By Larry Coonrod, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:00 am
Sodaville found itself in the spotlight after the Albany Democrat-Herald newspaper reported on Nov. 19 that its mayor-elect, Thomas Brady Harrington, 33, has a felony criminal record and just completed probation in July for a 2006 criminal mischief conviction.
Harrington, who goes by Brady, defeated incumbent mayor Ronda Bennett by 79 to 66 votes during the Nov. 4 election.
According to Linn County Clerk Steve Druckenmiller, unless a city's charter specifically states otherwise, convicted felons are allowed to hold office under state law as long as they are not incarcerated when they assume office. A felony conviction also does not bar an Oregon citizen from voting.
Karen Corrington, Sodaville city administrator and water manager, said the only qualifications for mayor listed in the city charter are that candidates reside inside the city limits in the 12 months prior to the election.
According to the Democrat Herald, Harrington's record of convictions goes back to 1995 and includes assault, attempting to elude police, robbery and felon in possession of a firearm.
Harrington said he started going to Sodaville council meetings after learning that the former city recorder had embezzled $30,000 last year.
"I was hearing about three years of financial audits that needed to be done and the water issues," Harrington said. "In eight months, I didn't really hear any suggestions on how to improve anything."
For the past five years, Sodaville's five wells have been unable to keep up with water demand during the summer, causing the city to truck in water. Plans to finance another well and associated infrastructure were derailed after the embezzlement of city funds.
"I think I can bring a fresh outlook on all those things," Harrington said. "I think, with all these past problems, citizens kind of lost faith in the city council. They've been throwing money at this thing with no real goals."
As mayor, Harrington said he wants to conduct an in-depth review of the water system and develop a cohesive plan to fix it.
Harrington doesn't believe his criminal convictions should influence people's view of him as mayor.
"I've done my time and proven to the state I've changed," he said. "Regardless of my past, I can do a good job for the city."
Corrington said the Sodaville mayor's job is to run council meetings, preside over deliberations and preserve order. Harrington will also vote on motions before the council. In some cities, mayors only vote in the case of a tie between council members.
Some citizens have asked Corrington about recalling Harrington, she said. Any recall attempt will have to wait until six months after Harrington assumes his two-year term of office on Jan. 15, according to the Linn County Clerk's Office.
During the city council's Nov. 20 meeting, which Harrington attended as an observer, the town's tiny meeting room was packed with spectators and media. Crews from KATU and KGW filmed the proceedings.
"I felt like we were blindsided by the media and all the people," said Michelle Kirkman, Sodaville city councilor. "We just came to discuss regular board issues."
Kirkman, who is the office administrator for Ray Jackman Repair in Sodaville, said she knows Harrington, who used to work as a welder for Jackman and doesn't anticipate any problems with with him as mayor.
"There's no reason to premeditate that Brady is going to be a bad mayor," she said.
Kirkman speculated that Bennett may have lost in part because voters associated her with the city's water and financial woes.
"You're always going to be the bad guy when things aren't working right," Kirkman said.
A Lebanon Express reporter asked several Sodaville residents why they thought voters had chosen Harrington over Bennett. None wanted their names used, but all said they didn't know Harrington and thought voters may have assumed they were voting for his father, Thomas L. Harrington, who owns Harrington Rock Products near Sodaville.