Comments on: City Auditor Gary Blackmer Resigns http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2009/01/06/city-auditor-gary-blackmer-resigns/ The Blog Formerly Known As WWire Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:42:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: C http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2009/01/06/city-auditor-gary-blackmer-resigns/comment-page-1/#comment-82140 C Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:19:23 +0000 http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=18878#comment-82140 Good! He was a man who was too overly concerned with the efficacy of the police to pay attention to the job he should have been doing. Good! He was a man who was too overly concerned with the efficacy of the police to pay attention to the job he should have been doing.

]]> By: Jasun Wurster http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2009/01/06/city-auditor-gary-blackmer-resigns/comment-page-1/#comment-82041 Jasun Wurster Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:04:15 +0000 http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=18878#comment-82041 City council may be doing a disservice to Portland by holding a special election on May 19th 2009 for the new City Auditor. It is my concern that an election 4 months from now will create an ethical and financial barrier that will inadvertently weed out exceptional CPA's from seeking public office. The main reason is that most of the professionals qualified to legally be the new city auditor may not be able to campaign, as the bulk of most CPA's work happens during the next 3 months, aka Tax Season. I propose that city council should appoint an interim Auditor and hold the special election in September (allowing for a runoff on the November ballot). This allows for strong candidates to mount an effective campaign and inform the citizens of Portland why we should trust them to keep our books. I feel that by rushing the election process the public is being short changed our right to audit the individual who 2 years from now will be on the ballot as the incumbent Audit City council may be doing a disservice to Portland by holding a special election on May 19th 2009 for the new City Auditor. It is my concern that an election 4 months from now will create an ethical and financial barrier that will inadvertently weed out exceptional CPA’s from seeking public office. The main reason is that most of the professionals qualified to legally be the new city auditor may not be able to campaign, as the bulk of most CPA’s work happens during the next 3 months, aka Tax Season.

I propose that city council should appoint an interim Auditor and hold the special election in September (allowing for a runoff on the November ballot). This allows for strong candidates to mount an effective campaign and inform the citizens of Portland why we should trust them to keep our books. I feel that by rushing the election process the public is being short changed our right to audit the individual who 2 years from now will be on the ballot as the incumbent Audit

]]>