The Oregon State Government Ethics Commission will explore whether Linn County Commissioner John Lindsey breached state principles laws by attempting to utilize his position to stop medical marijuana from being grown in his community south of Lebanon.
A complaint was submitted on July 17 by William Templeton of Albany, on behalf of himself and numerous member of the family associated with the marijuana operation at Butte Creek Estates.
Lindsey said he welcomes the probe.
” I consulted with members of the Ethics Commission and brought documents,” Lindsey said. “We concerned an contract that they have to examine, and I believe this problem requires to be examined also. I desire an examination of the complaint itself.”
Inning accordance with a report by the Federal government Ethics Commission, Mark Owenby and Michelle Page bought the property in December 2016. The couple started establishing a medical cannabis growing operation, consisting of building a large greenhouse.
Templeton charged that in 2017, Lindsey visited the residential or commercial property and provided a business card noting he was a county commissioner. Templeton also asserts that Lindsey informed the residential or commercial property owners “you chose the incorrect community,” and ” exactly what you are doing is unlawful.”
Templeton asserted that Lindsey went to several county departments looking for possible illegalities at the property.
Templeton also stated Lindsey made copies of the homeowner’ Oregon Medical Cannabis Program cards and authorizations .
He likewise declared that Lindsey’s actions were being made in part because he feared the marijuana operation would minimize home worths in the area.
The Ethics Commission kept in mind that public officials are forbidden from ” attempting or using to utilize their official positions to acquire a individual financial advantage or avoid a individual financial detriment, that would not have been available but for holding the general public position.”
The commission report notes that extra examination will be required to “determine whether Mr. Lindsey used means of access to county resources not available to the general public, whether the nature of Mr. Lindsey’s position affected county staff’s responsiveness, or whether Mr. Lindsey directed county staff to hang out working on the matter.”
The report likewise noted that had Lindsey made statements such as “what you are doing is prohibited,” or “you chose the wrong area,” while providing himself in an official capability, he ” might have been trying to use the impact of his position to stop the medical cannabis grow in his area in order to prevent a individual financial detriment.”
More investigation is also required to figure out whether Lindsey may have had a dispute of interest when he initiated a suit calling the homeowner and others.
“There seems considerable objective basis to think that a person or more infractions of Oregon Federal government Ethics law might have taken place as a result of Mr. Lindsey’s actions in relation to the marijuana being grown on Mr. Owenby and Ms. Page’s residential or commercial property in his neighborhood. The Oregon Federal Government Ethics Commission need to relocate to investigate whether John Lindsey might have violated ORS 244.040( 1 ), ORS 244.040( 4) and ORS 244.120(2 (Motion 4),” said the report approved by Ronald Bersin, the commission’s executive director.
James Bergevin Blog 