The issue isn’t whether government employees have First Amendment rights. They do.
The issue is whether a senior elections official, whose job depends on maintaining public confidence in impartiality, can publicly engage in partisan political activity while claiming to act as a “private citizen.”
For decades, courts have recognized that government may place greater restrictions on the speech and political activity of public employees when necessary to preserve the integrity, neutrality, and public trust essential to their positions. That principle is especially important for those entrusted with administering our elections. Public confidence depends not only on fairness, but on the appearance of fairness.
Neutrality isn’t just an ethics footnote for elections officials ; it’s the entire job.
Regardless of the political consequences for her behavior after the fact, shouldn’t we want the most qualified person possible auditing various election processes? If the city had resources for official election investigators to document what she found, then the outcome would have been the same.
In the same vein, this publication chooses to and not to spotlight various topics and events. Is that bias by omission a violation of the journalistic ethical standards I assume you hold yourself to?
Have you written a post to be published in the NW Examiner and had it denied because of perceived political bias? My experience reading articles and letters to the Editor over many years gives me confidence that a well written, serious piece of journalism will make its way to press if time and space allow. Challenging this paper's ethical standards is cheap, sloppy, and belies years of reporting. Do better.
Where are all the hypocrites around Portland who are always so concerned about “threats to Democracy”? This is ok, I guess, because that’s also the group who usually wants to defund the police and give non profits the key to the city. This is a clear attempt to squash the will of the people - as someone who signed this petition, knowing full well what it entailed and how desperately we need more law enforcement here, I want this person fired.
Clear, concise and spot on. I hope the Mayor and every City Council member gets a copy. Her actions are egregious and erodes trust at a time when we need to rebuild confidence in our Institutions
Brilliant summary of an egregious act!
Moffett is guilty of betraying our trust.
RES IPSA LOQUITOR
Is it any wonder we are troubled by our elected officials?
The issue isn’t whether government employees have First Amendment rights. They do.
The issue is whether a senior elections official, whose job depends on maintaining public confidence in impartiality, can publicly engage in partisan political activity while claiming to act as a “private citizen.”
For decades, courts have recognized that government may place greater restrictions on the speech and political activity of public employees when necessary to preserve the integrity, neutrality, and public trust essential to their positions. That principle is especially important for those entrusted with administering our elections. Public confidence depends not only on fairness, but on the appearance of fairness.
Neutrality isn’t just an ethics footnote for elections officials ; it’s the entire job.
Excellent article
Regardless of the political consequences for her behavior after the fact, shouldn’t we want the most qualified person possible auditing various election processes? If the city had resources for official election investigators to document what she found, then the outcome would have been the same.
In the same vein, this publication chooses to and not to spotlight various topics and events. Is that bias by omission a violation of the journalistic ethical standards I assume you hold yourself to?
Have you written a post to be published in the NW Examiner and had it denied because of perceived political bias? My experience reading articles and letters to the Editor over many years gives me confidence that a well written, serious piece of journalism will make its way to press if time and space allow. Challenging this paper's ethical standards is cheap, sloppy, and belies years of reporting. Do better.
A tawdry comment without any justification.
2 problems. She did not look at other initiatives. Just targeted one she opposed. And she’s an elections official who must be impartial at all times.
Where are all the hypocrites around Portland who are always so concerned about “threats to Democracy”? This is ok, I guess, because that’s also the group who usually wants to defund the police and give non profits the key to the city. This is a clear attempt to squash the will of the people - as someone who signed this petition, knowing full well what it entailed and how desperately we need more law enforcement here, I want this person fired.
Clear, concise and spot on. I hope the Mayor and every City Council member gets a copy. Her actions are egregious and erodes trust at a time when we need to rebuild confidence in our Institutions