The Lee Anti-Recall Ads are still running on its backer station KAST-AM, with her own voice of support and personal accusation of persecution by the Citizens of Clatsop County against her. Is she going to wait till after the election to activate this new call? Did she ever think to call Lee and stop those ads as she is pleading for community unity, this, again, socalled plan of "Community Building"?
She makes light of and casts a perception of a lack of importance on "Public Safety" and "Accountability" of LNG Speculators from the mouth of the Columbia River to the proposed sites and back out to blue water, yet still votes to allow these projects to proceed, still, without any plan in place at all.
I would hope this is not the case but, by all appearances I'm seeing an effort to take focus off herself and decisions by reinstating the $13,600.00 District Attorney stipend to present the image that things are indeed getting better while the "LNG Juggernaut" moves on, now, unimpeded.
She's still embroiled in her own personal issues with a local School Board, yet settled but, it's very nice of her to forgive all of us for the implied misery thrust upon her by the community.
I would hope at some point in history, sooner than later, she will be forgiven by the community in total.
Nah, I don't see it but, I hope she proves me wrong.
"I want to put a call out to all residents of Clatsop County to stop and take a look at answers that we haven’t looked at yet.
Understand that what I’m sharing with you here and now is from my gut.
I don’t know about how the rest of you see your world, but I know and appreciate deeply that I don’t get to have this day ever again.
I believe we must move toward reconciliation and forgiveness for the betterment of our County.
So for me, that means I forgive those who have set out to harm me and those close to me.
Now that isn’t always easy, sometimes I need to remind myself every 5 minutes that I’m forgiving that act or person.
It is much easier to blame than take responsibility. We must get beyond personal attacks, he said she said, our egos, and what has become chronic negative news in our local newspaper.
I want to talk briefly about a painful issue we have all shared and that is the stipend for the District Attorney. Frankly this was a simple human resources issue that became a very hurtful campaign and ballot measure, which was ultimately defeated.
I voted against that ballot measure, but that does not mean that I believe we should not pay a stipend to the District Attorney.
The DA has submitted his performance measures. I originally voted to cut the stipend because performance measures were not done, now it is done, so I believe it should be put back in the budget.
I intend no disrespect to our budget committee by asking my fellow commissioners to reinstate the stipend, but like I said earlier we don’t get another today.
Living in a community of resentment, rather than one of forgiveness gets us nowhere.
Every day that we as elected officials (and I mean all elected officials) allow this negative behavior to continue more damage will be done and there will be yet more to forgive.
Ann Samuelson
Commissioner District 5"
Ann Samuelson
Commissioner District 5"
5 comments:
So when does the recall of Commissioner Samuelson start?
Truth is, the entire sitting Clatsop County Board of Commissioners has lost the trust of the citizens of Clatsop County.
Recall or no recall, win or lose, the question is what will it take to re-establish that trust in these 5 people?
To many, no less than full and complete defeat or resignation will suffice.
My view is that Richard Lee is no more or less guilty of this breach of faith than the rest.
You impeach him you may as well start the next petition drive for the others.
Now, take a look at what's coming.
Cary Johnson?
Dirk Rohme?
Kelly Stearns?
Patricia Roberts?
Mr. Scheller?
Maybe Jim Niekes?
Have we learned any lessons at all to make the right decisions on future leadership?
I wonder why anyone would run for a volunteer public office in Clatsop County. It is clear that the criteria are: we want a person who is in business, so the County will use business principles and not be run by those damn bureaucrats. However, in addition to giving considerable time to govern, the business person is expected to give up rights as a citizen and a business person in order to maintain the proper appearances. If given inaccurate direction by a staff member, the elected official is expected to perform as directed so as to not cause the poor staff person worry about their job. We want someone who will vote for the common good, but only the noisy people, often the minority, cry out their opinions, and they do it in a way the leaves no room for an alternative opinion. So, the elected person can no longer rely on his confidents for advice, but must get it from the internet and radio,newspaper and picketers? We want elected officials who will take on the responsibility for managing a large budget, but they should not ask questions about expenditures of the professional elected people - they should just give Josh what he wants, no questions asked and no conditions placed. And, if the elected person does not do what the noisy people want, and especially if Steve Forrester is against him, he will be recalled after being personally and bitterly attacked in public for months. This is how we get good people to run for election? No! As long as Clatsop County is going in this direction, we will get exactly what we pay for.
There are people who will run and do a damned fine job of it as long as they know why they are there.
There are people who will run and do a damned fine job of it as long as they know why they are there.
Unfortunately, what if the reason the they think they are there, is different than the reason that those that elected them think they are there?
Clatsop county is getting what it is paying for, and what they are paying the county commissioners is $800 a month.
As such, the only ones likely to run (and stay in the position) are those with alternate agendas. Why else would someone go through this hassle for $800/month?
This amounts to little more than a volunteer position, and between the lack of pay and the increased reporting requirements, (as is shown by the rash of people-including volunteers leaving office rather than report), the only reason to deal with it is if you have ulterior motives.
Clatsop county is getting what it is paying for. Pay them a reasonable amount and then hold them to a higher standard.
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