I was talking with an acquaintance from Tillamook County this past week, who told me about an interesting election. One candidate was decidedly the front-runner, and during the May primary, received far more votes than any of the other candidates....who all trailed far behind with a small number of votes each.
However, the front-runner did not receive fifty percent of the votes, so the top two candidates advanced to the November general election. The number two vote-recipient in May ended up winning the November election!
I witnessed a similar occurrence in Grants Pass during the 2006 election. Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniels was not running for re-election, and Undersheriff Brian Anderson filed for the job. Two other candidates, who had received their law enforcement experience outside of Josephine County, also filed for the position.
The May primary election was nip-and-tuck all night long. Anderson maintained a steady 49.+ percent of the vote, and everyone thought he would win with a 50.+ percent victory. But he never did. So, because Anderson had finished with a fraction point shy of enough votes to win, the number two candidate, who received about 25 percent of the votes, advanced to the November general election.
Guess what? The twenty-five percent candidate in May, Gil Gilbertson, turned around and won the November election over Anderson! Gilbertson not only had apparently picked up some of the number three candidate's votes, but also apparently picked up some of the people who had voted for Anderson in May.
Every election is different. And one never knows what the voters are going to do. I hope, and I am confident, that there will be a run-off for Douglas County Commissioner during the November general election. Douglas County voters deserve a commissioner's race where they can compare and contrast two candidates, instead of being confused over which one of the seven candidates in the May primary best represents them.
To clarify, I am extremely happy that there are seven candidates in May. It's important for people to run for public office, and it's important for the voters to have choices. But the outcome should not be decided in May. That's why it's called a PRIMARY election. After voters have weeded out some of the candidates, they can make their final decision between two candidates in the November general election.
Cavemen
Grants Pass Cavemen at Oregon Caves, 2006.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Disturbing Letter
A Douglas County man has apparently submitted a Letter To The Editor to both the News-Review and the Roseburg Beacon. The man e-mailed a copy of the letter to all of the Douglas County Commissioner candidates. The letter calls into question the integrity of one candidate (not me) and suggests the candidate is incapable of handling the duties of the office of county commissioner.
It remains to be seen if the newspapers will publish the letter. The letter cites public records, so from a legal standpoint, in my opinion, there would be nothing to prohibit the letter's publication.
I have mixed feelings about the whole affair. Part of me is for transparency and the belief that all issues involving a candidate's character should be up for review by the voting public. On the other hand, part of me realizes that everyone has made mistakes in life, and to what extent do we want to air a person's dirty laundry for all to see?
Like it or not, people who choose to run for public office become public figures. Perhaps that is why few people run for office..??.. And when it comes to a candidate's ability to run public affairs, any past activity that could affect that candidate's ability deserves to be scrutinized.
I suppose what I'm saying is that some of these issues need to be publicized by journalists, and not by personal attacks in the Letters To The Editor section. Instead of the newspaper blindly publishing an inflammatory letter, how about a reporter interviewing both the letter writer and the political candidate, and then writing a news article where BOTH sides can be presented in an "objective" fashion side-by-side.
That's one of the shortcomings of negative Letters To The Editor. They're one-sided opinion pieces, that don't give all sides of an issue the opportunity to respond.
It remains to be seen if the newspapers will publish the letter. The letter cites public records, so from a legal standpoint, in my opinion, there would be nothing to prohibit the letter's publication.
I have mixed feelings about the whole affair. Part of me is for transparency and the belief that all issues involving a candidate's character should be up for review by the voting public. On the other hand, part of me realizes that everyone has made mistakes in life, and to what extent do we want to air a person's dirty laundry for all to see?
Like it or not, people who choose to run for public office become public figures. Perhaps that is why few people run for office..??.. And when it comes to a candidate's ability to run public affairs, any past activity that could affect that candidate's ability deserves to be scrutinized.
I suppose what I'm saying is that some of these issues need to be publicized by journalists, and not by personal attacks in the Letters To The Editor section. Instead of the newspaper blindly publishing an inflammatory letter, how about a reporter interviewing both the letter writer and the political candidate, and then writing a news article where BOTH sides can be presented in an "objective" fashion side-by-side.
That's one of the shortcomings of negative Letters To The Editor. They're one-sided opinion pieces, that don't give all sides of an issue the opportunity to respond.
Monday, April 21, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Liberators Forum
I spent three hours at the Liberators Forum tonight in Roseburg. It was time well spent, as I listened to four candidates for Oregon governor and three candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jeff Merkeley. If we believe the mainstream media, or some of our friends' postings on Facebook, we're led to believe there are only two candidates....Republican Dennis Richardson and Democrat John Kitzhaber...running for governor. But tonight, I got to hear in person from four OTHER candidates for the job.
Of course, the reason that I was there was for the county commissioner candidate portion. Tim Freeman, Mick Fummerton, Dale Rogers, Monte Smith, and myself were present. Mark Vincent and Glen Neilsen did not attend. Because so many candidates were there to speak, twelve in all, the question and answer sessions were short, and they eliminated the closing remarks for the county commissioner candidates, who spoke last.
Here are some observations, in no particular order of importance.
* I had boned up, somewhat, on the United Nations' Agenda 21 program, knowing that the Liberators strongly believe in the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land (as do I) and they believe in U.S. sovereignty from the United Nations (as do it). As luck would have it, the commissioner candidate questions focused primarily on local issues.
* One question centered around government's role in business, and giving an example of getting the government out of private business. I gave the same of the Salmon Harbor R.V. Park at Winchester Bay. When I previously ran for county commissioner, I talked with private R.V. Park owners who were upset that the county government was running a competing business next door to their own business. While I am not opposed to the Salmon Harbor project, because there was some economic benefit that came to Winchester Bay, I said the county needs to think carefully before taking on a private enterprise.
* Another question asked what county programs/departments should be consolidated or expanded? There were very few examples that any of the commissioner candidates offered, perhaps because there has already been cutbacks and consolidation over the years. I mentioned that in the past, there was talk about consolidating the library system and the county museum under one department head. After research was done, it was decided that each department needed someone with technical expertise in that area, and the county would still have to pay two people to run those two departments, even if there were only one "department head." (I think) I said keeping the salaries in line was better than trying to consolidate too many departments.
