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Tammy Stempel recall, Gladstone, Oregon (2021)
| Gladstone Mayoral recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Oregon Oregon recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Gladstone, Oregon, to recall Mayor Tammy Stempel was initiated in July 2021. Recall organizers had until October 19, 2021, to submit 842 valid signatures in order to put the recall election on the ballot. An earlier petition was withdrawn in May 2021.[1]
Recall supporters
The recall effort was organized by Gladstone resident Scott Blessing and the group named Gladstone Neighbors for Change.[1] Petition language cited the following as reasons for a recall election:[2]
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It is our reasonable belief: Tammy Stempel’s questionable actions and poor judgment have led to her ineffective leadership as Mayor of Gladstone. As Chair of the Budget Committee, she voted to create a full-time paid position at our Fire Department for her husband, violating ORS 244.040 and 244.120(2). This financially benefited her and ended our cost-effective and well-loved volunteer fire department. Used her position in an attempt to direct City business to her company for personal financial gain, violating ORS 244.040. Negotiated payment of City funds in private, without disclosing conflicts of interest, or that money may be paid to her friends, violating ORS 192.660(2)(h). Used her social media administration position to approve public posts that contained many pages of confidential HR information regarding a City employee. Damaged the trust needed to lead the Council on important City business. Multiple council members stated during council meetings that they believe Mayor Stempel targets certain council members. Made numerous negative, uninformed statements regarding equity, diversity and inclusion regarding Black, African American, Indigenous People, People of Color and the LGTBQ+ community during council meetings and other City business. Her arguments about City policy in those areas are a liability.[3] |
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Recall opponents
Stempel responded to the recall effort in a statement available on the Clackamas Review.[1]
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A recall petition has been filed by Mr. Scott Blessing against my position as Gladstone mayor for "questionable actions and poor judgement" that he says has led to "ineffective leadership." I would respond that since becoming mayor I have led the city in multiple capital projects, and stopped the corruption of the previously recalled city councilors and city administrator. I demanded the city start using transparent processes for hiring key staff and awarding contracts, minimized all executive sessions for more accountability and transparency, pushed for community engagement and connection at every step, repaired the broken relationships with our regional partners, spearheaded regional solutions to capital concerns, ended the history where the city did not participate in regional boards and committees, and I helped format our internal boards and committees into true advisory groups. I participate in city groups like the Historical Society and Friends of the Gladstone Nature Group, and continue to chair council meetings in an organized and thoughtful manner. The drama seen at our council meetings is generally initiated by a couple sitting council members, as well as the vocal minority tasked with supporting the agendas of the certain council members. Mr. Blessing says in his recall petition, that as chair of the Budget Committee, I voted to create a full-time paid position at our Fire Department for my husband, allegedly financially benefiting me and ending "our cost-effective volunteer fire department." However, this matter was addressed via a complaint filed against me with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) by Ms. Libby Wentz on April 10, 2019. During the hearing it was discovered that yes, it was a violation, however the city had been allowing this by other budget committees and city council members since 2009, under the guidance of the city attorney, and without proper ethics training provided. It was decided that education was the best remedy, and since that time OGEC has provided annual training to our staff, volunteer corps and elected officials. As soon as this violation was discovered, city policy was changed and has been done correctly ever since. For clarification, the vote by the Budget Committee is only a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council is the body that approves and adopts the budget. The position of captain was not created for my husband. It was a recommendation from a consulting group hired approximately 10 years ago to review our fire department and find ways to increase efficiency, bring the department up to required standards, and help find ways to recruit paid on-call firefighters. The recall petition's statement references our department as "volunteer," which it has not been since the 1960s. It has been paid on-call, where the firefighters are paid when they respond. The volunteer part is they have a choice to respond only when they want to, which is the main problem with staffing and consistency. The position was not created for my husband but was created by the department as a critical need. The job opening was posted regionally for anyone who qualified, and I believe around 15 people applied. 