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State Sen. Alan Olsen (R-Canby) is holding a "ladies of the lobby" campaign fundraising event tonight that could violate state ethics and elections law.
Olsen's event will be held at his wife Juanita's Canby boutique, Especially for You.
Here's the invitation:
The fundraiser could break the law in the following ways:
First, Oregon Revised Statute 244.040(1)
WW asked Steve Berman, a Portland lawyer who specializes in election issues to review the invitation to Olsen's fundraiser. Berman provided the following response:
"This is problematic, on multiple fronts," Berman wrote. "To the extent the Senator or a family member has any ownership interest in âEspecially for You,â it would seem that he is using his office for private gain, in violation of Oregonâs ethics laws for government officials. It certainly looks bad. The discount on merchandise in exchange for attending the fundraising event appears to violate Oregonâs undue influence law, which prohibits giving a âthing of valueâ in exchange for a political donation. Violation of that law can be punished as a felony."
In an interview this morning, Olsen said he had not considered whether the fundraiser violated either law.
Told that, if a lobbyist purchased items at his wife's boutique, the purchases could violate ethics or elections laws, Olsen said, "I guess they shouldn't buy anything then."
WWeek 2015