More money tangles in Jefferson Smith web (Jack Bog's Blog)

Here's a funny one in the O: Portland mayoral candidate Jefferson Smith, who is leaving the Oregon legislature, billed the state taxpayers $200 a month for office space for himself at the same address as his campaign headquarters, and his famous "Bus Project." The place isn't even in his district -- not even close, at seven miles' distance -- but supposedly he used the location for doing legislative business.

Smith said Tuesday that all three offices were in the same building but stayed separate from each other and that the campaign office and district office were distinct specifically to make sure state dollars weren't paying for campaign activities.

Sure, buddy. You kept all that straight.

As outlined on this blog in the past, the "Bus Project" is actually three different organizations: a nonprofit charity, a 501(c)(4) organization, and a political action committee. Notorious for sloppiness (or worse) with details -- he has been temporarily kicked out of the state bar multiple times for failing to pay dues, and has blown off the state's motor vehicle laws on several occasions -- Smith does not inspire much beyond guffaws with his claims that all of these entities and offices are "separate." In his mind, maybe. When it suits him.

We count five different Smith-related installations in the same location: Bus charity, Bus 501(c)(4), Bus PAC, Smith campaign, and Smith legislative district office. And prowling around the internet, we find several other occupants listed at that address: Tazo Tea, Moore Co., Peter's Pro Shop, Accent Marketing, Pareto Global Consulting, Lifeline... All those "separate" offices for Smith must be mighty small.

"It made it workable for me," Smith said. "When you're in the Legislature trying to hold down a full-time job, if you can be careful about commuting that helps. Having a legislative office that was nearby to my day job [at the Bus Project] made a lot of sense."

The most recent filing of the 501(c)(4) "Bus" organization, whose real name is New Progressive Network, shows Smith working there only 10 hours a week.

Oh, well. It's only 200 bucks a month, right? And nobody with any authority is going to question anything here unless it's an enterprising IRS agent. (Who could probably have a career week dropping by for a visit.) But this latest caper adds to the lengthy volume of frightening data about Jefferson Smith, rules, and money. It's Sam Adams with a Harvard Law diploma. Portland voters, run -- don't walk.

Comments (13)

but...but...Willie Week likes him!
Let's pickle that!

Posted by portland native | March 8, 2012 9:01 AM

You'd think that's the sort of thing that someone with ADHD bad enough to miss court dates and bar filing fees would really try to avoid.

Posted by Dave J.. | March 8, 2012 9:14 AM

I'm glad they summed up what he said. That saved everyone a lot of time. Some politicians speak in sound bites. Jefferson Smith speaks in 7-course dinners.

Posted by Bill McDonald | March 8, 2012 9:24 AM

The 7-course dinner made by a primitive Bedrock chef - ask Barney.

Posted by Starbuck | March 8, 2012 10:32 AM

I see that the Lithuanian consulate cohabits this address.

I'm surprised that the consul's name is Randolph L. Miller...

...maybe a different Lithuania.

Posted by cc | March 8, 2012 10:46 AM

'Twould be fun to amble by the location with a digital camera and get photos of each separate office.

I'm surprised (well, not really) that the boys from Willie Week haven't done that.

Tho O, of course, is hopeless. If its not in a canned press release the O can regurgitate, it won't get printed.

Posted by Nonny Mouse | March 8, 2012 11:08 AM

"I see that the Lithuanian consulate cohabits this address."

Smith chose that location so he could quickly ask for political asylum, if needed.

Posted by Random | March 8, 2012 11:11 AM

Well DUH!
Of course he is going to keep his office there. When you can be only 430 feet to this wonderful place?
www.producerowcafe.com

and another 400 feet to this even MORE wonderful place???
www.winkshardware.com

Posted by Concordbridge | March 8, 2012 1:16 PM

I'll bring extra batteries for the camera on my Friday field trip

Posted by cc | March 8, 2012 1:42 PM

I look forward to the pictures of all these "separate" offices..

Posted by tankfixer | March 8, 2012 6:09 PM

Believe me, Smith and the Buskids are scrambling to make all these separate offices with partition moves, desk shuffling. There's even free pizza tonight. They know they'll be spied on. It's hilarious. There's even confusion of how many "offices" they need to pretend.

Posted by lw | March 8, 2012 8:43 PM

Jack,
Help!
What does this say about those who educate the children of our community?
Just received this in an email:

Jefferson Smith Endorsed by Teachers in Mayor's Race

Representative Jefferson Smith has received the endorsement of Portland Association of Teachers’ (PAT) political committee...

Posted by clinamen | March 8, 2012 9:33 PM

It says that Smith's parents have a little political machine going. But he's still going to run a distant third. And apparently, a lot of organized labor isn't committing:

http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/03/nolc-5/

Posted by Jack Bog | March 9, 2012 2:56 AM

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Thursday, March 8, 2012

More money tangles in Jefferson Smith web

Comments (13)

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