Category Archives: State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying

Head of embattled state agency fired after investigation

The administrator of the usually overlooked Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying has been dismissed from her job effective Friday. The exact reason for the firing of Mari Lopez is unclear, but she had been on administrative leave since November while an investigation was carried out looking into “contract and banking issues […]
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Leader of state engineering agency placed on leave

Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying is under renewed scrutiny. The typically-overlooked Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying is facing scrutiny as its leader has been placed on administrative leave, KOIN 6 News reports. Source: Pamplin Media Group – Leader of state engineering agency placed on leave

State board halts inquiry into Allen Alley’s use of word ‘engineer,’ places investigator on leave

Shelly Duquette, president of the Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying, sent a letter to former Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen Alley Wednesday, saying the board was “shocked and dismayed’’ when notified Tuesday of the investigator’s email to Alley that continued to question his use of the word “engineer’’ in a 2016 campaign […]
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State pursues ex-gubernatorial candidate for use of word ‘engineer,’ despite judge’s ruling

The state professional board that came under fire for its overzealousness in enforcing the definition of an “engineer” in Oregon apparently won’t let go of a three-year-old case even after a federal judge found its practices violated the First Amendment. Source: State pursues ex-gubernatorial candidate for use of word ‘engineer,’ despite judge’s ruling

Judge Confirms: Oregon Engineer Has a First Amendment Right to Call Himself an Engineer

A federal judge has ruled that the Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying violated the First Amendment when it tried to fine Mats Järlström—an Oregonian with a degree in engineering and years of experience in the field—for describing himself as “an engineer.” Source: Judge Confirms: Oregon Engineer Has a First Amendment Right […]
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Federal judge finds state law governing who is an ‘engineer’ violates free speech

A federal magistrate judge has declared that certain parts of state law and its administrative rules that govern engineering practices in Oregon violate the First Amendment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman made the ruling Friday in a case filed by a Beaverton man, Mats Järlström , against the Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering […]
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Annual Muzzle ‘awards’ go to alleged protest squelchers

A Texas principal accused of expelling a student who stayed seated during the Pledge of Allegiance and a Utah high school accused of censoring its student newspaper have been bestowed Jefferson Muzzles, tongue-in-cheek awards from a free-speech group. This year’s other winners are: The Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying, which […]
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Oregon in free speech trouble?

After first admitting it violated a Beaverton man’s 1st Amendment rights, the state of Oregon will now have to prove it isn’t also violating other people’s free-speech protections. United States Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman’s decision came down on the side of a Mats Jarlstrom, who says the state can’t regulate who calls themselves an engineer. […]
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Editorial: Oregon takes license enforcement to absurd extremes

What makes an engineer an engineer? Would a bachelor’s degree in engineering do it? How about a degree in environmental and civil engineering from Cornell University and a master’s degree from MIT School of Civil Engineering? Or does it require a license from the state of Oregon? Source: Editorial: Oregon takes license enforcement to absurd […]
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Oregon punished an engineer for criticizing red-light cameras. He fought back and won.

Mats Järlström is, by all accounts, an engineer. He graduated from engineering school in Sweden, served as an airplane-camera mechanic in the Swedish Air Force and worked in research and development at an electronics manufacturer. For the past 20 years, he has earned a living designing and repairing audio equipment. Source: Oregon punished an engineer […]
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