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Volume 4, Issue 1 - Winter 2023 |
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 Public Officials and Government Transparency
The annual verified Statement of Economic Interest, also known as the SEI, is all about transparency. In the SEI, public officials identify their businesses, properties, and sources of income so that members of the public will know where their financial interests lie and so that the public will have confidence that the public officials are acting in their public body’s interest.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) makes it easy for members of the public to access and review public officials’ SEI information. Public officials file their SEIs using OGEC’s Electronic Filing System. Once filed, the SEIs are available to the public online, at no cost.
Public officials have been required to file SEIs since 1974. While the list of public officials required to file SEIs has grown over the years, the information required to be reported has remained the same. That information includes:
- Any businesses in which they or their household members are officers or directors, and the names of businesses that they or their household members do business under.
- Their sources of income (not the amounts) that make up 10% or more of their total annual household income.
- The real property they or their household members own (not including their personal residence) that is in the geographical boundaries of the jurisdiction they serve.
There are also questions about certain office-related events, honoraria, and shared businesses with lobbyists. Finally, the SEI asks about any income, debt, business investments, and service fees of $1,000 or more with businesses that could have a legislative or administrative interest in the public officials' decisions.
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 Public officials who hold any of the various public offices or positions listed in ORS 244.050 are required to file an SEI each year they hold the office/position.
These offices/positions include elected state, county and city officials. They also include various appointed officials and public employees. What all these offices/positions have in common is that the people who hold the offices/positions are those with the authority to make important decisions about public resources and public monies.
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Training and Resources Available
OGEC has created a variety of resources to assist you in filing your SEI correctly and on time.
Webinars
The training team is offering free weekly, live webinars to SEI filers. These webinars cover the details of filing an SEI and provide time for questions and answers.
Written Guide
In addition, the 2023 SEI Filer Guide provides written step-by-step instructions on setting up your account, how to reset your account information, steps to file your SEI, and details on the questions in the SEI.
Website
Curious what questions are included in the SEI? Looking for links to the ORS regarding SEI filing? This information can all be found on the Statements of Economic Interest page of the OGEC website.
To access these resources please click on the box below. If you have any questions regarding the trainings or resources, please contact the training team at training@ogec.oregon.gov.
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File Your SEI
The Electronic Filing System (EFS) opens the SEI filing period on Wednesday, March 15th. Anyone seated in their position on April 15 is required to file.
You have 30 days to file your SEI on time. The deadline to complete your SEI filing is April 15.
You can access EFS through the E-fling Login link located in the top menu bar on the OGEC website, or by clicking the link below.
If you have questions or need assistance filing your SEI, please contact our office at (503)378-5105 or mail@ogec.oregon.gov.
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What happens if you don't file your SEI?
If you do not file your SEI on time, you may be subject to civil penalties outlined in ORS 244.350(4). These penalties automatically begin to accrue in your account if you miss the filing deadline.
Civil penalties:
- $10 per day for the first 14 days
- $50 per day thereafter
- Up to a maximum of $5,000 in a filing period
If you begin to accrue penalties, first please file your SEI as soon as possible. Once you have filed, please contact our office at (503) 378-5105 or mail@ogec.oregon.gov to discuss your penalty options.
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Once a public official files their SEI, it becomes part of the public record. You can easily lookup not only SEIs but also Lobbyist and Lobby Client/Employer registrations and expenditures through our Public Records Lookup page.
You can either look up a specific public official or all public officials required to file who serve a specific public body.
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OGEC offers in person and online trainings on the three areas of OGEC's jurisdiction, Oregon Government Ethics law, Lobby law, and the Executive Session provisions of Public Meetings law.
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The City of St. Helens is partnering with OGEC to host two trainings on April 12.
The sessions will be on Ethics law (1:00 pm) and Executive Sessions (4:00 pm). Public officials from nearby jurisdictions are encouraged to attend, but registration is required.
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We offer live webinars every month on
- Conflicts of Interest/ Use of Office
- Gifts
- New Employee Orientation
- Executive Sessions
- Lobby law
These webinars are open to anyone to attend.
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Is your public body looking for training on Ethics law, Lobby law, or Executive Sessions?
We offer customized trainings both in person and virtually. Request your training today!
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After serving on the Commission for more than two years, former Commissioner Karly Edwards stepped down from her role in November 2022. We wish Commissioner Edwards all the best in her new endeavors and thank her for her service on the Commission.
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On September 23, 2023 two new dedicated public servants were confirmed by the Senate to be a member of OGEC. As per our custom, we will be featuring each of our new Commissioners in our newsletter. You may recognize the name of the first new Commissioner, Richard Burke, as he previously served on the Commission from September 2016 to September 2020.
