December 11, 2012 -
HERMISTON, Ore. - The Hermiston city attorney is reviewing the details surrounding the city's definition of an "appointed position" after questions were raised about the eligibility of a newly elected city councilor.
At a meeting on Monday, City Council members expressed concern that councilor-elect Doug Primmer's wife is an employee of the city police department and president of the Hermiston police union; and the city forbids that spouses or close family members of city council have an appointed position in the city.
Primmer says that "appointed position" refers only to department heads, not employees such as dispatchers, and that the union is a separate entity from the city. He also says he would gladly abstain from voting on police matters.
