As the country struggles to uphold ethical norms in government, Common Cause has convened a group of Oregon civic leaders – across party lines – to promote government ethics. We are dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy, and we believe Oregonians deserve an ethical government that works in the public interest.

This Nonpartisan Ethics Workgroup is currently advancing 3 priorities:

• Candidate Pledge – This candidate pledge – initially targeting Oregon candidates for U.S. Congress and Oregon Secretary of State – provides a tool that Oregon voters can use to demand ethical leadership from candidates, assess candidates’ commitments, and hold them accountable.
• Code of Conduct – Once in office, government officials should be required to sign off on ethical expectations, and to annually review and renew that understanding and commitment. The workgroup is working to make this a reality in Oregon.
• Ethics Education – Countering the significant lack of civics education in the schools, the workgroup is collaborating with two Oregon school districts to develop and pilot a government ethics curriculum for Oregon high school students.

Ethics Workgroup Members:

• Mike Marsh, Workgroup Chair, Metzger: former state budget director and state agency deputy director
• Paul De Muniz, Salem: law professor and former Chief Justice, Oregon Supreme Court
• Neil Bryant, Bend: attorney and former State Senator
• Steve March, Portland: former State Representative, Multnomah County Auditor and university fiscal officer
• Dave Fiskum, Salem: Conkling Fiskum & McCormick Strategic Communications, former state manager and current Ethics Commission member
• Rick Coulson, Beaverton: Senior Fellow & General Manager, Intel Storage Technology Group
• Carol Coye Benson, Portland: founding partner of financial services firm Glenbrook
• Carlene Jackson, Molalla: former state agency deputy director and budget supervisor
• Jim Moore, Washington County: Pacific University professor and Director of Political Outreach at McCall Center for Civic Engagement, political commentator

Between now and Election Day, we must make sure candidates know how important democracy issues are to voters — and that we expect them to let us know where they stand on our common-sense democracy solutions. And after the election, we must keep mobilizing to hold the winners accountable to the promises they made — so we can strengthen our democracy in 2021 and beyond.

This questionnaire’s sole purpose is to advance the issues being addressed — Common Cause does not support or endorse candidates for elected office.

Since 1970, Common Cause has been working to hold power accountable through lobbying, litigation, and organizing. Our non-partisan, pro-democracy work has helped pass hundreds of reforms at the federal, state, and local levels. Our more than 1.2 million members and more than 30 state organizations around the country work to strengthen our democracy by empowering the voices of everyday Americans in government.