On the 15th of October I published a detailed investigative report about Newberg City Councilor Elise Hollamon titled, “Behind the Public Image of Newberg Councilor Elise Hollamon: An Investigation Into Money, Politics and Personal Controversies“. This lengthy but comprehensive article discussed many controversies related to Hollamon concerning what I believe to be charity fraud, misrepresentations about her education and other scandals.
Since the publication of that article I have received additional information. Emails provided to the Yamhill Advocate by public records request show that Newberg City Councilor Elise Hollamon tried to use her position to get City Councilor Robyn Wheatley’s husband Brian Wheatley fired for criticizing her on his personal Instagram account, as well as for campaign ads his PAC Community Oriented Public Servants has made in the past that criticized her. Brian Wheatley is a reserve police officer for Newberg-Dundee.
You can download the PDF of this email by clicking here.
You can also plainly see that part of her complaint is that Brian Wheatley is the director of a Political Action Committee (PAC) that has criticized her in the past.
You can download the entire PDF of this email chain by clicking here.
I find it ironic Hollamon is daring to speak about ethics violations in her email to justify what is obviously just censorship of those who are critical about her. Censorship which is, I believe, illegal.
As part of her complaint Hollamon alleges Brian Wheatley has “associations with an individual who coordinated death threats against me, which has continued over the years.” Based on Hollamon’s public statements in the past I assume she is referring to me, which is a slanderous and false accusation, for two reasons. Not only have I never organized any such threats against anyone, I also haven’t spoken to Brian Wheatley in several years, let alone had “associations” with him.
The claims of death threats are unsupported — years ago when Elise Hollamon first made these allegations against me, I made public records requests for any police report Hollamon made about death threats. I was informed by the Newberg-Dundee Police Dept there was no reports filed by Hollamon about any death threats. I have no doubts she made these accusations up to distract from the fact she was trying to have me falsely arrested as retaliation for publishing a recording I made during a public meeting where Hollamon admitted that Progressive Yamhill is an extension of the Yamhill County Democrats. Progressive Yamhill is a registered chapter of the nation wide organization Indivisible, which is responsible for funding and organizing Antifa activities and other events like the so-called “No Kings Day” protests.
In her complaint against Brian Wheatley, Elise Hollamon also referenced her membership and connection in the Rotary. She claimed that numerous people in the Rotary believe Brian Wheatley was speaking on behalf of the City — which is a pretty ridiculous thing to suggest, as this implies members of the Rotary (which is supposed to be non-political) are trying to help Hollamon find justification for getting a Newberg City employee fired.
The First Amendment protects political expression, including criticism of elected officials. These protections extend to public employees when they speak as private citizens on matters of public concern, subject to established legal limitations. Political campaign advertisements, commentary about elected officials and criticism of government conduct are central forms of protected political expression. Furthermore, Oregon law also specifically protects the political activities of public employees.
ORS 260.432(3)(a) preserves the right of a public employee to express personal political views, provided that a reasonable person would not conclude those views represent the employee’s public employer. Using one’s personal social media profile (in this case an Instagram account unconnected to Brian Wheatley’s work for the City) to criticize a public official, even one who is an official for a city you work for, is legally allowed. Elise Hollamon surely knows this, because this kind of criticism is what all of the Progressive Yamhill members who worked for the Newberg-Dundee School District regularly posted onto social media throughout Progressive Yamhill’s multi-year campaign against the conservative School Board counselors for many years.
Instead of the City of Newberg Employee Social Media Policy Hollamon quotes from in her email, she should have instead looked at the Newberg City Charter, Section 34(i): that reads,
“No council member may directly or indirectly attempt to coerce the manager or a candidate for the office of manager in the appointment or removal of any city employee, or in administrative decisions regarding city property or contracts. Violation of this prohibition is grounds for removal from office by a majority of the council after a public hearing.”
Perhaps the other members of Newberg City Council should be reminded about what the City Charter actually says? Tools exist at their disposal to remove Elise Hollamon from office.
This is yet more proof that Elise Hollamon, contrary to her public facing claims of wanting to turn the so-called “political temperature” down or that she is just some well meaning person wanting to help people with kindness and compassion, and heal political divides….this is more proof Hollamon is actually behind the scenes breaking the laws and harassing her critics and political opponents using her political power and connections.
