Curiously Large political contribution raises questions
When Commissioner Sonya Fischer was asked questions by me regarding her campaign fund receiving $10,000 a month ago in one transaction, she ignored the subject. Her snubbing of the questions occurred at two consecutive Clackamas County Commissioners ( BCC ) meetings.
The questions are simply:
1. Are you participating in the recall effort of your fellow Commissioner Mark Shull through your campaign fund?
2. Are you a lobbyist for the public employees?
Because there is only the effort to recall Commissioner Shull, and no Commission seat expiring this year, it would be interesting to know what’s going on.
On Feb 2, a check in the amount of $10,000 was given to The Friends of Sonya Fischer campaign fund by AFSCME Local 75, which is out of Salem. What makes this $10,000 given to The Friends of Sonya Fischer campaign account stand out is the largess of the amount and the timing.
Two weeks earlier, this public employee union, sent through its Local 350, a lengthy letter dated January 15, the day after censor of Mr. Shull by the BCC. The letter demanded the immediate resignation by Commissioner Shull. It deemed the censure as insufficient. Local 350 represents 700 employees of municipalities within Clackamas County including 300 directly employed by the County itself .
This public employees union, for the past 5 years has given approximately a total net of $9250 to other Clackamas County Commissioners, plus $1250 to Commissioner Fischer in 2018. In other words, the $10,000 given to Commissioner Fischer in one donation in this off-election year is more than the amount given to all of Commissioners over a 5 year period.
In the meantime, arguably the most vociferous in the ongoing effort to unseat Commissioner Shull, Commissioner Fischer has given $5000 to a progressive political campaign advisory company so far this year. Is this money being used to build a recall roll-out?
Those of us in Clackamas County are in a continuous time of one crisis after another. It is crucial for our leaders to be transparent. We need to know what is occupying their time and effort during this time of pandemic, businesses on the brink, unemployment, among other issues. On what is Commissioner Fischer spending time and effort?
Bill Wehr is a resident of Damascus
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