As a citizen it is my belief that elected officials are meant to represent the people and not there to defend governance. Certainly, it is important to work with government to ensure it work effectively to provide for the public safety, essential services and maintain the infrastructure required for a decent quality of life. However, when elected officials side with government over the welfare and well being of the citizen they are not doing their job.
With that in mind I cannot help but shake my head at the campaign tactics being employed by certain members of the community. Dragging up events of nearly thirty years ago, engaging in character assassination rather than running on issues is so damned counter productive. Mostly, dredging up old stuff does more to highlight the character of the accusers than those being assailed.
Most citizens prefer to judge a candidate based upon their ability to handle the concerns of the day and how they represent the city. In my opinion, the current record of the former chief does not reflect a skilled administrator or a proper statesman. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to gather public records regarding issues that have been brought to me over the last few years to corroborate my opinion above.
UPDATE: This morning I stopped by The Sentinel to find former police chief Mike Reaves and, this is a guess, his wife speaking with editor Jean Ivey. Since I was advised that they were having a private conversation I can probably conclude they were there to talk about me. Considering that Reaves threw the first mud balls into this election campaign accusing Mayor Britton of being a criminal, I have to note that the gruff, stern faced, lumbering ex chief is very thinned skin.
My guess is Reaves and the missus will have some reason, any reason, to be out of town… anything but face the people and the mayor.
O’Connor has never had the best interests of the city on his agenda. He has repeatedly chosen friendship over the citizens. He is, in my opinion, worse than Reaves simply because he allowed so much for so long. He needs to go.
I will be there tomorrow night…and if Reaves doesn’t show…then it just proves a hard fact.
A candidate that would allow his little catering business to take precedence over the issues and matters faced by the City is NOT what Coquille needs.
And as for O’Connor…with or without a regime change…O’Connor should be watched over in EVERY facet of his position as City Manager. I know that he’s had reports from (ex) female employees on inappropriate attention by Reaves…and did NOTHING!
And, should he desire to continue his little powwows with Parker and Reaves at Fraziers, then we, as a community, should demand an
accounting of his time every day. That is no 10 minute break.
Coquille is changing whether some people like it or not. With luck we will have some new faces on the city council and from there a new and forward thinking city manager might follow. I believe that there is ample cause to terminate O’Connor’s contract for cause – namely negligent retention.
Maybe he’s afraid to face the public without hiding behind a badge?
You know, maybe he’s heard about how this city is managed, and he’s fearful of actually having to answer to the public on his own without his badge and pecker extender?
Or? Maybe it’s conflicting with the finals of: I’M AMERICAS BIGGEST JERK-OFF POLITICIAN ???
Who knows, maybe they’re sitting in their aluminum lawn chairs in the parking lot of their business in hopes they can run off and frighten another local woman who DARES to innocently wander onto their property. You know the type, the cranky old guy who shouts at the neighbor kids to “Git off my lawn”. Can’t ya just see it?
Don’t forget the candidate forum Thursday night. There are rumblings that Reaves will not show – but lets hope he does and has the courage to look Mr Britton in the eyes and call him a criminal to his face instead of getting other people to do it for him.
Personally, I would hope that he is courageous enough to participate in the forum and speak to the voters. Maybe he has something important to say… maybe not but if you are going to run for office, for goodness sake, really run.
“Considering that Reaves threw the first mud balls into this election”
Humm, boy oh howdy, sure hope there’s no skeletons in HIS closet.
I wouldn’t bet on it. He’s fair game now.
I always just shake my head when people behave this way, don’t they realize they’re going to get clobbered with THEIR past?
Perhaps they were able to shut down Coquille and treat it as their own little feifdom (not sure that’s right) and control all public discourse.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN !
Now this just might be fun !!!!!
Embarrassment requires a minimum level of sophistication… something these people appear to be lacking. How foolish to campaign this way, I mean Reaves has a record that extends way back, even before his suspension from the City of Oakridge.
The really appalling thing is not so much Reaves, he is after all gone now, but O’Connor and that he persisted in putting the city and the people second while condoning the behavior and actions of Reaves. His legacy will be permanently marred by his failure or refusal to properly discipline his administrative staff.
I am trying to run a tally of the civil payouts by the city insurance for claims made against the city as a direct result of the negligent retention of Mike Reaves by city manager, Terence O’Connor.
Pinheads !!!!
The Good Ol Boys a gitten skeered ?
With a lack of ANYTHING to run on, of course simple people will get down and dirty. Who knew Karl Rove tactics would be adopted by local ya- hews to continue to try to hold on to the control they think they had of the communiy.
Let’s make a sign:
GUTTER POLITIKS FOR THE SWAMP RATS.
Geesh , you’d think they’d be mildly embarrassed, no?
Perhaps that comes with a deeper gene pool !!