FILE - Keith Wilson pictured in 2024 after being elected mayor of Portland.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson violated campaign finance law by accepting large donations in 2024, according to the city auditor’s office.
The auditor’s investigation of Wilson’s mayoral campaign coffers found that Wilson accepted donations above the city’s campaign finance cap of $579 per donor three times. While Wilson eventually returned these illegal donations, he didn’t do it within the required seven-day window to avoid penalties.
“The refunds occurred too late to correct the excess contributions,” reads the decision, signed by Chief Deputy Auditor Reed Brodersen.
That violation sticks Wilson with a $526 fine. The three donors must each pay a $121 fine.
Wilson plans to comply.
“The mayor is committed to meeting and exceeding all election rules,” reads a statement from Wilson’s office shared with OPB. “These three small election donation overages that our auditor discovered – which the campaign refunded a few days past the grace period – are a reminder that details matter."
This investigation was sparked by an unusual source: a lawsuit filed against the city by former City Councilor Rene Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who ran against Wilson for mayor in 2024, was also dinged by the city for accepting larger-than-allowed donations under city campaign finance rules. He’s challenging that decision in court, arguing that the city auditor’s office expressed bias by penalizing him while ignoring Wilson’s alleged finance violations.
According to the auditor’s office, Gonzalez’s legal complaint inspired the investigation into Wilson’s donations. The auditor’s office said it had not received any complaints about Wilson’s potential violation before that lawsuit was filed.
Gonzalez’s legal challenge also noted that former councilor and mayoral candidate Carmen Rubio may have violated the city’s campaign finance rules in 2024. Deborah Scroggin is the city elections manager, an office overseen by the city auditor. Scroggin said the auditor’s office didn’t investigate those allegations, as they “did not have reason to believe any violations occurred.”
Per the auditor’s ruling, Wilson has until Aug. 10 to pay the fine. He can also appeal the decision before July 30.
