Evidently, ORC considers its $5,000 contribution to the Coos County Alliance for Progress which then contributed $4,000 to Fred Messerle as a way to buy favorable terms on a possible mineral lease with the county. According to the local paper, Dan Smith, COO, “Fred has been very pro-ORC…” and he hopes to speed up stalled negotiations with the county by helping Messerle get elected. Smith contributed to the Alliance, says the paper, because it supports candidates who are pro-business evidently even if those business can’t write a business plan that includes contributing taxes for its share of public services but has enough cash to try and buy a commissioner seat or two or three.
Everyone supports good and responsible business but there is nothing responsible about avoiding property taxes or securing corporate debt with public assets or extracting finite local resources and funneling the profits to foreign shareholders. There is nothing responsible about trading sustainable timber jobs for short term mining jobs while “fluffing” productive timberland without knowing if the land will ever support trees again. How much warehouse space is being used to store unsold chromite ore in Coos County? Who owns some of that warehouse space? Are there any buyers for ORC product?
It is not as farfetched as you think that Messerle will be 2nd or 3rd. Privately, the ranching community thinks he is a horse’s ass
Wowsa,great piece,thanks you. What does “screw you were taking” mean? Sorry, I’ve been busy and missed something Barton said? How could that be?
The comments at the paper have been quiet on the Deceptions and Sherman posters. Trying to figure out how the hell to make the turd smell better after Joe Six Pack reads his paper today. Many of us aren’t surprised, but many voters I think, will see it in print and realize who is working for them and who is on the take. Thank you Randy for putting yourself out there. Some big sharks are circling, and they aren’t used to competition that doesn’t go away. Congratulations up front.
My gut feeling, especially affer reading the screw you were taking over Barton reaction when interviewed will hurt more than help Messerle. And don’t we all pray that it does hurt. It’s wishful thinking but what a message it would send to Pettit Barton Benetti Knutson and all the others that the paper did not mention as Barton supporters if Messerle is third.