The World editorial board which consists of Clark Walworth, George Spohr and two unknowns gleefully seized what they saw as an opportunity to further deride incumbent commissioner Bob Main and to hurl non specific criticism at the ARRRG county charter initiative. Main made a motion that would simply allow the voters to adopt or refuse the charter on the November ballot. The motion died for lack of a second.
According to the paper the proposed charter is “a monster”, “destructive and disruptive” and will throw the county into “chaos”. The paper doesn’t elaborate or explain these statements and while it has published a couple of articles primarily quoting other people’s opinions it has not provided a real breakdown of the charter.
Perhaps the paper hasn’t been paying attention but the county is in chaos already and we have seen the destruction of a bond funded multimillion dollar incinerator and erosion of the public right to speak and comment during the course of county business and ratified fee structures unilaterally amended to name just a few examples.
Main isn’t perfect and neither is the charter but both want to allow the people to make the choice of enacting sweeping governance changes. That is a stark difference from what Messerle’s advisory committees seek to accomplish which is to enact major changes like volunteer commissioners and a centralized power structure headed by a CEO without a vote of the people but by the vote of two appointed, interim commissioners.
If the paper wants to chide Main it should be for maneuvering Parry and Messerle onto the board in the first place and then losing control of the monster he created. Instead, the paper pounds on Main, accusing him of being “reckless” for suggesting that an initiative certified by the clerk, and the State of Oregon be put before the people. [Expletive deleted]
One last thing about the paper. The editorial board chided Peter DeFazio recently for name calling yet this same paper has referred to citizens who attend county meetings as “natterers”, called a local author a “gadfly” and labeled some commissioner candidates as “clowns” and worse.
If you have specific issues or have any questions with the proposed charter bring them up at the next scheduled ARRRG meeting at the North Bend library, June 26 from 6 to 8 PM.
Main SHOULD go, absolutely! Unfortunately, so should Fred
I’m with the World editors on this one. Main has been a flake and needs to be voted out. Rather have good old boy Fred until we can get someone better. ARRRGH’s absurd proposed charter is like something out of Monty Python.
Mike Mannix and Bill Sizemore gave me the opportunity to vote no on lots of stuff I would have preferred not be on the ballot
The Walworth mud slinging has commenced. I have not signed. Like Main, I disagree with some of the wording. After reading that garbage editorial yesterday, I will sign on two lines next Tuesday. The voters have a right to say yes or no.