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Salem resident urges recusal, cites two state ethics complaints against Commissioner Bethel
Summary
Kathleen Treppa told the Marion County Board of Commissioners she believes Commissioner Bethel should have recused himself after voting to approve contract amendments benefiting a company that employs his son and criticized local attorneys for defending elected officials facing ethics complaints.
Kathleen Treppa of Salem used her allotted public comment time at the Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 17 to highlight two state ethics complaints involving Commissioner Bethel. Treppa said she did not assume malintent but argued the proper course would have been for Bethel to recuse himself from votes that benefited a contractor employing his son.
"You do not vote on any agreement that benefits you or a family member," Treppa said. She told the board that the contract amendments she referenced totaled "almost $2,000,000." She added that recusing himself would not have changed the outcome but would have been the proper action.
Treppa also raised a second complaint stemming from an incident in which Bethel’s daughter was pulled over by a Marion County deputy and—according to Treppa—did not have a current insurance card in the vehicle. Treppa said she was troubled that, after the deputy explained how to handle the citation, Bethel told the deputy to "be thoughtful in his response," language Treppa characterized as "manipulative." She called on elected officials and local public-sector attorneys to follow the law and avoid providing what she described as personal legal cover for officials facing ethics inquiries.
The board did not debate Treppa’s remarks during the public-comment period; the chair thanked her and moved to the consent calendar. No formal response from Commissioner Bethel was recorded in the meeting transcript.
The matter of the state ethics complaints and any related investigations is handled by the state ethics commission; Treppa’s statements reflect her view and the allegations she referenced, which were not adjudicated on the boardroom floor during the Dec. 17 meeting.
