October 2025

Letter to Local Editors:

I’d like to give everyone an update on my work in Curry County in light of recent developments. As part of a broad mission to help streamline and modernize operations in county government over the last couple of years working as County Counsel, I was accused of unethical conduct by a pair of elected officials. 

Being smeared while tackling thorny local-government problems isn’t completely surprising, but it was frustrating to be legally muzzled and unable to publicly defend myself. Now that these situations have been resolved, I can explain what has been going on.

In 2022 the Curry County Board of Commissioners appointed me to help resolve some serious problems based on my interest and experience working with troubled businesses and public entities.  Examples that came to light included budget shortfalls amid shrinking revenues; improper use and sale of county assets; outdated financial and record-keeping systems exposing the county to loss and liability; and potentially risky mismanagement in key departments including law enforcement. There are some other, very serious county facility issues I’m exploring that have not yet been publicized.

The work to reform and improve operations across county departments is yielding positive results under the commissioners’ leadership, which is documented in the records of official county meetings and discussions. We have also explored specific issues within the sheriff’s and assessor’s offices, where we continue to seek a full picture of how resources are being deployed, and where some services fall far short of minimum public expectations.

As I began meticulously working toward identifying and resolving these issues, attempts were made to stop me in my tracks. First, the sheriff in 2024 filed a nonsensical bar complaint against me, which loomed over the county for nearly a year, creating uncertainty and fodder for gossip. Legally I was unable to publicly discuss the situation. I realize publicity is part of the job when you’re serving the public. But it’s egregious when you don’t get to tell your side of the story at a time of low trust in information, and when people have very short attention spans.

The Oregon Bar in August 2025 quietly dismissed the sheriff’s bar complaint as without merit, exonerating me. 

Separately, in April 2025 the assessor filed a baseless complaint of retaliation, harassment and gender discrimination against me.

The commissioners directed a law firm to launch an immediate investigation of the assessor’s allegations.  A separate employment investigation firm, with an investigator unknown to me from another area of the state, was engaged to perform the task.  The benefit to those opposing changes in Curry County operations was that for most of 2025 I was the subject of two separate, public ethical inquiries. Recent press releases from the county explain that after thorough investigations, both of the attacks on my professional behavior were found to be meritless. 

This month Judge Martin Stone granted summary Judgment in favor of the Board of Commissioners on six of the eight issues disputed by Sheriff Ward in the Declaratory action filed last December.  While the sheriff is not compelled to attend Board meetings and participate, he is compelled to cooperate with legal counsel and the Board of Commissioners before entering into contracts, recognize that all county property is under the control of the Board of Commissioners, and observe and comply with all county policies adopted by the Board, unless an exception is discussed and approved by the Board of Commissioners.   These are the issues that have prevented me from performing my duties as county counsel and risk manager for Curry County.

I’m hopeful now that we can all return to our work under the guidance of the county commissioners and move toward greater clarity and collaboration in sorting out the complexities to deliver vital services to Curry County taxpayers in the most effective and efficient way possible. 

Michael E.  (Ted) Fitzgerald