* Yes or No question: Would you restore the televised county commissioner meetings to the cable TV public access channel? I answered YES. I was quoted in Sunday's News-Review as saying that was one of my priorities if elected commissioner. I'm glad I had the "first word" for that question.
* David Jacques from the Roseburg Beacon came near the end of the candidates forum to take pictures of the candidates. So even though there may not have been more than a couple dozen audience members, the forum will still receive some publicity.
I don't know how many votes I may have picked up at tonight's candidates forum. But considering that this could be a very close race for the second-highest vote recipient, I can't afford to lose any opportunities to pick up even one vote.
Of course, the reason that I was there was for the county commissioner candidate portion. Tim Freeman, Mick Fummerton, Dale Rogers, Monte Smith, and myself were present. Mark Vincent and Glen Neilsen did not attend. Because so many candidates were there to speak, twelve in all, the question and answer sessions were short, and they eliminated the closing remarks for the county commissioner candidates, who spoke last.
Here are some observations, in no particular order of importance.
* I had boned up, somewhat, on the United Nations' Agenda 21 program, knowing that the Liberators strongly believe in the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land (as do I) and they believe in U.S. sovereignty from the United Nations (as do it). As luck would have it, the commissioner candidate questions focused primarily on local issues.
* One question centered around government's role in business, and giving an example of getting the government out of private business. I gave the same of the Salmon Harbor R.V. Park at Winchester Bay. When I previously ran for county commissioner, I talked with private R.V. Park owners who were upset that the county government was running a competing business next door to their own business. While I am not opposed to the Salmon Harbor project, because there was some economic benefit that came to Winchester Bay, I said the county needs to think carefully before taking on a private enterprise.
* Another question asked what county programs/departments should be consolidated or expanded? There were very few examples that any of the commissioner candidates offered, perhaps because there has already been cutbacks and consolidation over the years. I mentioned that in the past, there was talk about consolidating the library system and the county museum under one department head. After research was done, it was decided that each department needed someone with technical expertise in that area, and the county would still have to pay two people to run those two departments, even if there were only one "department head." (I think) I said keeping the salaries in line was better than trying to consolidate too many departments.
* Yes or No question: Would you restore the televised county commissioner meetings to the cable TV public access channel? I answered YES. I was quoted in Sunday's News-Review as saying that was one of my priorities if elected commissioner. I'm glad I had the "first word" for that question.
* David Jacques from the Roseburg Beacon came near the end of the candidates forum to take pictures of the candidates. So even though there may not have been more than a couple dozen audience members, the forum will still receive some publicity.
I don't know how many votes I may have picked up at tonight's candidates forum. But considering that this could be a very close race for the second-highest vote recipient, I can't afford to lose any opportunities to pick up even one vote.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Non-Partisan Forum
This is interesting and something new. The Republican party is hosting a candidates forum, and they have invited candidates from other parties. That's great! That takes chutzpah and principle to sponsor a multi-party forum. Especially when the Republican executive committee has already publicly endorsed Republican Roger Hartman for the assessor's job. That's definitely stepping out of the box.
COME MEET THE CANDIDATES Open To The Public Candidates for Douglas County Asessor Roger Hartman Susan Acree Candidate for Douglas County Surveyor Kris DeGroot Carl Sweden Candidates for State Senator 4th District Have been invited but not responded to our request at this time. Floyd Prozanski (D) Cheryl A. Mueller (R) Sponsored by The Roseburg Republicans 663 S.E. Jackson / PO Box 2392 Roseburg 97470 For more information call Linda 541 430-4246
My only question is, will the Republican executive committee EVER host a candidates forum for the Douglas County Commissioner candidates? WHY have the commissioner candidates, neither Republican nor Democrat, been invited to participate in a Republican party forum? The mystery only widens.
COME MEET THE CANDIDATES Open To The Public Candidates for Douglas County Asessor Roger Hartman Susan Acree Candidate for Douglas County Surveyor Kris DeGroot Carl Sweden Candidates for State Senator 4th District Have been invited but not responded to our request at this time. Floyd Prozanski (D) Cheryl A. Mueller (R) Sponsored by The Roseburg Republicans 663 S.E. Jackson / PO Box 2392 Roseburg 97470 For more information call Linda 541 430-4246
My only question is, will the Republican executive committee EVER host a candidates forum for the Douglas County Commissioner candidates? WHY have the commissioner candidates, neither Republican nor Democrat, been invited to participate in a Republican party forum? The mystery only widens.
CAMPAIGN - Personal Family Note
My mother has posted medical updates on Facebook, so I don't feel like I'm violating any privacy concerns by posting the information included in the column. This is just the basics anyway, nothing detailed or invasive.
So far, I have not cancelled any campaign activities for the May primary or play rehearsals for the June melodrama. But if my mother's medical condition digresses, I may have to.
Scriptures tell us that we are to honor our mother and father. At times, I feel blessed to be single, because I have the luxury of time to assist a parent, that I wouldn't necessarily have if I had other family members to support.
I had planned to begin cutting our grass two weeks ago amid the nice, warm weather, when my mother suddenly needed physical rehabilitation. I had put off all of my friends who had helped me in the past with the yard, telling them that I was going to give it a try....the first time in 20 months since my cancer.
Imagine my delight when a next-door neighbor whom I had never met before, appeared at our door this morning and offered to cut some of the grass! This has truly been a blessed Easter! I didn't have any time today to cut the grass or to go campaigning door-to-door, but that's okay.
I appreciate the support and prayers that those of you have given me the past few weeks.
Two nights ago, Mom's oxygen level dropped to 78, and the staff at the physical rehabilitation facility were contemplating calling me. Today, her oxygen level was up to 93 at Mercy Medical Center, so who knows...maybe she'll once again bounce back to "normal" within the next few days?So far, I have not cancelled any campaign activities for the May primary or play rehearsals for the June melodrama. But if my mother's medical condition digresses, I may have to.
Scriptures tell us that we are to honor our mother and father. At times, I feel blessed to be single, because I have the luxury of time to assist a parent, that I wouldn't necessarily have if I had other family members to support.
To me, there is no higher calling than to provide assistance
to those who have encouraged us and assisted us over the years.
