If you had a friend who was being investigated for something, let’s say driving stolen cars, and you had maybe been around him and driven the vehicles, pretending not to know, what would you do to help him? Would you perhaps consider tossing him a few bucks for a lawyer and hoping he doesn’t mention your involvement? And maybe you sign an agreement not to speak badly of each other, unless not telling the truth would compromise your freedom. Would you do that? Ponder that- think on it for a moment.
In mid-March, I filed an Ethics Complaint against Clean Water Services CEO Diane Taniguchi-Dennis. Another citizen I were the first to file with the State of Oregon investigative body. Another 8 to 10 have since filed. This came as a result of the Oregonian’s investigation into massive spending by the now-former CEO on lavish meals, hotels, and unnecessary trips for herself and a host of executives. Some of those folks we now know likely include several Washington County Commissioners. Additional Ethics complaints are going to be filed against some of them because they, along with CWS, have violated public disclosure laws and refused to provide crucial records despite multiple requests.
The Oregonian’s Jamie King, who originally broke the story, has confirmed that it appears the Ethics Panel has found sufficient evidence of wrongdoing by Taniguchi-Dennis to proceed with a full investigation. This may not lead to anything, but it may uncover misuse of funds, illegal use of public office, and a wide array of inappropriate behaviors by her and other parties. That is up to this panel to decide if they will move ahead.
Catch up on that story here:
Oregon ethics commission votes to launch investigation into former sewer CEO’s food, travel spending
This Comes After Washington County Paid Her A Special Buy Out-
READ THE STORY HERE
Last week, the CWS Board (Washington County Commissioners) agreed to a huge pay-off or buy-out, if you will. This amount, nearly $130,000, will cover Taniguchi-Wallace’s medical expenses and some salary. Previous reports stated that she had a large PERS package, which she was drawing while acting as the CEO for a portion of her time. According to the Oregon-Live searchable database, PERS is paying Diane Taniguchi-Dennis $147,119 per year, and this payment is presumably expected to continue for the remainder of her life.
Wow- she spends ratepayer money on meals, trips, junkets, decides to resign while under ethics complaints and a pending audit of her agency, and then gets paid by our County Commissioners? Four of the five county commissioners traveled the globe with the CEO and/or her staff in recent years. Hmm… let me see. They wouldn’t have some agreement not to disclose information about each other, would they? Oh, no. It couldn’t be. Silly me, what was I thinking?
According to reporting by The Oregonian, former CEO Diane Taniguchi-Dennis has agreed not to sue Clean Water Services as part of her exit deal, though she still retains the right to report potential discrimination to agencies like Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries. However, the agreement makes it clear she has waived any claim to monetary compensation from such reports.
The agreement also includes a mutual non-disparagement clause — though it makes an exception for “truthful statements” made by agency leaders if responding to investigations or audits. The agency is reportedly preparing to hire an outside investigator to audit its travel and meal expenses over the past three years.
[Source: The Oregonian, June 13, 2025 – “Washington County to approve six-figure payout for CEO who resigned from embattled sewer agency.” Full story: https://www.oregonlive.com/watchdog/2025/06/washington-county-to-approve-six-figure-payout-for-ceo-who-resigned-from-embattled-sewer-agency.html]
So to conclude:
- The CEO of CWS, Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, resigned under pressure, 8-10 ethics complaints filed, and a pending outside audit of her agency.
- The Hillsboro Herald, upon receiving information that 4 of the Washington County Commissioners also travelled and received benefits at CWS ratepayers’ expense, filed several public information requests to obtain records and a complete accounting of who went where and received what benefits. Those requests have gone unanswered but have caused internal strife based on CWS whistleblower messages we have received stating, “Please keep up the pressure”.
- Feeling the heat, the County Commissioners/CWS Board decide to pay the CEO a massive financial package to “not disparage them.”
- Rats jump from sinking ships and will drown each other to avoid going down. That is a known fact. Not applicable in this case at all…. right?
Here is a link to our story from early this month
In that letter, you will find proof of the dates and times of the Public Information Requests and the Ethics complaint.
Ms Meyers was clear with me that if I believe others are involved in the misuse of public funds, or any other ethical violations, I should file additional complaints, which will add on to the CEO matter. Fair enough.
Game on!
Please keep up on this. What has been going on with CWS is outrageous. I wrote several letters and have made several comments on various Facebook sites. It amazes me what these people are able to get away with and our high, ridiculous rates continue. Thank you and please let us know what we as citizens can also do to help this along.
Please continue to fight for us. No one listens to we regular people who work hard. Pay taxes, follow the rules..and with Ckean Water services continues to get the financial shaft which we are then forced to continue to fund with perpetual rate increase. These criminals should forfeit their salaries and ANY PERS retirement funds. Even with the vocal press champions I dont hold much hope for us…but I am so grateful you continue to seek truth
Clean Water Services is a bloated bureaucracy and this lady should not be paid any money except her last paycheck since she is terminated. Totally outrageous and their rates are out of control
Executive compensation has no appreciable effect on our CWS bills. None of this conflagration will have any effect on our bills. The compensation could be doubled or reduced to nothing and our bills would be the same.
I would like to see CWS audited, both financially and operationally.
I would like to see a comparison of private company executives’ compensation in a comparable role to CWS compensation.
The situation of special service districts is one that Wash Co residents have been responsible for creating since the 1970’s. By taking advantage of urban services not provided by a single entity – a city – we have collectively agreed to have a handful of service districts each with their own separate leadership/executives. Fortunately, the service districts the serve the county have an extremely high degree of collaboration and cooperation.
The facts are the facts. The organization is corrupt – completly and totally corrupt at the executive level. And the information we have been sent is true will wipe out multiple executives careers. Roy Rogers is not implicated and the apparent financial misdealings and arrangements are inexcusable. While I do not disagree with your points about the effects to the bottom line, the organization is now completly out of control. And the audit committee is now set with insiders hand picked by the group of offenders. That is where we are at. No real change will occur until we organize a group to force a complete and total investigation.