Bob Main’s selection appointee Ted Simon said during today’s public meeting to pick finalists for the position of commissioner, “…this is our chance to appoint a commissioner the voters wouldn’t choose”. His sentiments were seconded by Whitty appointee, Steve Kridelbaugh and Whitty herself. (Those pesky voters don’t know what’s good for them)
Apparently, the committee and the commission have no faith in the voters of Coos County. Van Elsberg, who received 10,000 votes to Whitty’s 12,000 wasn’t even mentioned.
Here are the favorites-
Lance Benton
Caddy McKeown
Timm Slater
Cam Parry
John Sweet
Cam Parry is the only one of the five I will support. More on this later
UPDATE: What is so disheartening about most of these choices is that voters worked so hard to bring some honesty, integrity and critical thinking skills to the commission. Whitty was never expected to consider the voter but Main’s failure to include people on the selection committee that represent the citizens at large may have undermined the hard work Andy Jackson began before his death.
Sadly, the handpicked committee favors the status quo rather than the sweeping changes sought by the voters.
McKeown, as far as I know, has never run for public office but has been appointed to various boards, including the port commission. Slater has already been rejected by the voters though it is unlikely Main and Whitty could agree to appoint him or McKeown for that matter.
Sweet and Benton are virtual unknowns to the average citizen and Parry isn’t much more visible, although, as stated earlier, I am inclined to believe he would be a good choice.
Please make your opinions known to Whitty and Main.
Main’s obvious contempt for the average voter who elected him will cost him if he runs again in 2012
I do know Captain Benton when I bump into him and I believe that he would be an asset. I have bumped into him during church services – where he and his wife are active in the community. Although I have never heard him express same, I do believe, based on statements made, he would join Whitty in support of LNG, ORC, development of the North Spit. Love to end the day reading comments here and elsewhere. Perhaps you should ask your guy Main how he would rephrase and use this one in his next speech re the county. It’s from the acceptance speech of John F. Kennedy – “We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier; the frontier of the 1960’s; a frontier of unknown opportinmities and perils; a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats.” Perhaps he would not only change the 1960’s to 2010’s but he would continue the statement with – so I have decided to slog along and burden you taxpaying citizens following the leadership of the same ineffective stiffs that got us nowhere so far. Perhaps you recall the coffee commercial of many years ago where it was stated that “you get what you pay for”. When we pay $60K annually for what is a 24 / 7 job, we get what we paid for.
So the current BOC members want someone the public would never elect, why would they want that? I’m incredibly disappointed in Bob Mains’ position on this. How insulting is “his guys” comment? Come on Bob, you’re a much better man that this.
At least the all male panel chose one woman but why that woman? Why not Mary Loiselle?
They turned down several good people on the applicant list, Randy Sanne would have been excellent, as would Larry Van Elsberg. Like themguys, I have watched McKeown and I don’t think she or Slater will hold up well under twenty questions – unless they are questions like how old are you? what is your eye color?
Just checked the candidate bios and you are correct, none of them are especially remarkable. Parry is the only one I know, slightly, and I have seen him in public meetings and he handles himself very well.
Slater, on the other hand, sounds like he is reading from a script written by or for Jon Barton.
McKeown I have watched at the port commission meetings and she seems just as mesmerized by Jeff Bishop as the rest of them, I have never witnessed any evidence of governing or critical thinking, but then I don’t watch every meeting.
The other two I wouldn’t know if I bumped into them.
The incest continues in Coos County.
So how many boards is “Caddy” sitting on?
I watch the Port of Coos Bay meetings, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her speak or express an opinion, or ask a question. Is that what board members do?
Looking over the qualifications listed at The World, none of these people look like standouts. The committee choices had to be based on personal agenda because at least two resumes I know of well exceed the merits of the five people chosen.
Caddy served as an elected school board member of CB District #9 for well over a decade.
I am with you fred, how insulting. What contempt they are showing for the electorate. Well I have contempt for the committee and the board
This whole process is insulting and considering if Main and Whitty don’t agree on one of the five the committee goes back for more picks, is it even necessary? Despite the public meetings this is hardly a public process.
Main, if he chooses to run again in 2012, may find a couple of people on the list of thirty three, running against him in the primary.
R U Serious? What an insult to the people those statements are. Why didnt Main immediately reject that crap and that slection committee person? And worst yet, if Main and Whitty appoint a person who is found to be a stiff, only the governator can remove the person from office. What your photo clearly shows is that the ol boys network is alive and well in Coos County. Remember the my shit don’t stink McKeown’s and the Whitty’s go way back generations. To see Benton got a majority of the red circles is no surprise. When did Whitty and Main listen to a majority of the people? Whitty did send a message in the currently being televised committee meeting when she was bothered by the suggstion that the selection committee include common tax paying citizens from the street. Benton and Sweet are known to many locals. Neither are anti LNG or anti ORC. Is this the same John Sweet who was the ineffective chairman of SCDC in early 2000’s (also retired Sause Brothers)?