Gordon Friedman

Statesman Journal

The former head of a state agency has been awarded $1.26 million after a jury found that she was fired for whistleblowing.

Kyle Walker was CEO of the semi-independent state agency Oregon Travel Experience until being fired in 2014. She sought $2.5 million for being wrongfully terminated after raising concerns that the agency's governing council was operating illegally, court filings show.

A 2014 Statesman Journal report found that the state spent nearly $50 million resolving employment claims in 10 years.

The Oregon Travel Experience maintains blue highway business signs, rest stops, travel information kiosks and the Oregon Heritage Tree program. It employs about 50 people, according to its website and is separate from state tourism agency Travel Oregon.

OTE Executive Director Nancy DeSouza declined to comment directly on Friday's verdict because a judge has yet to rule on part of the case, but said the state is considering an appeal. Oregon Department of Justice spokeswoman Kristina Edmunson echoed DeSouza, but added the state is disappointed in the verdict.

Court documents show Walker complained about alleged illegal activity by the volunteer group that governs the agency, the Oregon Travel Information Council.

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Luke Reese, Walker's attorney, said council members "didn't understand or appreciate" state law outlining their duties. The council unintentionally broke open government laws by meeting without public notice and by altering meeting minutes documents, Reese said.

Walker also alleged that council Chair Gwenn Baldwin and Vice Chair Robert Russell, both professional lobbyists, resisted implementing a plan to improve the agency devised in the wake of a 2012 Secretary of State audit showing the OTE faced financial problems.

Court documents show that Walker, in an attempt to clarify the role of the council, sought advice from the state Department of Justice and then-state Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan.

In May 2014, the Department of Justice said the council's executive committee acted beyond its authority. Five months later, Walker was fired by the council.

In its defense, the state claimed it was immune from liability and that any harms resulted from Walker's own actions.

Reese said his case rested on the argument that Walker's termination resulted from blowing the whistle to Jordan. "The jury agreed,” Reese said.

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