SDAO Joins Letter with LOC, AOC, and OCCA 

Last week, a joint letter from the League of Oregon Cities (LOC), Association of Oregon Counties (AOC), Oregon Community College Association (OCCA), and SDAO was sent to Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) Chair Shenoa Payne. With the approval of the SDAO Board of Directors, we joined this collective effort to express growing concerns about the direction of the Commission and the impact its actions are having on local governments throughout Oregon.   

Local government leaders across the state are increasingly frustrated by what they view as inconsistent interpretations of Oregon's public meetings law. In some instances, OGEC's interpretations have diverged so significantly from legislative intent that clarification from the Legislature became necessary during the most recent session. Equally concerning is the OGEC’s tendency to interpret statutory requirements without sufficient consideration of the practical realities faced by local governments in carrying out their responsibilities.   

There is also a notable disconnect between the sharp increase in investigations and the OGEC’s ultimate findings. Public meetings law cases reportedly increased by 128% in 2024 and an additional 46% the following year, yet total fines remained unchanged. This suggests that many of the additional complaints did not result in findings of violations warranting penalties, raising questions about whether the increase reflects actual misconduct or simply an increase in complaints and investigations.   

In addition, confidence in the OGEC’s leadership has been weakened by actions that appear inconsistent with public statements. Examples cited in the letter include the public disavowal of staff training materials that advised elected officials to avoid interactions with the media due to potential public meetings law concerns, as well as reports of private advocacy regarding HB 4177 despite public assurances of neutrality. Collectively, these incidents have raised concerns about transparency, consistency, and accountability within the agency.   

We will continue to monitor developments and keep members informed of any response from OGEC and any related efforts moving forward. 

(7/14/26)