Candidates Respond to HAP Appointment Process 1/19/04

In Washington D. C. the nominee for head of the department of Housing and Urban Development Department is being investigated by HUD officials and the FBI.* In Portland, Oregon (a nationally recognized bastion of progressive liberal democratic government) a nominee for the board of HUD's client, the Housing Authority of Portland, is hidden by city officials from public scrutiny until approved by a stealth "public" process.

Contrary to the protestations of Ralph Nader, the election of George W. Bush proved with frightening clarity that it does make a difference who gets elected to public office. Or, in this case, who gets appointed to public office.

The decisions made by the HAP board, which is appointed by the Portland city council, affect the lives of 700,000 Multnomah county residents. How the HAP board spends eighty or so million dollars a year of public funds and where it places its 35,000 clients has a serious impact on neighborhoods throughout Multnomah county.

THE FACTS
1. On December 2** and again on December 4*** all members of the Portland City Council, the mayor and her Public Advocate were informed that Richard Ellmyer wanted to see any public documents involving the HAP nominee and to be notified so that he could testify in the matter of an appointment to the board of the Housing Authority of Portland.

2. No one in the mayor's office ever contacted Richard Ellmyer to announce the availability of inspection of public documents or the date and time the Council would vote on the matter.

3. Mayor Katz put this item on the no-testimony-allowed Consent Agenda while in possession of written documents from Richard Ellmyer asking to be heard on the issue.** & ***

4. On December 30 Francesconi, Sten, Leonard and Saltzman were all sent email and their offices called to request a postponement making the argument that no timely notice was given to the public and there was insufficient information available for citizens or members of the council to make a thoughtful and considered response to the nominee's qualifications especially her views on public policy issues facing HAP board members.

5. On December 31 Francesconi, Sten, Leonard and Saltzman ignored postponement requests and voted to approve the HAP nominee.

THE QUESTION
Please tell us your reactions to the recent stealth nominating PROCESS (NOT the appointee) of Harriet Cormack to the HAP board.

THE ANSWERS
Sam Adams: http://www.samforpdx.com
To prevent this from happening again, City Council Calendar items that officially appoint a city representative to an outside board or commission should be listed under the Regular Agenda portion of the Calendar.   Establishing this protocol (1) automatically provides for public comment; (2) gives individuals interested in City Council outside appointments the ease of only have to look in the Regular Agenda section; and, (3) ensures the best public visibility for the Council item.  If each City Council item that officially makes the appointment also includes the application each nominee is required to complete, the public would have access to the basic information about the applicant.

Analysis: Grade - A
It is refreshing, almost inspiring, to read a response from a candidate for public office who knows what he's talking about and actually answers the question with a real solution in the public interest. I'm impressed. You should be too.


Nick Fish: http://www.gofish2004.com
As a lawyer from New York with four years service as a board member of The Housing Authority of Portland I am well qualified to judge my replacement. If I am elected to the Portland City Council I will continue to support the outstanding work being done at HAP and preserve the fine traditions of city government which place a high premium on community involvement as exemplified by the process of appointing Harriet Cormack.

Analysis: Grade - F
Nick Fish continues to respond to questions with a lawyer's slickness and evasiveness. There was nothing "fine" nor anything that resembled "community involvement" in this process. Fish's refusal to make any critical judgements of HAP or this process does not bode well. Fish lied to columnist Renee Mithchell about his views on neighborhood map based accounting of HAP clients.**** As a result a very healthy dose of skepticism is required when considering anything Nick Fish has to say.


Tom Potter: http://www.tomformayor.org
My goal is to restore confidence and trust in local government. I have a new kind of political will that will require government to work in an open and inclusive manner, because governance has to be transparent.

Analysis: Grade - F
Platitude Potter is not yet ready for prime time. His response betrays the fact that he has no idea what the Housing Authority of Portland is or the process by which someone is appointed to its board. This answer is so trite, disrespectful of voters and just plain bad that it can only be labeled what it is, a load of crap. He's new at the game. Maybe he'll do better next time.


Jim Francesconi: http://www.jimfrancesconiformayor.com
The mayor of Portland has the legal right to put items on the Consent Agenda in order to speed up the process of government. Neither the mayor's office nor my office is under any legal obligation to notify those who have asked in writing to be notified so that they might testify on this or any other matter. I think that nominee Harriet Cormack had the right background and positions on public policy issues facing HAP so there would be no reason to postpone her appointment.

Analysis: Grade - F
Jim Francesconi ought to be defensive about his official behavior in this matter. It speaks for itself.


The preceding statements were consented to by each candidate as uncontroversial, uncontested and a true reflection of their opinions.*****

Summary:
I'm sure you will all agree that the question asked was not a typical TV news "gotcha." It was straight forward and relevant to the jobs these people are seeking. Only one candidate of the four, Sam Adams, gave an answer worthy of a vote. More HAP public policy questions will be asked of these candidates in the future. Let's hope the rest of them do better next time.

Please visit all of the candidates' web sites. You will notice that not one of them mentions any HAP related public policy issues or positions.

* http://nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-HUD-Investigation.html

** From: ellmyer@macsolve.com
Subject: New Fish In The HAP Tank
Date: December 2, 2003 11:24:57 AM PST
To: mayorkatz@ci.portland.or.us
Cc: rleonard@ci.portland.or.us, dsaltzman@ci.portland.or.us, jfrancesconi@ci.portland.or.us, erik@ci.portland.or.us, mmock@ci.portland.or.us

Mayor Katz:
Nick Fish has announced that he will be leaving the HAP board before the end of the year. I would like to be kept informed about any public documents or meetings that will involve his replacement, especially and particularly the opportunity to speak before the council on his chosen successor. Thank you.

Richard Ellmyer

*** http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/MitchellLetter.html

**** http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/FishFails.html

***** http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/GameRules.html

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