Residents and members of the Linn County Republican Party addressed City Council on Oct. 22 to make it clear the LCRP is not associated with the Conservative Alliance.
Ben Roche, chair of the Linn County Republican Party, informed the council during public comment that “the Linn County Republican Party is in no way tied to the Linn County Conservative Alliance and the CISC PAC.”
He believes political signs posted by CISC (Candidate Identification & Support Committee, Linn County Conservative Alliance) in Lebanon and Sweet Home are not in compliance with political action committee statutes and city codes.
Robert Egner, a resident and precinct committee member of the LCRP also testified during public comment that the Linn County Conservative Alliance has “a history of illegal campaign finance actions” and had been removed from the LCRP more than four years ago because they “refused to follow proper (campaign) laws.”
Egner wanted it to be clear that, although the candidates endorsed by the Conservative Alliance might be qualified candidates, the signs and mailers from them are not endorsements from the LCRP. He also explained to The New Era that he believes the Conservative Alliance violated signage and financial reporting statutes.
Roche clarified for The New Era that the LCRP has been receiving complaints and concerns from residents about political signs that were placed by CISC, and wanted it to be clear that LCRP is not affiliated with them. He added that the LCRP supports all the Republican candidates who are running for council, not just the four candidates advertised on signs and in mailers.
Dawn Miller, council candidate, noted during public comment that council candidates are supposed to be nonpartisan, yet the endorsements of certain candidates by the Conservative Alliance ‘doesn’t scream nonpartisan.’ She added that she believes the council is “broken” and “there is a force that drives this council” by a super majority, and “people that want change are outnumbered.”
In other business, the council:
- Held a public hearing regarding the recruitment of a city manager. Several residents supported the option of recruiting a city manager locally, and/or supported Interim City Manager/Police Chief Jason Ogden as a potential hire.
- Held a third reading of and adopted an ordinance regulating abandoned shopping carts.
- Held a third reading of and adopted an ordinance adopting the 2024 Parks System Plan as a sub-element of the Sweet Home Comprehensive Plan.
- Adopted a franchise agreement with Ziply Fiber Pacific, LLC.