Investigation clears Our Oregon election complaint

Attorney general, Elections Division say labor-backed group did not violate state rules

By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, Jan 25, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (21 Reader comments)

Portland’s Our Oregon, a labor-backed group active in initiative campaigns, was exonerated Friday from election law violations, after a year-long investigation by the attorney general’s office and state Elections Division.

Conservative activist Richard Leonetti filed an elections complaint a year ago, accusing Our Oregon of failing to register as a political action committee and fully report its contributions and expenditures, despite playing an active role in 2006 ballot measure campaigns. The elections complaint was referred by the state Elections Division to the attorney general’s office because of possible criminal violations.

Secretary of State Bill Bradbury ruled Friday that Our Oregon doesn’t have to meet the same requirements as a political action committee, because it is registered as a public benefit nonprofit corporation, a federal designation also known as a 501(c)(4) organization.

“As a (c)4, as a nonprofit, they’re not required to file as a political action committee; they’re governed by a different set of rules,” said Scott Moore, Bradbury’s spokesman.

In a a letter issued to Leonetti Friday, state elections director John Lindback concluded: “After a thorough investigation, the Elections Division has determined that Our Oregon does not meet the definition of a political committee and is not subject to contribution and expenditure reporting.”

Kevin Looper, executive director of Our Oregon, said his organization followed the letter of the law, and reported spending for different 2006 ballot measure campaigns as in-kind contributions to those campaigns. “There is still federal protection for nonprofits to raise money in compliance with the law without having to open up their books,” Looper said. “We report more fully than any of the organizations who would be standing in political opposition to us.”

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