Jody Stutsman Vaughan

By Edward Snook Investigative Journalist Bend, Oregon – In the May, 2010 Primary Election held in Deschutes County, Oregon, for the office of District Attorney, Patrick Flaherty unseated Michael Dugan who has held the office since Ronald Reagan was President. Deputy District Attorneys closed ranks and voted to form a Union in an attempt to keep their jobs. They are currently negotiating with Deschutes County officials regarding a contract that would require Flaherty to follow a specific process before disciplining or dismissing his deputies. The Union was created for the sole purpose of allowing deputy prosecutors to keep their jobs and side-step Flaherty’s authority as an elected public official. Deschutes County Officials should think long and hard before they decide to preempt an elected official from running his office – from stripping his authority. The US~Observer will publicly shame any that do so, especially in light of the documented corruption that exists in the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. This corruption has cost tax-payers hundreds of thousands of dollars.