75% of the interview/testing process was completed by outside agencies to ensure the process was fair and unbiased. This was all discussed and confirmed during open city council meetings, which the filer was completely aware of. Recalled former City Councilor Steve Johnson's group filed an ethics complaint against me for this, and the complaint was dismissed because the city went above and beyond to make sure this was all transparent and done legally. I find it funny that Mr. Blessing is making this complaint considering, using the same argument, he benefited from his mother voting as both a Budget Committee member and City Council member while he was also employed by the Gladstone Fire Department. It was standard procedure for budget committee members and council to vote on the budget, regardless of whether they had family members employed by the city. Steve Johnson orchestrated an ethics complaint filed by Joe Iden on the recall petition's allegation that I used my position in an attempt to direct city business to my company for "personal financial gain." The complaint was dismissed because it was clear I did everything correctly, and there was zero attempt at driving business toward my company. This issue relates to a developer attempting to infringe on Olsen Wetlands for a multi-family housing development. A group of homeowners, the Abernathy Group, questioned the lack of a wetland delineation. The group asked me how much a wetland delineation would cost and what the scope would be. My company, Black Mountain Consulting, provides these services, but I felt it was inappropriate for me to provide this information. Instead, I contacted Cascade Environmental, who was the firm that had been working with the city on the downstream Rinearson Creek Project, the Dahl Beach Bulkhead Removal Project, and North Clackamas Parks' Boardman Creek upstream wetland restoration project. This firm was the most knowledgeable of the Olsen Wetlands, and had been asked by the group to consult. Since, as mayor, I do not have an office, computer, or phone at the civic center, I have to do all city work from my professional office in Sherwood. Cascade Environmental sent a rough estimate of price and a scope so we would know what the project would look like. There was no attempt at doing the work myself, or for Cascade Environmental to do the work. It was only to give the group the information to have educated conversations. To be open and transparent, I also provided the information to City Administrator Jacque Betz again, so we could all have educated conversations. I am concerned that Mr. Blessing's council (Mr. Johnson), has forgotten the steps taken to negotiate settlements with the Portland Avenue evicted tenants, when they accuse me in the recall petition of having "negotiated payment of city funds in private, without disclosing conflicts of interest, or that money may be paid to her friends." Mr. Johnson was not only aware of the steps taken but was an active participant in the negotiations and decision of how much to offer, and acceptance of the final negotiated terms and amounts. At the time of the negotiations, they were based on potential litigation, therefore handled via executive session. Executive sessions are in themselves confidential, but I assure you Mr. Johnson both attended and participated in those discussions. I believe the city illegally evicted long-term tenants from a property they had purchased for the construction of the new City Hall and Police Station. The tenants were pursuing a potential lawsuit, so it was decided by our legal team and full City Council to attempt negotiations to mitigate a legal battle. City councilors appointed me, along with former Councilors Kim Sieckmann and Pat McMahan, on behalf of the city, to negotiate with several business owners. The city attorney was also involved in the negotiations. The council approved a maximum amount to offer for Timberline Development, NW Auto Recyclers and Black Diamond Studio, and we stayed within those amounts. After multiple meetings, none done secretly by me, the owner of Cars Northwest did not accept our final offer and chose to file a lawsuit instead. The lawsuit has since been settled, with the knowledge and approval of the full city council. The city received letters asking for a settlement from Hair Lines and Designs, Amy Cowling and Lou Schwab. Upon review by the full city council, it was decided to deny their requests. The city administrator and our legal representative negotiated with the SHOC Foundation and reached a settlement prior to me becoming mayor. This was done with the knowledge and approval of the full council. The purchase of the Kmetic property for the construction of the new City Hall and Police Station was negotiated by the city administrator and legal team, with the knowledge and acceptance of the full council. This was done prior to my becoming mayor. The city attorney negotiated directly with former tenant Sharon Alexander. The full council approved a maximum amount to offer. We stayed within that amount. Upon the final offer, the full council approved the negotiated terms and amount. Regarding this tenant, there is a misconception about my relationship with her at the time of these negotiations. I did not know Ms. Alexander until October 2016, three months prior to taking office. She contacted me when she saw my campaign signs, asked what my platform was, and decided she would support my candidacy. In the years since we have become very close, but not at the time of her eviction and subsequent settlement. And again, the city attorney alone negotiated a settlement and terms with her. None of the tenants were immediate, or even distant