Gresham strips candidates of uniforms

City manager responds to concerns expressed by local citizens

By Mara Stine

The Gresham Outlook, Aug 5, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (27 Reader comments)

Gresham Police Chief Carla Piluso, a candidate for Multnomah County commissioner, will have to change her future campaign literature now that the city of Gresham has banned the use of city uniforms for non-work purposes.

Contributed graphic

ADVERTISEMENTS

Gresham City Hall has changed its administrative rules to prevent employees from wearing uniforms for non-work purposes.

The change – made by City Manager Erik Kvarsten on Tuesday, Aug. 5, and effective immediately – throws a wrench into two local campaigns for positions on the November ballot involving a firefighter and Gresham’s police chief.

Gresham Police Chief Carla Piluso is running against Diana McKeel, executive director of the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce, for a seat on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. Greg Matthews, a lieutenant with Gresham Fire & Emergency Services, is challenging Rep. John Lim for House District 50.

A group of 15 citizens, including many McKeel supporters, sent city councilors a letter on Monday, Aug. 4, calling for the council to prohibit city employees from using city property, including uniforms, for political purposes.

They also requested that the city logo not be used by a candidate “as a de facto endorsement,” according to the letter.

The letter writers include past and present politicians and those with careers in law enforcement, among others. Vicki Thompson, David Shields and Jacquenette McIntire, all of whom are former Gresham city councilors, signed the letter, as did Damascus City Councilor David Jothen and state Rep. Patti Smith, R-Corbett. A retired sheriff’s deputy, a retired Portland police sergeant and a Portland firefighter also signed it.

In particular, they took issue with Piluso using photos of herself in police uniform as part of her campaign literature, as well as a shot of her in front of a Gresham police cruiser.

“The position of police chief and the use of the official police uniform and city police property and logos must be recognized as owned by the public and must always be seen as neutral and impartial,” they wrote. “We do not believe its use should be to further political or private aspirations of those who hold public positions.”

Or as Patti Smith put it, “it gives an unfair advantage.”

Bob Paine, a retired Multnomah County sheriff’s deputy, said a candidate shouldn’t be able to wear a police uniform when running for a position outside of law enforcement.

“That should not be something that you can use to further your political career,” he said. Plus, it implies the agency supports the candidate, which may not be the case, Paine added.

1 | 2 Next Page >>