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GOVERNMENT Breidenthal missed some expense reports in 2015 Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Jackson County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal initially failed to report $1,682.30 in expenses to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission in a 2015 financial report required of public officials. On Jan. 12, Breidenthal, who is the subject of an Ethics Commission investigation, filed an amended Statement of Economic Interest after he became aware that he needed to report three expenses, according to the SEI amended filing from the Ethics Commission obtained by the Mail Tribune through a public records request. In an email response to the Mail Tribune on Thursday, Breidenthal stated his reason for the amended filing: “I inquired to what should be reported early in 2015. I was told I did not have to report on my SEI filing. When I learned I needed to, I immediately filed an amendment.” Breidenthal gave similar reasons in his amended filing. The Ethics Commission has been investigating Breidenthal after a preliminary review found there was “substantial objective basis to believe that violations of Oregon government ethics law may have occurred and that Mr. Breidenthal many (sic) have committed such violations.” Jackson County filed the ethics complaint against Breidenthal. The preliminary review said Breidenthal may have violated four provisions of Oregon law concerning the receipt of gifts valued at more than $50 from parties with interests before the Board of Commissioners, the use of an official position for financial gain and the proper reporting of payments to cover trip expenses. In Oregon, about 5,500 public officials are required by law to annually file a Statement of Economic Interest with the Ethics Commission. In Breidenthal's amended filing, the largest expense was $984.85 from a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, that he said took place May 20-24, 2014. Breidenthal stated in his email that the amount was for travel and meal expenses for his wife, who he said served as one of his campaign staff in his bid for an office with the Western Interstate Region. He listed $161.45 from a meeting of the Association of Oregon Counties that he said took place from June 7-11, 2014, in Hood River. Breidenthal, in his email response, stated the amount was for a hotel so that he could extend the trip for campaign purposes. Breidenthal didn't list the exact date of the hotel stay, but stated the purpose of extending his stay was to meet “with commissioners from around that area” about his campaign. Jackson County paid the hotel for four nights at the Hood River meeting. Breidenthal listed an expense of $536 for an annual meeting of the Association of Oregon Counties in Eugene, which he said took place Nov. 21-24, 2014. In his email, Breidenthal stated the expense was for a hotel and meal because he extended his stay for “campaign purposes.” Breidenthal’s email response is not clear whether the three expenses in the amended SEI filing are related to the Friends of Doug Breidenthal account set up by the Association of Oregon Counties in 2014 to help him campaign for a second vice president position with the WIR. The Friends of Doug Breidenthal account collected $12,900 in donations, many of which were from companies that do business with Jackson County. Breidenthal also made a campaign contribution of $1,000 to Rick Dyer when the latter was running for county commissioner. In its preliminary review dated Nov. 24, 2015, the Ethics Commission stated: “Information available for this preliminary review indicated that Mr. Breidenthal may have failed to disclose information or expenses from 2014 related to events associated with the AOC and the election to the executive committee of the WIR on his SEI filed with the Commission in 2015. If paid expenses were accepted by Mr. Breidenthal under ORS 244.020(6)(b)(F) or ORS 244.020(6)(b)(H) or by his spouse under ORS 244.020(6)(b)(H), it appears the events, expenses and payers should have been disclosed on the SEI Mr. Breidenthal filed in 2015.” Breidenthal has been criticized by his fellow commissioners for his extensive traveling during his past three years in office. In 2015, he missed more than 30 county meetings. According to county records, he has spent $73,000 attending conferences and meetings related to his commissioner work in the past three years. On his various trips, Breidenthal received reimbursement from Jackson County or from the Friends of Doug Breidenthal account. Some of the expenses were reimbursed by the Association of Oregon Counties. According to Oregon Revised Statute 244.060, expenses that exceed $50 received by a public official during the preceding calendar year when participating in a mission, negotiations or economic development activities should include the name and address of the person paying the expenses, the nature of the event and the date and amount of the expenditure. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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