Government Tina Kotek answers questions from reporters during a press conference on January 16, 2025 (photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
Members of the ethics committee of the Oregon government said they needed more information and voted on Friday to investigate the reported editions of Governor Tina Kotek, concert tickets and a recognition buffet for employees.
Accountants at the State Secretary’s cabinet marked the expensesWhich they describe earlier in January as “small” and “unintentional” apparent violations of the ethical laws of the state. The Ethics Committee discussed the findings on Friday and came to the conclusion that it did not have sufficient information to decide how to proceed.
But committee chairman David Fiskum said they “didn’t have to do anything.”
“We have to take action in response to the letter, without just leaving him fallow,” Fiskum said.
He and four other committee members asked the staff to investigate the findings of the state auditors and to provide more information during a future meeting. The committee could then decide to send an advisory letter in which the ethical laws of the State are explained, to drop the issue or to continue an investigation, which could possibly lead to fines.
Government Auditors began to investigate the expenditure of the Governor’s office after they had received anonymous reports last March at the government’s accountability hotel, managed by the government of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the abuse of state resources in connection with Kotek’s now specified plans for create an office for the first husband.
They found that those messages were unfounded, but signaled various problems with parking fees, concert tickets and a dinner for employees of a brewery in Salem. Accountants have described these issues in detail in a letter to Kotek that they shared with the Ethics Committee and advised Kotek to revise state legislation and accounting procedures.
Spokespersons of Kotek did not respond directly to a request for comments on Friday, but earlier this month we discussed the allegations in the audit report.
Among the marked expenses:
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The state paid $ 65 every month for a parking space for First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson. The Governor’s office said that this was in accordance with previous practices and advice from the Dignitary Protection Unit of the Oregon State Police. Executive director of the committee, Susan Myers, said on Friday that that space seemed to be no problem, because the governor has a parking space at the Capitol and the administrative rules of the state of government officials to allow other people to use their parking spaces.
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The State paid $ 315 a month for Annie McColaugh, the federal lobbyist of the governor, to park in Washington, DC. The Governor’s office told the Capital Chronicle earlier in January that it was revising that space. The Statten Act prohibits government officials to receive financial benefits, including parking fees, which are not explicitly laid down in the official policy.
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In August 2023, the Kotek office organized a dinner reception in the country house of the Governor, Mahonia Hall, for employees, with a $ 9,330 spread from Salem’s Xicha Brewing Company, including a self-built TOSTOSTA-BAR. The event, in which employees of the Governor’s office, the Oregon State Police and the Department of Administrative Services were recognized, apparently has a long tradition and had around 180 guests. But government policy allows only refreshments – things like cookies, chips, coffee and juice – are served during events to recognize employees. The Kotek office said earlier this month that the dinner was in accordance with the practices of former Governor’s Offices and that the office has been revised its catering practices.
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Auditors also reported about $ 615 on expenses on concert tickets between four events: a Queen Tribute concert in Portland, a performance by the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, an orchestra performance in Salem’s Elsinore Theater and a stupid film concert in Salem’s Temple Beth Sholom. The Governor’s office said that Kotek and Kotek Wilson himself paid for the Queen concert and the Elsinore performance and that the cards that the State bought for their protective details were, as permitted under the Stational Act. It described the other two concerts as official events.
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