Dear friends and neighbors,
This January, my team and I completed the office’s annual report. I hope you will read it for recaps on last year’s reports and community engagement activities, as well as overviews of our office’s functions and approach to public service.
The report also includes the following message from me:
One thing you might not know about me is that I am a huge fan of science fiction generally, and of Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia E. Butler in particular. I have always wondered how those visionaries could imagine a future (albeit, not always a happy one) while living through perilous times. I think they had to have hope – hope that there would be a future for humanity.
I mention this because, for many people I know and for me at times, the federal rhetoric and actions in 2025 made it difficult to have hope. It is hard to hope that we will create a more just society when all around us is evidence that at the federal level, unaccountable people are in charge. It is hard to hope when ICE agents act with impunity, when federal assistance to help people access food is cut, when human rights are threatened consistently. What has kept me going has been you.
Seeing people in our county help each other in ways large and small has kept me hopeful. The people of Multnomah County have shown up for each other - from participating in peaceful protests to supporting organizations that help people meet basic needs through your work, volunteerism, and donations.
It has been such an honor for my team and I to show up for you through audits, case work, and investigations conducted according to rigorous, fact-based, ethical standards. I urge you to keep showing up for each other. Let’s keep giving each other hope. My office will be there with you in person at events, and in spirit as we promote an accountable, equitable county government.
Thank you,
Jennifer
New recommendations overview web page
In response to requests from County Commissioners and community members, we have created a web page where you can see which recommendations we have made to county departments and offices and when we will assess their status, as well as department/office implementation rates for recommendations we have assessed. You can also access recent recommendation status evaluation reports. We will update this web page (and its related pages) once a quarter, with the next update planned for April.
New contract monitoring recommendations report
This month we issued the report Recommendation Status Evaluation: Contract monitoring - most recommendations have been implemented. We found that the county implemented four of the 2024 contract monitoring audit’s recommendations, with one still in the process of being implemented. Operations & Audit Director Annamarie McNiel worked on the 2024 audit and conducted this evaluation.
The 2024 audit’s recommendations focused on improving the effectiveness of contract monitoring through improved standardization and coordination across the county. The goal of these recommendations was to provide clear expectations and consistent procedures within the county and for contracted providers.
The recommendation that is still in process is for the county to develop a mechanism to evaluate department compliance with the countywide contract monitoring policy. Based on information shared by management, the Contract Administration unit is developing a reporting tool to collect contract deliverable data from departmental tracking systems. The tool is anticipated to be piloted by the end of February 2026.
Community engagement
On January 19, Constituent Relations & DEI Engagement Specialist Raymond De Silva, County Ombudsperson Intake Specialist Gelsi Tuz-Uxul, Audit Director Caroline Zavitkovski, Senior Auditor Mandi Hood, and I participated in SOLVE’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Cleanup & Community Gathering in Portland’s Irving Park and surrounding neighborhood. SOLVE’s intention for the event was to carry forward Dr. King’s belief that everyone has the power and responsibility to uplift their community. Dr. King’s messages remain critical to striving to build a just society where all people have the opportunity to thrive.
Invite Auditor McGuirk to attend an event or meeting
If you’d like me and or staff to attend or speak at a meeting with your community group, simply fill out this form.