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ETHICS COMPLAINT State ethics commission will investigate Breidenthal Jackson County commissioner says he's done nothing wrong Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 15, 2016 at 5:24 PM Updated Jan 15, 2016 at 5:33 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 15, 2016 at 5:24 PM Updated Jan 15, 2016 at 5:33 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Quick read: A breakdown of the Breidenthal controversy • Commissioner Breidenthal faces possible ethics probe • DOCUMENT: Complaint to Government Ethics Commission against Breidenthal... » Social News The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously Friday to launch an investigation into potential ethics violations by Jackson County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal. "The commission voted 6-0 to move the case into investigation," said Ron Bersin, executive director for the Salem-based ethics commission. "The commission felt it would like to take a deeper dive into this and have staff take a deeper look." The commission issued a preliminary review after receiving a 37-page complaint filed by Jackson County officials Oct. 22, 2015. It also heard additional information from Breidenthal's attorney, who asked that the complaint be dismissed. "Although Mr. Breidenthal's legal counsel made a number of arguments in support of his position that dismissal is appropriate, it appears that there is substantial objective basis to believe that violations of Oregon Government Ethics law may have occurred and that Mr. Breidenthal may have committed such violations," the preliminary review states. The 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. Breidenthal has faced criticism — including from fellow Commissioners Colleen Roberts and Rick Dyer — for more than $73,000 in travel expenses over the past three years and his absence from more than 30 Board of Commissioners meetings in 2015. The ethics commission will have up to 180 days to complete its investigation, Bersin said. It will then vote whether to dismiss the case or find that a violation or violations occurred, he said. Bersin said ethics commission sanctions range from sending an educational letter to a public official to levying fines of up to $5,000 per violation. Breidenthal, who was in Salem Friday to attend Oregon Fairs Association meetings at which Jackson County's fair was given awards, issued a written statement. Breidenthal said it was virtually impossible for ethics commission staff to fully analyze the complaint because new rules require a preliminary analysis be done in only 30 days, compared to 150 days in the past. "I am confident that a thorough investigation by the Oregon Ethics Commission will show I have done nothing wrong," he wrote. Bersin said the review was cursory because the Oregon Legislature shortened the preliminary analysis time frame from 135 days to 30 days. Breidenthal said the investigation is related to a campaign account he set up, called Friends of Breidenthal, to win office with the Western Interstate Region of the National Association of Counties. Breidenthal raised $10,500 for the account, which included contributions from Indian tribes and trucking, lumber and energy companies — all of whom have requested various actions from the Board of Commissioners. His campaign included a hospitality suite at the Hilton Hotel during the WIR's meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, that cost $3,441. Other expenses paid by the account were $547.90 for airfare to Alaska for Breidenthal’s wife; a $1,000 campaign contribution to Rick Dyer, who was running for commissioner at the time; and a reimbursement to pay travel expenses for Gilbert Riddell, an employee of the AOC, for $821.90. Breidenthal was elected to the WIR board in May 2014. More than a year later, in September 2015, he received a $2,400 donation from Murphy Lumber Co. to the Friends of Breidenthal account. Breidenthal said in his statement that clear rules do not exist to guide Oregon's elected officials as they campaign for positions with organizations that can represent the state's interests at a national level. "I pledge to work on making the changes needed by asking the Oregon Legislature to enact legislation that provides clear campaign finance guidance for these important offices," Breidenthal said. "I have asked the Ethics Commission to make recommendations that will help the Legislature with its task." He said he did everything he could to campaign properly for the WIR office, including consulting Jackson County officials and the Association of Oregon Counties. Breidenthal said, "Until the Ethics Commission investigation is complete, I plan to continue to devote my full attention to the people of Jackson County by carrying out my responsibilities and duties as a Jackson County Commissioner, giving the people of Jackson County a strong voice at the local, state and federal level that my WIR position provides." Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . Breidenthal: Preliminary Ethics Review by Mail Tribune Doug Breidenthal's statement on Ethics Commission Ruling by Mail Tribune By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 15, 2016 at 5:24 PM Updated Jan 15, 2016 at 5:33 PM » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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