Two of the three options for county governance will be represented tomorrow during two forums beginning with the chamber luncheon at 11:30 at The Mill Casino and finishing with the LOWV at the Red Lion. Proponents of both a proposed county charter and a county governance ordinance, both dramatically changing Coos County government will be the topics of debate but a third option to leave things well enough alone, at least for the time being, will have no advocacy tomorrow.

Bill Grile, Cam Parry and The Walrus were observed prepping for tomorrow’s debates at a downtown coffee shop yesterday and no doubt we will hear the same complaints about the charter being too restrictive, etc… but I hope both sides will focus upon their mutual failings which is the lack of any fiscal impact analysis or cost benefit studies. Neither side knows what the real costs of these proposed changes are, not the capital/implementation costs, or the ongoing operational costs, the transition costs and other risk factors and unintended consequences and neither side has demonstrated definitively why these changes need to occur at this time. Some will argue that without the charter the runaway board will hire a czar with or without public approval and the other side will argue that adopting the ordinance, which is an ill thought, knee jerk reaction to the charter, is necessary to thwart the charter. Both arguments are reactive rather than responsive and I prefer to vote with my head not my gut but some people may vote for one or the other out of fear rather than reason.

UPDATE Initial feedback from the debate looks like ARRRG stood up pretty well against the pro-ordinance team of Grile, Pettit and Barton. This in spite of a talking point laden power point presentation and maybe because they still believe Mary Schamehorn has any credibility with the average voter and doesn’t make them burst out in laughter.