An aide to Mayor Charlie Hales has admitted to state investigators he criticized the proposed Portland Public Water District at the mayor's request, an alleged violation of Oregon elections law.

But Josh Alpert made the case to state elections officials he made an April presentation at a downtown law firm as a volunteer for the Stop the Bull Run Takeover campaign, which is opposing Measure 16-256—and that Hales asked him to do so not as mayor, but as a campaign leader.

From Alpert's response to state investigators [pdf].

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The people backing 26-156, say that meeting was a violation of state law.

Alpert's the second Hales staffer to be accused of violating ORS 260.432. The other complaint involves a press release Hales' spokesman Dana Haynes sent to reporters in February.