting business. The current First Vice Chair, Lauana Beaty, does too. Beaty is also, conveniently enough, seemingly the sole member of the Benton County Democrats Fund Raising Committee. (See links to the Benton Democrats website here: http://bentondemocrats.org/about-us/ Just click on committees for drop down membership information.)
On January 17, 2018, Pat Malone paid Lauana Beaty $800 for "social media & photography." (See link to the Oregon Secretary of State's office record here: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/gotoPublicTransactionDetail.do?tranRsn=2732800 ) In my mind, that is a huge red flag, raising all sorts of ethical alarms about her mixing her roles as a Democratic Party leader and a for profit business owner.
It is especially alarming given that, once that transaction had taken place, many behind the scenes actions started occurring - all of which either benefited Pat Malone, and/or worked to the detriment of the other Democratic primary candidates. (My next piece in the Sunshine Week series here will be about how you buy important endorsements.) And now, just next week, Beaty and Osborn are "hosting" a supposedly non-partisan debate - one that will feature only Democrats - and, while the public is invited, Beaty and Osborn will be screening all questions asked. Beaty may like to go by the name "Sunny Blue," but it sure seems like she is trying to block sunshine, not let more in.
Finally, to go back to the start of this whole process for a sort of bonus ethical question...Who were the local Democrats on the Candidate Development Committee? Well, that would be Pat Malone and Rick Osborn. (See link here: http://bentondemocrats.org/about-us/ Again, just click on the committee name for drop down membership information.) On the national level, Democrats called foul when Dick Cheney led a search for Vice Presidential candidates and found, gosh, Dick Cheney. So the question becomes will local Democrats also smell something foul in this process?
Is it any wonder that I'm running as an unaffiliated candidate? I know you have to spend at least a little money to run for office, but I refuse to pay to play. I'm willing to pay legitimate costs, but not anything that costs me my integrity.
Full disclosure: I am writing this after having exchanged a number of pleasant and informative phone calls and e-mails with other candidates running for Benton County Commissioner. From my perspective, looking ahead to the general election, I believe that Pat Malone would be one of the easier candidates for me to best at the ballot box. But I would rather we wind up with a general election in which the public simply gets to choose between the best candidates. That is what would be best for the public good, and the public trust. In terms of candidates who are ethical, honest, and viable, I believe there are just three of us: Myself, Vince Adams, and Nancy Wyse. If anyone reading this wants to consider this a split endorsement for the primary, I am comfortable with that.
Thank you to the people who placed links to this on Facebook. Your echo effect is showing up here today with lots and lots of views of this piece. Please feel free to continue to spread the word, and/or make comments here. Meanwhile, stay tuned for another Sunshine Week piece soon...
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