We asked him a few questions about rejoining the Commission and here is what he had to say:
Would you tell us about yourself?
I live in West Linn with my wife, Natasha, and our German Shepard Dog, Arya. I have a stepdaughter, Anastasia. I work in the non-profit sector, helping people engage with local democratic processes. I grew up in the Midwest, began my education at the University of Nebraska and finished at Portland State University after moving to Oregon in 1987.
What inspired you to apply to be a member of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission?
In the current divisive political environment, building a culture of ethical governance is key to keeping our nation together. My experience has informed me that the vast majority of public officials are genuinely interested in serving the public faithfully and offering guidance on ethical governance helps them do so successfully.
What aspect of the Commission are you most looking forward to?
There are many things about the Commission I am looking forward to dealing with, but its educational mission is what excites me most. I believe OGEC can play a very important role in educating public officials, activists, and the public at large about ethical governance.
Any other relevant details that you feel should be shared or want to be included?
Having served on OGEC before, I find it an oasis of civic-minded non-partisan governance in a sea of partisan discord. One can attend an OGEC meeting and have difficulty determining which commissioner is affiliated with which party. The staff and other commissioners of OGEC are people of high character and I am honored to serve alongside them.
Thanks for joining us again Commissioner Burke!
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Charlie joined OGEC as a Trainer. We asked Charlie a few questions to get to know him.
Tell us a little about your background, such as education and job experience. Born and raised in Texas. Prior to moving to Oregon, I spent 5 years teaching state required certification classes with the Railroad Commission of Texas.
What inspired you to apply for OGEC?I really enjoy meeting and training new people, so being able to do both AND relocate to Oregon was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
What is your favorite part of your job here? The people! I work with an absolutely great team!
Dogs or Cats? Both. Always both.
Favorite Color? Black…dark gray…maybe navy blue? Just one, right? Black. Definitely black.
Favorite Movie? Only ONE favorite movie?!?!?!? At this moment right now - Mean Streets (1973) directed by Martin Scorsese
Any hobbies or passions that you would care to share or talk about? Bicycling, storytelling, doodling, tinkering, listening to 80’s punk rock records.
Come say hi to Charlie in a monthly webinar or customized training!
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Farewells can be so very hard. As a small agency, OGEC has been lucky to hire some amazing people. Kathy is one of those people that touches everyone that she interacts with. She has been with OGEC for over 9 years, and she has made quite the impact within OGEC. She helped transition OGEC’s paper filing system to a solely electronic system. She has helped countless public officials file their reports. She provided support to each and every one of the staff members at OGEC. While we are excited that she will get to enjoy her retirement, we will miss her smile in the office.
Tell us a little about your background, such as education and job experience.
I’ve come a long way baby! Spending many years as a hairdresser, I finally decided to go back to school and learn how to use a computer! That led me into the corporate world focusing on marketing and promotions for a west coast retailer. I later found my niche as a corporate sales and marketing director, traveling internationally with a senior housing corporation. I entered state service with DAS in HRSD, contracting training vendors for statewide programs. I coordinated the Oregon Project Management Certification Program and earned my OPMA prior to being hired by OGEC.
What originally inspired you to apply for OGEC?
(I needed a job!!) The Ethics Commission seems like a great fit for my professional track. I had worked interim for a financial advisor and also assisted in a law office.
What was your favorite part of your job here?
My favorite part is coming to work with great coworkers! Seriously! I’m very gregarious. Not only with my coworkers but thoroughly enjoy assisting others on the phone with their challenges and helping them understand our role in government.
Do you have a favorite project that you worked on?
My favorite has been the transition from paper to electronic filing of the annual SEIs. Assisting and educating those required to file on the reasons why and how. I’ve made a lot of friends year after year.
What are some key takeaways that you would care to share with current and/or future Commissioners?
Key takeaways are those times when you can demonstrate to those public officials who may have opportunities to interact with Commissioners, that we have a role in making our government a positive one of change. One of improving our communities and our working relationships with those around us.
Any other relevant details that you feel should be shared or want to be included?
The last 10+ years has been a great learning experience for me, I’ve made many new friends and relationships that have enriched me as a person. As I move forward during the next chapters of my life, I will have fond memories and continue friendships with those that have made a difference in my life.
We wish you all the best in your next adventure Kathy, we will miss you!
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OGEC has implemented a new email subscription service to make it easier for you to learn about updates on the topics which interest you. You are subscribed to the OGEC Ethics Matters newsletter, which you will continue to receive quarterly. In addition, you can now sign-up for email updates on specific topics.
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Upcoming Commission Meetings
- April 28, 2023
- June 2, 2023
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