My mother, and father if he were alive, take precedence over everything else: campaigning, play rehearsals, or (for those of you who have recently driven by my house in Oakland can attest) mowing the yard.I had planned to begin cutting our grass two weeks ago amid the nice, warm weather, when my mother suddenly needed physical rehabilitation. I had put off all of my friends who had helped me in the past with the yard, telling them that I was going to give it a try....the first time in 20 months since my cancer.
Imagine my delight when a next-door neighbor whom I had never met before, appeared at our door this morning and offered to cut some of the grass! This has truly been a blessed Easter! I didn't have any time today to cut the grass or to go campaigning door-to-door, but that's okay.
I got my mother an Easter Lilly for her hospital room,
and THAT takes precedence over everything else!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Why I Stand Out Above The Rest
Don't Support The Candidate Who Spends The Most Money!
Why I Truly Stand Out As The Candidate With The Best Background For The Job!
I had a pleasant conversation today with a News-Review reporter. The newspaper is publishing a big story on the commissioner's race in the upcoming Sunday edition. In addition to a questionnaire that I previously filled out for the newspaper to use for their story, the reporter today asked me a question that they're asking all of the candidates: What makes you stand out above the rest? Or, what separates you from the other candidates?
Each candidate brings a variety of skills to the table, but I told the reporter there are two attributes, unique to me, that make me the best choice.
1.) I have twenty years experience interacting with other government officials on the local, state, and national level. No other candidate can match that extensive background.
U.S. Senators Bob Packwood, Ron Wyden, Gordon Smith, Jeff Merkeley, Congressmen Peter DeFazio, Greg Walden, Mike Kopetski, Governors Neil Goldschmidt, Barbara Roberts, John Kitzhaber, Ted Kulongoski. I've talked with and interviewed them all.
My purpose is listing all of these names isn't to try and impress people with a who's who list of past government leaders. It's only to illustrate that I have a collective knowledge, gained first hand, of the issues that have impacted Douglas County since the 1980s. I won't bother to write down the names of all the state legislators, county leaders, and city officials whom I've learned from over the years. Suffice it to say, the list would be much longer than the one above.
2.) I am the only candidate who has earned a Master's degree, to the best of my knowledge. I told the News-Review reporter that is important, because it demonstrates that I have the stamina and determination to pursue a challenging goal, and to stay with it until the goal is completed. Going to Graduate school, especially when one commutes each day from Oakland to Eugene, is very time-consuming and many personal sacrifices are made. I am the only candidate for Douglas County Commissioner who has taken the time to advance my education through a Master's program.
During our conversation, there was no mention of the 800-pound gorilla in the room. If you know what the gorilla is, then I didn't reveal anything new to you. If you don't know what the gorilla is, then I didn't reveal anything new (i.e., "spill the beans") to you. However, we did talk about the difficulty in predicting the outcome of this election when there are so many candidates in the race.
Candidate Tim Freeman, who at last report, had raised at least ten times more money than the next closest opponent, is presumed to be one of the candidates who will finish in the top two. But the question was asked, is there a clear frontrunner among the other candidates?
I told the reporter I believed it was a five-way tie between Mick Fummerton, Dale Rogers, Monte Smith, Mark Vincent and myself. I gave that as my answer, because the first four candidates all appear to be putting up a comparable number of campaign signs, at least in the Roseburg and north county areas.
I haven't put up any signs yet, but I do have some name recognition from past elections....I am the only candidate who has previously run for Douglas County Commissioner. So, I told the reporter my past name recognition would help offset the signs of the other candidates. I see the five of us candidates all on basically the same playing field, at least in regards to name recognition in this election.
If all five candidates are on the same level playing field, then which one will finish in the top two with (presumably) Tim Freeman? I don't know. The one unknown variable is how much party affiliation will enter into people's decisions. It's a safe assumption that I will pull some Republican voters away from Freeman. But will it be enough to finish in the top two, if I can't siphon enough Democratic votes away from Vincent and Fummerton?
Because the county commissioner's race is a non-partisan position, I don't believe that many voters will restrict their vote simply to party affiliation. They'll want to know where the candidates stand on the issues. It's conceivable that the runoff in November could have two Republicans (Freeman and myself, Smith, or Neilsen) or a Republican and a Democrat. IF a Republican is indeed a frontrunner, than it's virtually impossible the November election would have a runoff between two Democrats.
I told the News-Review reporter that the November election will be much more aggressive, regardless of who the top two candidates are. That's because a substantially larger amount of money will flow into both of the two campaigns, probably making it a highly-publicized race.
I look forward to being in the November election!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Candidate Forum Update
REMAINING CANDIDATE FORUMS
I'm happy to learn the Yoncalla-Rice Hill Chamber of Commerce is once again hosting a candidates forum this election season. Right now, this is how the rest of the campaign season is shaping up before the May 20th primary.
* Monday, April 21, 6:00p.m., Liberators forum at Round Table Pizza, Roseburg.
* Thursday, May 1, 7:00p.m., Yoncalla Community Center, 400 Main Street, Yoncalla.
* Tuesday, May 6, 6:00p.m., League of Women Voters, Douglas County Courthouse Annex, Roseburg.
There haven't been quite as many county commissioner candidate forums this year, as there have been in past elections, but it's nice to see a few more being scheduled near the end.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Cordial Election Analysis
Tonight, I'm putting on my "reporter's" hat when writing this column, instead of my "candidate's" hat. Granted, one can't objectively separate the two when I have my own bias about the Douglas County Commissioner's race. But it will help explain why I'm writing this column from an observer's perspective.
With only one month to go before the election, the campaigning process in this commissioner's race has been very cordial and statesmanlike. Aside from the brief tiff that Roseburg multi-millionaire Bill Woods had with commissioner candidate Mark Vincent, there has been no negative publicity against other candidates. At least none that's been publicized.
I have taken to task the leadership of the Douglas County Republican Party endorsing candidates before the May primary, something that's never been done before....but that discussion was between myself and another entity, not another candidate.
What brought this issue home for me, and prompted me to write this column, was reading the Friday article in the Roseburg News-Review. The article said the "cordial candidates rarely criticized each other, except with indirect references about whether political experience was a plus or minus." In reference to this subject, I've always been able to take advantage of the best of both worlds: I have prior governmental experience as an "insider" while serving on the Oakland School Board, but I also have twenty years of experience as an "outsider," observing how government conducts its business while I worked as a reporter.
