By Jack Jones
This letter is in response to John Griffiths’ letter to the Editor of The World dated 10-24-12.
Please join me in voting for Bob Main as commissioner and not Fred Messerle. Fred was appointed to his job less than two years ago and has shown a complete lack of understanding of the responsibilities incumbent upon representing the best interests of the citizens of Coos County. John Griffith seems to think that if Fred is elected good things will come to Coos County. Based on Johns’ examples, this cannot be the case. First, the County Forest lease that John seems to be so proud of wasn’t even shown to the voters until two years after the citizens of Coos County fired him. Second, the financing of an extra road deputy wasn’t tied to a County lease but, to a 2 year extension of tax free status for ORC in an enterprise zone. Third, ORC, Oregon’s largest foreign owned mining company, wanted to lease thousands of acres of forest to mine only a few sites. It should also be noted that it was ORC’s attorney’s that stopped negotiations on the lease, not Bob or the County. John seems to forget that it takes 2 Commissioners to decide any issue: for or against.
Regarding the Coos Bay Wagon Road, John obviously thinks working with a another Nation (the Coquilles) and splitting the proceeds, is preferable to working within our own government to accomplish long term financial stability. I disagree.
Finally, even Fred Messerle’s supporters state that he is not competent to handle the job of Commissioner . With this I agree.
John Griffith’s letter has all the hallmarks of a disgruntled employee striking back on his former employers and especially striking back at the man the people hired to do the job he failed to do for the County.
The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of MGx.
