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Oregon's notoriously lax campaign finance laws mean that although candidates and elected officials cannot accept gifts worth more than $50, they are allowed spend campaign funds on virtually anything. But an expenditure this week by normally frugal Gov. John Kitzhaber was unusual even by Oregon pols' free-spending standards.
On July 15, Kitzhaber reported using nearly $7,400 in leftover campaign funds to purchase a home security system.
Here's what the elections division's 2010 Campaign Finance Manual says on the subject:
Kitzhaber, a former emergency room physician, earns a salary of about $94,000 and is entitled to live in a state-owned residence,
home of his ex-wife
ensure the safety of his family
WW
may be legal, it is inappropriate.
absolutely appropriate
WWeek 2015