Indeed, looking at the newspaper photo of all seven commissioner candidates sitting in front of the News-Review's conference room table, one might have had the impression we were preparing for the Last Supper. All of us shared a common goal of running for the same office, while none of us attacked (or barely attacked) any of the other candidates.
Contrast that with the current contention between Democratic candidate Susan Acree and Republican candidate Roger Hartman in the Douglas County Assessor's race. I'm almost envious of these candidates, because they appear to be receiving more attention than the commissioner candidates. Hartman threw his hat into the ring at the last minute, upset because the incumbent Acree had removed public access computer terminals from the assessor's office.
I admire Hartman for being an issue-oriented candidate who decided to run for political office in order to correct what he sees as a "wrong." But I don't admire the negative press releases that have been flying back and forth between the two campaign camps. Hartman claims Acree has an 80 percent failure rate in winning appeals that are brought before the assessor's office, while Acree has "done the math" and shown exact mathematical calculations in her press releases that show her failure rate in making accurate appraisals is less than one percent. Or something to that effect.
THIS is the basis on which voters should choose the best assessor candidate? Figuring out which candidate is telling the truth in the actual percentage of successful land value appraisals?
In reflecting on the commissioner's race, I have been pleasantly pleased SO FAR that there haven't been any public attacks against the candidates. In fact, it's been so "cordial" that I've begun thinking about positive things to say about the candidates. Don't worry. I won't allow myself to make this column a "love fest" where we all sit around singing Kum Ba Yah. But there are a few observations I would like to make, in as objective of a manner as possible.
* I was blown away when Tim Freeman endorsed ME as the next candidate he would vote for, if he were forced to drop out of the race. ME over the other five candidates. Freeman told the News-Review editorial review board that there was only one other candidate in the room with experience, and that is Monte Muirhead. Wow!
Before Freeman had given his answer (which was before I gave my answer), I had already decided that I would "split" my endorsement between Tim Freeman and Monte Smith. I had been around both of them about the same amount of time in recent years, and so I chose both....which was still better than four of the commissioner candidates who gave no answer at all.
* One voting outcome that I will monitor on election night is the precinct returns for Oakland. When I've run in the past for Douglas County Commissioner, I've always come in first in Oakland. Because I'm from that town, I've previously received more Oakland precinct votes than the other commissioner candidates.
This election could be different. Tim Freeman hasn't lived in Oakland in years, but his mother worked as a counselor at the high school until 2012. So there is a strong family connection that still exists, which means Oakland has two "hometown" candidates in this race.
* During the News-Review editorial board meeting, I jokingly made an offhand comment about part of me wishing that Tim Freeman does win this election, so that he can break the Roseburg City Council "curse" that plagues commissioner candidates.
Doug Robertson was the last Roseburg City Councilor who was elected to the Board of Commissioners back in 1980. Since then, numerous candidates from the Roseburg City Council have run for county commissioner and lost significantly: Roseburg Mayor Jeri Kimmel, City Councilors Bob Free, Tom Ryan, Dan Hern. So, as a former Roseburg City Councilor, it will be interesting to see if Freeman can break that 34-year-old "curse."
When I mentioned the "curse" at the editorial board meeting, I didn't want to make it appear that I was being negative, and so I digressed and said, "of course, Tim has served in the state legislature since he was on the council, so he's obtained other government experience since then." At that point, the timer went off because my speaking time was up, and I said I needed to be quiet now.
Tim then responded, "No, that's okay, keep going." (Laughter in the room)
I had said that I didn't know why I gone off on that tangent. Mick Fummerton said, "It's sounds like you're supporting Tim Freeman for commissioner." (Laughter)
Just another example of how cordial this race has become.
I can honestly say that I walked away from the editorial board meeting with more respect for all of the candidates in the race. I may not agree with all of them on subjects like garbage dumping fees, but at least I can see them now as people, and not just politicians with political ideologies. That's one of the reasons why I find it difficult to bash President Obama as much as some other Republicans do. I've MET the presidential candidate face to face, and talked with him, albeit for a short two or three minutes. When you see the human side of someone, it's more difficult (at least it is for me) to get in their face and criticize them for their beliefs.
Don't get me wrong. I feel strongly about a about a variety of issues, and I will always disagree and debate anyone who has a different opinion than mine. But I always try to attack the issue, and not the person. Kind of a secular version of "love the sinner, but hate the sin."
When the North Roseburg Rotary Club sent me overseas to Brazil for one year to help foster global understanding, it wasn't time wasted. When one meets people of different political beliefs, or is exposed to other cultures by "walking a mile in someone else's shoes," it's much more difficult to vilify the person.
With only one month to go before the election, the campaigning process in this commissioner's race has been very cordial and statesmanlike. Aside from the brief tiff that Roseburg multi-millionaire Bill Woods had with commissioner candidate Mark Vincent, there has been no negative publicity against other candidates. At least none that's been publicized.
I have taken to task the leadership of the Douglas County Republican Party endorsing candidates before the May primary, something that's never been done before....but that discussion was between myself and another entity, not another candidate.
What brought this issue home for me, and prompted me to write this column, was reading the Friday article in the Roseburg News-Review. The article said the "cordial candidates rarely criticized each other, except with indirect references about whether political experience was a plus or minus." In reference to this subject, I've always been able to take advantage of the best of both worlds: I have prior governmental experience as an "insider" while serving on the Oakland School Board, but I also have twenty years of experience as an "outsider," observing how government conducts its business while I worked as a reporter.
Indeed, looking at the newspaper photo of all seven commissioner candidates sitting in front of the News-Review's conference room table, one might have had the impression we were preparing for the Last Supper. All of us shared a common goal of running for the same office, while none of us attacked (or barely attacked) any of the other candidates.
Contrast that with the current contention between Democratic candidate Susan Acree and Republican candidate Roger Hartman in the Douglas County Assessor's race. I'm almost envious of these candidates, because they appear to be receiving more attention than the commissioner candidates. Hartman threw his hat into the ring at the last minute, upset because the incumbent Acree had removed public access computer terminals from the assessor's office.