relatives, nor am I receiving any funds by way of the settlements. Because of this, there was no conflict of interest to claim. As stated in the introduction to this item, I am concerned that a former city councilor, with full knowledge of the truth, has decided to release completely false and slanderous information. In response to Mr. Blessing's statement that I used my "social media administration position to approve public posts that contained many pages of confidential HR information regarding a city employee," I have been concerned for years about the control that a handful of citizens have on our city's social media platforms. For the past year I have been very concerned about the selective censorship and verbal abuse allowed on Nextdoor Gladstone. Some time ago this platform contacted me asking if I would be a complaint reviewer. Because of my concern, I agreed. Since becoming a reviewer, I have taken the stand to not censor anyone. I have not censored the outright lies people post, some regarding me personally. These lies, if supporting a few city councilors agendas, are allowed to remain because the majority of other reviewers are supporters of these few city councilors and push their agenda forward. I have not censored business posts, which are generally not allowed. When Mr. Bill Osburn posted the HR issue on this site, he had already read key elements of the documents into the record during business from the audience at our city council meeting. The information was already out there. Because I did not censor his post, Nextdoor Gladstone actually contacted me because the other reviewers had complained about me because I was not censoring enough. I immediately sent them an email removing myself as reviewer and removing my account. This site is not only promoting censorship, but they are demanding it. So, this group supports my actions of not censoring lies, but expect me to censor the truth? What Mr. Osburn posted was the truth. I do not "target" council members, as stated in the recall petition, but instead expect them to be civil, transparent, and accountable. When they are none of these things, I certainly question their actions. Councilors Matt Tracy, Annessa Hartman and Tracy Todd made this claim, and they are the ones doing the targeting using assumptions as the basis of their accusations. I simply said I was uncomfortable with Councilor Matt Tracy being council president because of his attack on City Administrator Jacque Betz (a clear violation of council rules, city policy, state and federal laws) and his attack on then-Councilor Neal Reisner's attempt at introducing an anti-bullying resolution. Not only did he attack Councilor Reisner, but he laughed at him, had his supporting councilors and citizens berate him, and laughed at me while describing how I had been bullied and how this also happens to adults. I am not targeting councilors, but expect them to be civil, which they have not been. I have not made "negative or uninformed statements" about Black, African American, Indigenous, people of color and the LGTBQ+ community. I support these communities and have a long history of doing just that. For over 25 years I have been a member of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) as both my own company, and companies I have worked for. My immediate family includes people in the above-mentioned communities, as do my employees and close friends. My family, after identifying the inequity, created the nationally recognized Mentor Protégé plan partnering small, disadvantaged companies with large firms. This program, called The Stempel Plan, has been adopted by the Port of Portland, the national Association of General Contractors and other agencies as their model program. I have personally participated in, and advocate for, this program. As a business owner, when in need of a subcontractor, I always go to OAME members first, giving priority to disadvantaged companies. While on the Gladstone Planning Commission, I advocated for a disadvantaged firm requirement on all contracts over $25,000. In closing I would like to say, I support Gladstone, all people, all walks of life. I support the work and forward thinking of the very people we as a council have hired to do the work we have hired them to do. I support a council that acts professionally and does the work they have been elected to do, and I support the great work that people in this town do to make us a better community.[3] |
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Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Oregon
The number of valid signatures required to force a recall election in Oregon is 15% of the total number of votes cast in the public officer’s electoral district for all candidates for governor at the last election at which a candidate for governor was elected to a full term. Signatures are required to be turned in no later than 90 days after the petition is filed.
Petitions in the recall effort against Stempel were filed on July 21, 2021. Recall organizers had until October 19, 2021, to submit 842 valid signatures in order to put the recall election on the ballot. An earlier petition was withdrawn in May 2021.[1]
See also
External links
- Government website of Gladstone, Oregon
- Recall Tammy Stempel website
- Recall Tammy Stempel on Facebook
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Clackamas Review, "Gladstone mayor responds to filing of second recall petition," August 2, 2021
- ↑ Gladstone Neighbors For Change, "Recall Tammy Stempel," accessed August 17, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
