EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A judge has ruled that two Lane County commissioners violated Oregon public meetings law in 2009 and are personally liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses in the case.
The Register-Guard reports that Coos County Circuit Judge Michael Gillespie also faulted two other commissioners.
Gillespie handed down his ruling Tuesday after hearing testimony in December and reviewing evidence in a lawsuit accusing commissioners Rob Handy and Pete Sorenson of violating public meetings law while Handy lined up votes to approve personal assistants for commissioners.
But Handy and Sorenson defended their actions and their commitment to open government, and said they are planning a response.
