February 13, 2008 - 11:09am
Mooney Evans faces potential conflict of interest
By Wally EdgeWith website Politico reporting that former Monmouth Mayor Paul Evans announced his candidacy to replace retiring Rep. Darlene Hooley, many Democrats are wondering if his wife, Joan Mooney Evans, will resign as Hooley's Chief of Staff in Washington, DC.
Mooney Evans, considered the ring leader of the Hooley organization (both congressional and campaign), has 12 years of access to Hooley's fundraising list, polling results and background research of the district and is not afraid to use that information to give her husband a leg up in the Democratic primary. Some suggest that such access presents strong competing interests between supporting her husband's campaign to replace an elected official whose office she manages on a daily basis.
At the very least a considerable appearance of impropriety exits. Democratic insiders are already speculating that Hooley waited so long to announce her retirement at the persistant urging of Mooney Evans to give her husband a strong advantage. Maintaing her job on Capitol Hill may ultimately cost Evans in political credibility and local support in what is shaping up to be a hotly contested Democratic primary campaign.
Other Dems seriously considering a run for the 5th CD include Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner, State Senator Kurt Schrader and his wife Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader.
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Your article about joan
Your article about joan Mooney Evans was mean spirited and undemocratic. do you mean Paul Evans does not have a right to run because his wife works in D.C.? What about the Scharder's. Maybe you should liik into some of their wheeling and dealing in clackamus County???
Mooney Evans
If Paul Evans is lucky, his wife will focus on her current job and have nothing to do with his campaign. Of course that won't happen, as she will try to do both jobs and drive everyone and her offcie crazy- key word being CRAZY. While some OR members like DeFazio keep largely the same staff over the years, Hooley has had tremendous turnover, and you don't have to scratch too deeply to hear Joan mentioned as the catlyst for many departures. Notable OR political figures like Trial lawyer Ex Dir. Beth Bernard, consultant Hiram Sachs, and State Rep. Dave Hunt have all worked for Hooley, but not for long. Joan is the equivilant of Fred Thompson's wife, a control freak who has more ambitition than skill. WHy Hooley has kept her all these years is a mystery to many of us.
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