How much does it cost to buy our local government and violate county rules with impunity? About $146,000.

Lane County has seen a handful of individuals putting tens of thousands of dollars towards local officials to push radical agendas and personal interests this year, but one of the most egregious was the case of Kathy Jones-McCann, who put almost $150,000 of her own money behind her preferred slate of candidates for the county commission this spring. This was by far the most money anyone has ever donated to Lane County commissioners. 

What did she get out of this? Jones-McCann secretly built a multimillion dollar compound on protected land, and wanted the county commissioners to vote to retroactively approve her project. Since she had hidden the building from local government, this meant the lumber heiress not only violated county rules, but escaped paying permitting fees and years worth of property taxes.

She also was at risk of being charged $2,000 a day for noncompliance, which would have been an expensive proposition. Rather than risk her home being denied, or having to pay for her illegal activities, she decided to pursue the less expensive option of just trying to buy the commissioners who vote on the issue.

After $46,000 in contributions to Ryan Ceniga, $42,000 to David Loveall and a jaw-dropping $67,000 to candidate Jake Pelroy, she got her way. Lane County not only could be bought, but was bought. Voting against the blatant corruption of our local government was commissioner Heather Buch, whom Jake Pelroy is running against.

While Ceniga won re-election and Loveall lost in May, the race between Buch and Pelroy went to a runoff this November. 

This election provides an opportunity for voters in the Lane County Board of Commissioners’ East Lane District 5 to reject the idea that the wealthy can buy their way to being above the law.

Just this week, two business entities Jones-McCann manages put another $50,000 towards Pelroy. Supporting Heather Buch is a way to send a clear message that we do not want our county sold to the highest bidder.

Mary Ann Petersen
Eugene