Accounting Scandal Mars Walden's Gubernatorial Announcement
Democratic Party of Oregon
232 NE 9th Ave.
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 224-8200
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Contact: Marc Siegel
Accounting Scandal Mars Walden's Gubernatorial Announcement
How can Oregonians trust Greg Walden to stand up for them when he can't even stand up to his accountant?
Portland - The same week Republican U.S. Congressman Greg Walden unofficially kicked off his 2010 gubernatorial campaign in Seaside, he also stepped into a Washington, D.C. accounting scandal.
According to The Bulletin in Bend, Walden chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee audit panel during the same time the panel failed to conduct audits.
(The Bulletin, 2-26-08)
Just a few days after that story broke, Republicans at the conservative Dorchester conference were touting Walden's prospects as governor to the audience and reporters.
"After, many in the audience speculated he was laying groundwork to run for governor in 2010."
(The Oregonian, 3-2-08)
So, a few questions for the gubernatorial candidate, the man who wants to lead Oregon:
1. How could it take the chair of the auditing panel two years to notice criminal audit fraud? Is your gubernatorial campaign platform going to be "I'll worry about Oregon's problems halfway through my first term?"
"But two years into his tenure as chairman of the audit committee, Walden said he began to have doubts about the audits he received."
(The Bulletin, 2-26-08)
2. Do you regret shirking your responsibilities and leaving the problem up to your successor to handle? Why was your successor up to the challenge of taking action and you were not?
"The National Republican Congressional Committee didn't take action until more than a year into the tenure of Walden's successor, Rep. Michael Conaway, R-Texas. Conaway, who is a certified public accountant, pressed Cole to take action after reviewing the committee's finances, said Conaway spokeswoman Anna Koch."
(The Bulletin, 2-26-08)
3. How could a sitting congressman and chair of an auditing panel be unable to meet the auditors he is responsible for overseeing? These people worked for you for years, yet you could not set up a meeting? And how could that kind of bizarre behavior not force you to take clear, decisive action such as firing the accounting firm or ordering an investigation, rather than leaving it for your successor to clean up?
"On Monday, Walden said he tried several times to meet with the outside auditors and was stiff-armed by committee staff. ‘We just got spun, frankly,' he said."
(Steve Duin Column, The Oregonian, 3-4-08)
"Talk about poor timing. The same week Greg Walden starts his campaign for governor, his fiscal negligence and feckless leadership is splashed all over Oregon newspapers," DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. "It's tough to boast about fiscal integrity, leadership and accountability, when your own political party can't trust you with their finances. How can Oregonians trust Greg Walden to stand up for them when he can't even stand up to his accountant?"
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