Linn elected official John Lindsey believed to violated Oregon laws

The Oregon  Ethics Commission will investigate whether Linn County Commissioner John Lindsey breached state principles laws by attempting to take advantage of his position to stop medical marijuana from being grown in his neighborhood south of Lebanon.

A complaint was filed on July 17 by William Templeton of Albany, on behalf of himself and several member of the family associated with the cannabis operation at Butte Creek Estates.

Lindsey said he welcomes the examination.

" I met members of the Ethics Commission and brought paperwork," Lindsey said. "We came to an arrangement that they need to examine, and I think this complaint needs to be examined. I want an investigation of the grievance itself."

According to a report by the Government Ethics Commission, Mark Owenby and Michelle Page bought the property in December 2016. The couple began establishing a medical marijuana growing operation, consisting of building a large greenhouse.

Templeton charged that in 2017, Lindsey visited the property and provided a business card noting he was a county commissioner. Templeton also asserts that Lindsey told the property owners "you chose the incorrect area," and " exactly what you are doing is illegal."

Templeton asserted that Lindsey went to a number of county departments browsing for possible illegalities at the residential or commercial property.

Templeton also said Lindsey made copies of the homeowner' Oregon Medical Cannabis Program cards and permits .

Because he feared the marijuana operation would lower home values in the area, he likewise declared that Lindsey's actions were being made in part.

The Ethics Commission noted that public authorities are restricted from " trying or utilizing to utilize their official positions to get a personal financial advantage or prevent a personal monetary hinderance, that would not have been offered however for holding the public position."

The commission report keeps in mind that extra examination will be necessary to " figure out whether Mr. Lindsey used means of access to county resources not readily available to the general public, whether the nature of Mr. Lindsey's position influenced 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 declarations such as "what you are doing is prohibited," or "you selected the incorrect community," while providing himself in an main capacity, he " might have been attempting to utilize the influence of his position to stop the medical marijuana grow in his community in order to avoid a personal monetary hinderance."

Further examination is likewise required to determine whether Lindsey may have had a dispute of interest when he initiated a suit naming the residential or commercial property owners and others.

"There seems significant objective basis to think that one or more infractions of Oregon Government Ethics law may have occurred as a outcome of Mr. Lindsey's actions in relation to the marijuana being grown on Mr. Owenby and Ms. Page's property in his neighborhood. The Oregon Federal Government Ethics Commission must transfer to investigate whether John Lindsey may have violated ORS 244.040( 1 ), ORS 244.040( 4) and ORS 244.120(2 ( Movement 4)," stated the report approved by Ronald Bersin, the commission's executive director.