I admire Hartman for being an issue-oriented candidate who decided to run for political office in order to correct what he sees as a "wrong." But I don't admire the negative press releases that have been flying back and forth between the two campaign camps. Hartman claims Acree has an 80 percent failure rate in winning appeals that are brought before the assessor's office, while Acree has "done the math" and shown exact mathematical calculations in her press releases that show her failure rate in making accurate appraisals is less than one percent. Or something to that effect.
THIS is the basis on which voters should choose the best assessor candidate? Figuring out which candidate is telling the truth in the actual percentage of successful land value appraisals?
In reflecting on the commissioner's race, I have been pleasantly pleased SO FAR that there haven't been any public attacks against the candidates. In fact, it's been so "cordial" that I've begun thinking about positive things to say about the candidates. Don't worry. I won't allow myself to make this column a "love fest" where we all sit around singing Kum Ba Yah. But there are a few observations I would like to make, in as objective of a manner as possible.
* I was blown away when Tim Freeman endorsed ME as the next candidate he would vote for, if he were forced to drop out of the race. ME over the other five candidates. Freeman told the News-Review editorial review board that there was only one other candidate in the room with experience, and that is Monte Muirhead. Wow!
Before Freeman had given his answer (which was before I gave my answer), I had already decided that I would "split" my endorsement between Tim Freeman and Monte Smith. I had been around both of them about the same amount of time in recent years, and so I chose both....which was still better than four of the commissioner candidates who gave no answer at all.
* One voting outcome that I will monitor on election night is the precinct returns for Oakland. When I've run in the past for Douglas County Commissioner, I've always come in first in Oakland. Because I'm from that town, I've previously received more Oakland precinct votes than the other commissioner candidates.
This election could be different. Tim Freeman hasn't lived in Oakland in years, but his mother worked as a counselor at the high school until 2012. So there is a strong family connection that still exists, which means Oakland has two "hometown" candidates in this race.
* During the News-Review editorial board meeting, I jokingly made an offhand comment about part of me wishing that Tim Freeman does win this election, so that he can break the Roseburg City Council "curse" that plagues commissioner candidates.
Doug Robertson was the last Roseburg City Councilor who was elected to the Board of Commissioners back in 1980. Since then, numerous candidates from the Roseburg City Council have run for county commissioner and lost significantly: Roseburg Mayor Jeri Kimmel, City Councilors Bob Free, Tom Ryan, Dan Hern. So, as a former Roseburg City Councilor, it will be interesting to see if Freeman can break that 34-year-old "curse."
When I mentioned the "curse" at the editorial board meeting, I didn't want to make it appear that I was being negative, and so I digressed and said, "of course, Tim has served in the state legislature since he was on the council, so he's obtained other government experience since then." At that point, the timer went off because my speaking time was up, and I said I needed to be quiet now.
Tim then responded, "No, that's okay, keep going." (Laughter in the room)
I had said that I didn't know why I gone off on that tangent. Mick Fummerton said, "It's sounds like you're supporting Tim Freeman for commissioner." (Laughter)
Just another example of how cordial this race has become.
I can honestly say that I walked away from the editorial board meeting with more respect for all of the candidates in the race. I may not agree with all of them on subjects like garbage dumping fees, but at least I can see them now as people, and not just politicians with political ideologies. That's one of the reasons why I find it difficult to bash President Obama as much as some other Republicans do. I've MET the presidential candidate face to face, and talked with him, albeit for a short two or three minutes. When you see the human side of someone, it's more difficult (at least it is for me) to get in their face and criticize them for their beliefs.
Don't get me wrong. I feel strongly about a about a variety of issues, and I will always disagree and debate anyone who has a different opinion than mine. But I always try to attack the issue, and not the person. Kind of a secular version of "love the sinner, but hate the sin."
When the North Roseburg Rotary Club sent me overseas to Brazil for one year to help foster global understanding, it wasn't time wasted. When one meets people of different political beliefs, or is exposed to other cultures by "walking a mile in someone else's shoes," it's much more difficult to vilify the person.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
CAMPAIGN - News-Review Editorial Board
Today was a good day. I don't know if I scored many brownie points or not, but I felt good about what I accomplished. Perhaps it was the trepidation about wearing a jacket and tie for the first time in two years that gave me some uneasiness....especially when I discovered that only one other person at both the editorial board meeting AND the evening banquet that I attended, were wearing a jacket and tie! But considering that both functions were important events, I didn't regret overdressing, IF it was indeed overdressing.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate in the News-Review editorial board meeting, where five newspaper staff members questioned the seven candidates for Douglas County Commissioner. Whether or not the newspaper endorses me for the position is secondary for me right now. That's because I welcome ANY coverage of the commissioner's race. And, one of the newspaper members present was a reporter. So I'm looking forward to the prospect of the News-Review writing an article about our meeting, as a separate item from the editorial board's decision.
The most intriguing question asked during the meeting was, "IF you were forced to drop out of the race, which one of your opponents would you vote for?" This is sometimes considered a no-win question, regardless of whether or not an answer is given, but the question tests the character of the candidate involved, and reveals insights that the public might not otherwise find out about.
Four of the candidates (Glen Nielsen, Dale Rogers, Monte Smith, Mark Vincent) chose not to answer the question, often citing that they felt they were the best qualified candidate, and so it wasn't possible to consider someone else.
Three of the candidates answered the question. Mick Fummerton would vote for Monte Smith, Tim Freeman would vote for Monte Muirhead, and Monte Muirhead would vote for either Tim Freeman or Monte Smith. Here is the basis for my answer.
When answering the question, I said that I am a very issues-oriented person. I vote for someone based on where they stand on the issues, not necessarily their personality or how well I know them. But I also said that I am disappointed with this particular election, because there has been little public discourse about the Douglas County Commissioner's race. Put simply, I don't know where all the candidates stand on the issues.
Because I have a lack of information about the candidates' opinion, I would resort to "Plan B" when making a decision: Choose the candidate whom I may know personally or have a past connection with. Tim Freeman and Monte Smith are those two candidates for me.
