There is scant little information available about most of the seven finalists for Coos County commission, however, I have been able to dig up a few things I hope the selection committee will consider. The county is on the cusp of great changes, in my humble opinion, with momentum building toward letting go of old failed stereotypes and 19th century paradigms. This momentum could launch the county forward into the 22nd century or, with the wrong leadership keep it mired in the past.

Applicant William Delimont, president of Silvae Magellan Company, according to a letter he wrote to the editor, seems to believe an unregulated free market system, the same that brought down Wall Street, is the answer to all our problems. Additionally, he seems to misunderstand “green industry” incentives and unlike Nikki Whitty, Delimont holds a parochial view for the potential of renewable energy.

Oregon’s private non-industrial forest and industrial forest owners are whipsawed by land use policy, tax insanity and worldwide market forces. These owners are faced with narrower means to meet their desire and responsibility to generate cash profits (important!).

Markets are efficient only if they are free. That does not occur in voodoo economies. Current market manipulations in various ‘green” renewable markets render them artificially active.

Delimont would seem to be both opinionated and to hold a dangerously ill informed or worm’s eye view of sustainable industries and blames too much government for the economy.

Mark Hodgins has also written to the local paper and indicates that he too holds the government responsible for the economy and to put all his faith in an unregulated free market philosophy.

The point being is that when a public-sector job is eliminated, the blame should rest squarely on those that have prevented business and industry to prosper in Oregon. Whether they are elected to Congress, Oregon State Legislature, Coos County Commission or any of the city councils, their anti-job attitude is ultimately costing public-sector jobs that support much-needed social programs.

Next time an elected official asks you to pay more taxes, demand that they create a better environment for private business and industry and then we won’t need to raise tax rates but will enjoy a bigger tax base generating more government revenues.

Hiring officials to work in the government who also blame the government might be risky. While many people may share these simplistic views unfortunately they indicate a lack of sophistication about the complexity of the problems and the interrelationship between the public and private sector.

Applicant Fred Messerle is the brother of former State Senator, Ken Messerle who is now a lobbyist on the public dole receiving thousands of dollars a month in consulting fees from publicly funded agencies like the Port of Coos Bay. Fred is also married to the director of SCDC (South Coast Development Council) and while it may not be fair to judge him based upon his spouse’s apparent lack of critical thinking skills it is reasonable to point out her positions considering they may influence decisions he might make as a commissioner. SCDC and Sandy Messerle have proven themselves to be more of a divider than a uniter and Messerle has made public comments that indicate she doesn’t understand the issues she is speaking about.

At a public hearing regarding the award of a property tax exemption to ORC, Sandy Messerle spoke out against opponents to the giveaway accusing them of objecting simply because they don’t like the strip miners. She saw this as a personality dispute rather than a complicated economic scheme with far reaching impacts to the county. In fact, opponents objections had to with the high cost to the public of subsidizing ORC jobs or any jobs and that studies and empirical evidence did not support the merits of these exemptions.

Messerle again tries to make local issues personal and again demonstrates a lack of sophistication and understanding of complex issues in her comments to Oregon Department of State Lands regarding a slip dock on the North Spit.

I am weary of those who ‘have’ being so willing to let others do without. I marvel at the organizational reach of self-appointed champions against economic development and a future for our economically challenged area. I respect the rights of others to have their say…but do not condone the ugliness and lack of civility with which they say it.

This area has been hostage to a chorus of unsubstantiated rhetoric for way too long. Our regulatory agencies have been forced to delays under the weight of their demands. They can hold these projects hostage, without any penalty or “skin in the game,” while those filing for the permits are forced to costly delays and unreasonable expense.

Instead of reading the data presented by the opposition and addressing these points directly, Messerle resorts to childish accusations, often the last refuge for people obviously over their depth. Further, Messerle has completely dropped the ball regarding the recommendations of the AIA Sustainable Design Assessment Team. The SDAT report if you recall encouraged reaching out to and welcoming a wider range of opinions and relying less on extraction based industry. Almost a year later, none of the SDAT recommendations have been acted on by SCDC or Messerle, (others are picking up that ball and running with it, more on this later).

Consider the case of Freiburg, Germany that created thousands of new jobs by embracing the future and letting go of the past. The three candidates mentioned above do not strike me as well equipped to facilitate such progress.

At this point I still know very little about Melissa Cribbens, Angela Guernsey or Rickey Wiley. Someone who has worked with Wiley and prefers to remain anonymous indicated he may not be the brightest bulb in the box. This is hearsay but my source is someone for whom I have a great deal of respect.

Randy Sanne should have been given the opportunity to be interviewed as I believe either he or Jody McCaffree would both be excellent choices for commissioner.