The City of Grants Pass is facing even more scrutiny after a formal letter was submitted to city officials alleging violations of Oregon public contracting and ethics laws during the City’s ongoing “Addressing Homelessness” Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The complaint raises concerns about actions taken by Councilor Erich Schloegl and Council President Victoria Marshall during an active procurement period in which neutrality and impartiality are legally required.
According to the letter, the RFP process remained open and under review as of October 25, 2025, with no contract awarded and the protest period still active. Under Oregon law, specifically ORS 279B.110 and ORS 279B.405, city officials are prohibited from engaging in any communication or action that could favor one applicant over another. The City’s own RFP documents also reinforce this restriction, barring contact between council members and prospective contractors outside the official procurement process.
The allegations center on public endorsements made by Councilor Schloegl and Council President Marshall on October 23, 2025, in favor of Pathways to Stability, one of the applicants for the homelessness contract. Schloegl’s post appeared on his verified government Facebook page titled “Erich Schloegl – Grants Pass City Councilor, Ward 3,” which lists his official City of Grants Pass email address. His post described Pathways to Stability as the only program offering incentive-based services. Council President Marshall shared the same post, amplifying its reach while the contract was still pending. Both posts reportedly received engagement from the Pathways to Stability account and affiliated individuals.
The letter contends that these actions created the appearance of bias and could constitute an ethical violation under ORS 244.040, which prohibits using public office for private benefit. It also notes that public comments were disabled on Schloegl’s official government post, preventing citizens from responding or expressing alternate views. That restriction, according to the filing, raises additional concerns under Oregon’s public access and transparency laws outlined in ORS Chapter 192.
Because both councilors are directly involved in the review and scoring of RFP submissions, their public promotion of an active applicant could be seen as compromising the integrity of the procurement process. The letter calls for an immediate review by the City Attorney and City Manager, the preservation of all related social media records, and possible referral to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for evaluation.
This latest controversy follows a pattern of ethical concerns previously associated with Councilor Schloegl. Shortly after taking office, Schloegl became the subject of an ethics investigation after attempting to hire his wife for a city-related position. In addition, on August 25, 2025, a separate formal request for a criminal investigation was filed with Josephine County District Attorney, naming Schloegl alongside County Commission Chair Andreas Blech, Commissioner Chris Barnett, and State Representative Dwayne Yunker. That complaint alleged abuse of power, misuse of Oregon’s public records system, retaliation against a private citizen, and the publication of defamatory material for political purposes.
The letter regarding the homelessness RFP process emphasizes that fairness, transparency, and impartiality must guide all city contracting decisions, particularly those involving taxpayer funds designated for housing and homelessness initiatives. It concludes with a call for corrective action to protect public confidence in the city’s leadership and prevent future exposure to legal or ethical challenges.