When I was working at KMTR-TV, former Roseburg City Councilor Tim Freeman took time off from his schedule to meet me at the site of a future public safety center. Tim treated me with respect to help me obtain information for a news story. Several years before that, when I was working at KOBI-TV, former Oregon State Police trooper Monte Smith was one of the investigators at a traffic accident scene in Jackson County. Likewise, Monte treated me with respect and took a few minutes to do an interview so that I could obtain some basic information about the accident.
Does that mean that I would not vote for the other candidates? No. But due to the fact that I currently have inadequate information about all of the other candidates, I am forced to use some other type of criterion (my past professional working experience with Freeman and Smith) to make a decision. Some people may frown at my answer. But I believe that any answer is better than dodging the question altogether.
Truth be known, if I had a problem in voting for any candidate in a particular race, I would write in the name of someone else whom I prefer. I've done that numerous times in the past.
All in all, I believe today was a good day.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate in the News-Review editorial board meeting, where five newspaper staff members questioned the seven candidates for Douglas County Commissioner. Whether or not the newspaper endorses me for the position is secondary for me right now. That's because I welcome ANY coverage of the commissioner's race. And, one of the newspaper members present was a reporter. So I'm looking forward to the prospect of the News-Review writing an article about our meeting, as a separate item from the editorial board's decision.
The most intriguing question asked during the meeting was, "IF you were forced to drop out of the race, which one of your opponents would you vote for?" This is sometimes considered a no-win question, regardless of whether or not an answer is given, but the question tests the character of the candidate involved, and reveals insights that the public might not otherwise find out about.
Four of the candidates (Glen Nielsen, Dale Rogers, Monte Smith, Mark Vincent) chose not to answer the question, often citing that they felt they were the best qualified candidate, and so it wasn't possible to consider someone else.
Three of the candidates answered the question. Mick Fummerton would vote for Monte Smith, Tim Freeman would vote for Monte Muirhead, and Monte Muirhead would vote for either Tim Freeman or Monte Smith. Here is the basis for my answer.
When answering the question, I said that I am a very issues-oriented person. I vote for someone based on where they stand on the issues, not necessarily their personality or how well I know them. But I also said that I am disappointed with this particular election, because there has been little public discourse about the Douglas County Commissioner's race. Put simply, I don't know where all the candidates stand on the issues.
Because I have a lack of information about the candidates' opinion, I would resort to "Plan B" when making a decision: Choose the candidate whom I may know personally or have a past connection with. Tim Freeman and Monte Smith are those two candidates for me.
When I was working at KMTR-TV, former Roseburg City Councilor Tim Freeman took time off from his schedule to meet me at the site of a future public safety center. Tim treated me with respect to help me obtain information for a news story. Several years before that, when I was working at KOBI-TV, former Oregon State Police trooper Monte Smith was one of the investigators at a traffic accident scene in Jackson County. Likewise, Monte treated me with respect and took a few minutes to do an interview so that I could obtain some basic information about the accident.
Does that mean that I would not vote for the other candidates? No. But due to the fact that I currently have inadequate information about all of the other candidates, I am forced to use some other type of criterion (my past professional working experience with Freeman and Smith) to make a decision. Some people may frown at my answer. But I believe that any answer is better than dodging the question altogether.
Truth be known, if I had a problem in voting for any candidate in a particular race, I would write in the name of someone else whom I prefer. I've done that numerous times in the past.
All in all, I believe today was a good day.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Remembering Mickey Rooney
I've posted nothing but "campaign" columns since March 1st, but I'm making an exception today in writing a "non-campaign" column.
My father occasionally spoke about Mickey Rooney. It was difficult for anyone born in 1913 like my father was, not to talk about the legendary actor. Rooney performed in countless films and television series over the decades, before taking his one-man-one-wife comedy show on the road in his later years.
While I worked at KOBI-TV in 2004-2007, I had the pleasure of meeting Mickey Rooney and his wife face to face. One friend of his wife's lived in Sutherlin, so she had been able to talk Mickey Rooney into performing in Sutherlin. Being a member of the news media, I was able to schedule a personal interview with the legendary actor beforehand. I will never forget our meeting. I drove my news vehicle alongside the Rooneys' car, which was parked in an empty parking lot behind Sutherlin High School. Imagine one of the greatest stars of all times meeting me here is such an obscure place!
The Rooney couple appeared to be humble on the surface. At the time, the Sutherlin Inn had a "suite" where the Rooneys stayed while they were in town. When I later worked at the motel as a desk clerk, known at the time as Microtel Inn, I would always tell the guests who stayed in room 303, that was the bed (or at least it was the same room) where Mickey Rooney slept. Actually, it was nothing more than a King-size bed room, and not a "suite," when I worked at Microtel.
My father grew up in a different generation. Therefore, my frame of reference for Rooney's work was slightly skewed. I didn't remember Rooney for the great movies that he starred in. Rather, I remembered Rooney for his other roles....such as an episode of The Twilight Zone, where Rooney played the part of a horse jockey who gets his wish to be bigger. To show that Rooney had "grown" in size, Rooney was placed in a much smaller (dare I say doll house?) room where his head bumped the ceiling. The irony at the end of the story was that Rooney was offered his job back as a jockey, AFTER he became bigger...which meant he was out of luck.
When I sat down to interview Rooney and his wife on the steps outside the Sutherlin High School gymnasium, we talked about Rooney's favorite films. He asked me what mine was. I mentioned The Twilight Zone episode. Rooney abruptly cut me off and said that's television, not film. I felt three feet tall. (No offense meant to Rooney's height.)
The tone of the interview went the same way. Rooney's wife might be talking to her friend from Sutherlin, and I would be saying something to Rooney. Rooney would act bent out of shape, saying "shhhh" and gesturing for his wife not to disturb the interview. I appreciated Rooney's attempt to make the interview go smoothly, but at the time I was just making small talk, while I was positioning microphone equipment. I didn't think it was very civilized for Rooney to "shush" his wife.
However, I gave Rooney the benefit of the doubt. At the time he was in his early 80s, and I had to believe that even a legendary actor of that age was under enormous pressure, and would sometimes become emotional. I didn't see a crotchety elderly man. I saw an actor whom my father had undoubtedly seen at the theater during my father's younger years.
