Oregon Ethics Commission Opens Investigation into Union County Commissioner Matt Scarfo

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission unanimously voted at its February 6 meeting to open a formal investigation into Union County Commissioner Matt Scarfo, focusing on whether he failed to disclose income on his statement from last year.

The path to a full investigation began with a preliminary review conducted by OGEC staff member Casey Fenstermaker. While Fenstermaker recommended dismissing the initial complaint allegations, she separately recommended the commission investigate Scarfo's apparent failure to disclose income on his annual statement. Commissioners took no action on the initial allegations, and the commission's attorney said that inaction would result in their administrative dismissal.

The commission will also examine whether Scarfo violated government ethics laws when he voted in his role as commissioner to bring the issue of term limit constitutionality before a Union County judge. Scarfo disputes the complaint. "I take great pride in my ethics and serving the citizens of Union County," he told the commission during the February 6 meeting.

Under OGEC rules, the commission has 180 days to investigate a case once it enters the formal investigation phase. At the conclusion of that window, staff will prepare a written report to be presented and considered by the commission during a regular public meeting. OGEC meeting agendas remain confidential until posted to the commission's website, though recordings become available for public viewing after each meeting concludes.

The Scarfo investigation is one of several matters the commission has taken up in recent months. At its February 9 meeting, OGEC voted to further investigate Joel Peterson of the Port of Morrow after Fenstermaker's preliminary review found the Bank of Eastern Oregon is a business with which Peterson is associated and that he was required to declare a conflict of interest. In a separate matter, the commission dismissed the case against Morrow County CDA board member Jeff Wenholz after Fenstermaker determined the Bank of Eastern Oregon is not a business with which he is associated. The commission also considered a case involving state politician Greg Smith for the third consecutive meeting before ultimately dismissing it.

In December, the commission voted 7-0 to open formal investigations into current and former members of the Ochoco West Water and Sanitary Authority board in Crook County, finding a substantial objective basis to believe numerous violations of Oregon's public meetings laws may have occurred.

With the 180-day clock now running on the Scarfo matter, the investigation's outcome will ultimately be presented in a public OGEC meeting, giving Union County residents a formal opportunity to see the commission's findings.