I've met some very prominent people during the 20 years that I worked as a journalist: Presidential candidate Barack Obama; General Paul Tibbetts, who piloted the Enola Gay over Japan during WWII; James Garner; Jesse Jackson; country music singer Charlie Daniels; etc. But I can honestly say that Mickey Rooney is one of those at the top of the list whom impacted the most people.
My father occasionally spoke about Mickey Rooney. It was difficult for anyone born in 1913 like my father was, not to talk about the legendary actor. Rooney performed in countless films and television series over the decades, before taking his one-man-one-wife comedy show on the road in his later years.
While I worked at KOBI-TV in 2004-2007, I had the pleasure of meeting Mickey Rooney and his wife face to face. One friend of his wife's lived in Sutherlin, so she had been able to talk Mickey Rooney into performing in Sutherlin. Being a member of the news media, I was able to schedule a personal interview with the legendary actor beforehand. I will never forget our meeting. I drove my news vehicle alongside the Rooneys' car, which was parked in an empty parking lot behind Sutherlin High School. Imagine one of the greatest stars of all times meeting me here is such an obscure place!
The Rooney couple appeared to be humble on the surface. At the time, the Sutherlin Inn had a "suite" where the Rooneys stayed while they were in town. When I later worked at the motel as a desk clerk, known at the time as Microtel Inn, I would always tell the guests who stayed in room 303, that was the bed (or at least it was the same room) where Mickey Rooney slept. Actually, it was nothing more than a King-size bed room, and not a "suite," when I worked at Microtel.
My father grew up in a different generation. Therefore, my frame of reference for Rooney's work was slightly skewed. I didn't remember Rooney for the great movies that he starred in. Rather, I remembered Rooney for his other roles....such as an episode of The Twilight Zone, where Rooney played the part of a horse jockey who gets his wish to be bigger. To show that Rooney had "grown" in size, Rooney was placed in a much smaller (dare I say doll house?) room where his head bumped the ceiling. The irony at the end of the story was that Rooney was offered his job back as a jockey, AFTER he became bigger...which meant he was out of luck.
When I sat down to interview Rooney and his wife on the steps outside the Sutherlin High School gymnasium, we talked about Rooney's favorite films. He asked me what mine was. I mentioned The Twilight Zone episode. Rooney abruptly cut me off and said that's television, not film. I felt three feet tall. (No offense meant to Rooney's height.)
The tone of the interview went the same way. Rooney's wife might be talking to her friend from Sutherlin, and I would be saying something to Rooney. Rooney would act bent out of shape, saying "shhhh" and gesturing for his wife not to disturb the interview. I appreciated Rooney's attempt to make the interview go smoothly, but at the time I was just making small talk, while I was positioning microphone equipment. I didn't think it was very civilized for Rooney to "shush" his wife.
However, I gave Rooney the benefit of the doubt. At the time he was in his early 80s, and I had to believe that even a legendary actor of that age was under enormous pressure, and would sometimes become emotional. I didn't see a crotchety elderly man. I saw an actor whom my father had undoubtedly seen at the theater during my father's younger years.
I've met some very prominent people during the 20 years that I worked as a journalist: Presidential candidate Barack Obama; General Paul Tibbetts, who piloted the Enola Gay over Japan during WWII; James Garner; Jesse Jackson; country music singer Charlie Daniels; etc. But I can honestly say that Mickey Rooney is one of those at the top of the list whom impacted the most people.
CAMPAIGN - When Elections Are Bought
This is a Facebook posting that I decided to share on my blog.
I'm posting this only as a tongue-in-cheek suggestion. However, it would help solve the problem of always electing candidates who are funded the most by special interest PAC money. Should we be electing candidates who spend a few hundred of their own dollars (or private donations), or candidates who raise/spend tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars of special interest/lobbyist money?
Maybe America should try that...
Thursday, April 3, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Winston Candidate Forum Cancelled
WINSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORUM CANCELLED
I'm going to stop posting updates on this issue, because this is literally the third time today that I've received conflicting/new information on the subject.
APRIL 29 CANDIDATE FORUM CANCELLED
Here's a press release from the Winston Chamber:
------------------------------------------------------------
Due to a mistake on my part, the Winston Dillard Area Chamber of Commerce is CANCELLING the candidate forum that was scheduled for April 29.
Steve Schenewerk
------------------------------------------------------------
I do not yet know if the League of Women Voters is going to keep their May 6th candidate forum date, or if they will move it back to April 29th, now that the Winston Chamber is no longer using that date.
I am disappointed that there has not been more interest in the Douglas County Commissioner's race this year.
APRIL 29 CANDIDATE FORUM CANCELLED
Here's a press release from the Winston Chamber:
------------------------------------------------------------
Due to a mistake on my part, the Winston Dillard Area Chamber of Commerce is CANCELLING the candidate forum that was scheduled for April 29.
Steve Schenewerk
------------------------------------------------------------
I do not yet know if the League of Women Voters is going to keep their May 6th candidate forum date, or if they will move it back to April 29th, now that the Winston Chamber is no longer using that date.
I am disappointed that there has not been more interest in the Douglas County Commissioner's race this year.
CAMPAIGN - Candidate Forum Schedule Changes
There have been several changes in the dates for upcoming candidate forums. One organization postponed their forum until a date that another forum was already scheduled, causing that organization to delay their forum one week into May. Here is a revised schedule of forums that I plan to attend. If there are future changes, I will post them on my blog, so it may be a good idea to check back here within the next week or so.
* Monday, April 21 - Liberators forum at Round Table Pizza, Roseburg, 6:00p.m.
* [CANCELLED] ---Tuesday, April 29 - Winston Chamber of Commerce forum at Community Baptist Church, Winston, 6:00p.m.
* [???? ---- Unsure if they will keep the new May 6th date, or move it back to April 29th.]
Tuesday, May 6 - League of Women Voters forum at Douglas County Courthouse Annex, Roseburg, 6:00p.m.
I have to admit that I'm becoming disappointed in how this election season is shaping up. In previous elections, I would have already attended several forums by this time, with several more scheduled before the end of April.
This year, there has not yet been a single candidates forums where all seven Douglas County Commissioner candidates have been invited to attend. The one non-partisan forum that was held featured four of the seven candidates. It's getting down to the wire, so that the forums that are held will be close to the date when the ballots are sent out. That's not much time for voters to research the candidates after hearing them speak, and offer support to those candidates whom they favor.
My biggest concern is that the election may be held without the majority of voters even knowing anything about the candidates running for Douglas County Commissioner. Forums not only provide information for those who attend, but also provide information through the news media. Print and broadcast journalists often attend candidate forums and write stories about where the candidates stand on the issues. Because no seven-candidate forums have yet been held, media coverage of the commissioner's race has been almost non-existent.
Further compounding the problem is that the News-Review is not offering a Question-and-Answer column for the commissioner candidates each week in the newspaper, as they have done in previous years. But I don't fault the News-Review for that. With seven candidates in the running, it would be difficult to provide enough column-inch space in the newspaper for all of the candidates' answers.
Win or lose, I'm gong to persevere until the very end. I have some name recognition from when I ran in previous races, and I'm trusting the some of the voters out there are still familiar with where I stand on the issues. Of course, there's always this blog, for those who take the time to read my entries.
Thanks again for your support and I look forward to seeing you at the candidate forums!
* Monday, April 21 - Liberators forum at Round Table Pizza, Roseburg, 6:00p.m.
* [CANCELLED] ---Tuesday, April 29 - Winston Chamber of Commerce forum at Community Baptist Church, Winston, 6:00p.m.
* [???? ---- Unsure if they will keep the new May 6th date, or move it back to April 29th.]
Tuesday, May 6 - League of Women Voters forum at Douglas County Courthouse Annex, Roseburg, 6:00p.m.
I have to admit that I'm becoming disappointed in how this election season is shaping up. In previous elections, I would have already attended several forums by this time, with several more scheduled before the end of April.
This year, there has not yet been a single candidates forums where all seven Douglas County Commissioner candidates have been invited to attend. The one non-partisan forum that was held featured four of the seven candidates. It's getting down to the wire, so that the forums that are held will be close to the date when the ballots are sent out. That's not much time for voters to research the candidates after hearing them speak, and offer support to those candidates whom they favor.
My biggest concern is that the election may be held without the majority of voters even knowing anything about the candidates running for Douglas County Commissioner. Forums not only provide information for those who attend, but also provide information through the news media. Print and broadcast journalists often attend candidate forums and write stories about where the candidates stand on the issues. Because no seven-candidate forums have yet been held, media coverage of the commissioner's race has been almost non-existent.
Further compounding the problem is that the News-Review is not offering a Question-and-Answer column for the commissioner candidates each week in the newspaper, as they have done in previous years. But I don't fault the News-Review for that. With seven candidates in the running, it would be difficult to provide enough column-inch space in the newspaper for all of the candidates' answers.
Win or lose, I'm gong to persevere until the very end. I have some name recognition from when I ran in previous races, and I'm trusting the some of the voters out there are still familiar with where I stand on the issues. Of course, there's always this blog, for those who take the time to read my entries.
Thanks again for your support and I look forward to seeing you at the candidate forums!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
CAMPAIGN - Mildred Kanipe Park
Initially, I wasn't going to post a position on this subject, since the issue will presumably be decided before the new Douglas County Commissioner takes office next January. But after viewing the fundraising "thermometer" at the intersection of Highway 99 and Oak Street in Oakland this afternoon, I decided to jot down a few thoughts.
The thermometer says the Friends of Mildred Kanipe Park has raised $45,000 toward their $65,000 goal. The money would be used to open a campground at Mildred Kanipe Park east of Oakland (the former ranch on Elkhead road, not the small Mildred Kanipe Park on Locust Street in Oakland). The campground would presumably generate money to operate the park, so that Douglas County wouldn't be forced to harvest trees on the park in order to raise the money.
The bottom line is that Mildred Kanipe Park, like so many other county entities, need to become self-sustaining so that Douglas County Commissioners don't have to take limited money from the general fund in order to pay for park operations. The current Board of Commissioners has hinted that they either need to harvest about 20 acres of trees from the 1,000+ acre ranch to build the campground....or else the county could be forced to sell the park.
This issue has created so much controversy, that a group of citizens stepped forward to offer to raise the money on their own....and consequently save the trees AND the park for public use. County commissioners were generous enough to give the group some time to try and raise the money, and it looks like, so far, they have a good chance at succeeding.
CITIZEN SOLUTIONS ARE THE BEST
It's nice to see a group of people come together for a common cause. It's nice to see a group of people doing their best to help county government provide a popular service. I applaud the efforts of those who are donating their time and effort to raise money to save a county service. The citizens have turned a controversy into a (potential) celebration. And, as a bonus, they're (potentially) spared the Douglas County Commissioners from making an unpopular decision on whether or not to cut down 20 acres of tree. Either way, whatever decision that would have been reached would have upset a significant portion of the general public.
The thermometer says the Friends of Mildred Kanipe Park has raised $45,000 toward their $65,000 goal. The money would be used to open a campground at Mildred Kanipe Park east of Oakland (the former ranch on Elkhead road, not the small Mildred Kanipe Park on Locust Street in Oakland). The campground would presumably generate money to operate the park, so that Douglas County wouldn't be forced to harvest trees on the park in order to raise the money.
The bottom line is that Mildred Kanipe Park, like so many other county entities, need to become self-sustaining so that Douglas County Commissioners don't have to take limited money from the general fund in order to pay for park operations. The current Board of Commissioners has hinted that they either need to harvest about 20 acres of trees from the 1,000+ acre ranch to build the campground....or else the county could be forced to sell the park.
This issue has created so much controversy, that a group of citizens stepped forward to offer to raise the money on their own....and consequently save the trees AND the park for public use. County commissioners were generous enough to give the group some time to try and raise the money, and it looks like, so far, they have a good chance at succeeding.
CITIZEN SOLUTIONS ARE THE BEST
It's nice to see a group of people come together for a common cause. It's nice to see a group of people doing their best to help county government provide a popular service. I applaud the efforts of those who are donating their time and effort to raise money to save a county service. The citizens have turned a controversy into a (potential) celebration. And, as a bonus, they're (potentially) spared the Douglas County Commissioners from making an unpopular decision on whether or not to cut down 20 acres of tree. Either way, whatever decision that would have been reached would have upset a significant portion of the general public.
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