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Letters and Editorials
- By Coquille Valley Sentinel Editor
- Published 02/27/2008
- 27 February 2008 , Letters to the Editor
- Unrated
I note in the Coos Bay World newspaper of 12 February that Coos County Commissioner John Griffith has announced his candidacy for reelection.
Apparently there were no openings for a GOD, King, Dictator, or fiefdom administrator within the state. I also note that Mr. Griffith has not listed a single accomplishment during his eight years as our elected representative that would cause us to vote for him - regrettably I did once. Buying light bulbs and toilet paper for a small Weyerhaeuser facility and writing a sports column for a small newspaper does not qualify Mr. Griffith for the demanding office of County Commissioner. I was a Director of Procurement for the largest aerospace company on the planet managing what in today's dollars would be billion dollar contracts; and I wrote a web site that has had more than one million hits since mid 2005; and none of that qualifies me for the office of County Commissioner.
Every elected representative of the people of Oregon knew that timber payments would stop some day. Instead of preparing for that day, the man seeking our vote for reelection was apparently consumed by the snowy plover - his top priority for many years. In his press release picked up by the World paper, Mr. Griffith apparently believes that it is important that we understand that he knows how political bodies are supposed to work. His way or the highway? It's sad that he failed to recognize that he was elected to be a representative of
the people - all of the people. Under Mr. Griffith's leadership the county is facing fiscal failure. Public services are minimal and the Sheriffs department has been decimated. The taxpaying people of the county may soon find that the natural gas pipeline to the county will cost as much as $40 million - maybe more (the bond approved by the voters was $27 million and the MasTec contract was $24 million). And that is after the fact that the user of that pipeline is intentionally not being taxed. Seems a tad too much for a pipeline to serve about 800 Coos County citizens with natural gas. Many county taxpayers may never see gas in their neighborhood. And, taxpaying rental property owners will have no alternative but to flow that tax bill to their renters.
Like Coos County Sheriff Andy Jackson and many others, I am supporting the candidacy of Bob Main to replace John Griffith as Coos County Commissioner. Mr. Main knows the county and its people. He can effectively represent us from day one. I have communicated with Mr. Main. He has a vision and a plan. And, he will ask each of us to get involved with him to remedy the problems of the county. He understands that being a leader and being responsive to all of the people is much more important that being a self appointed expert in how political bodies are supposed to work.
I have met and communicated with many hundreds of Coos County citizens during the past three years and I ask each of them to join me to elect Bob Main as our next County Commissioner.
With kindest regards,
J. Fred Kirby
Coos Bay, Oregon
Apparently there were no openings for a GOD, King, Dictator, or fiefdom administrator within the state. I also note that Mr. Griffith has not listed a single accomplishment during his eight years as our elected representative that would cause us to vote for him - regrettably I did once. Buying light bulbs and toilet paper for a small Weyerhaeuser facility and writing a sports column for a small newspaper does not qualify Mr. Griffith for the demanding office of County Commissioner. I was a Director of Procurement for the largest aerospace company on the planet managing what in today's dollars would be billion dollar contracts; and I wrote a web site that has had more than one million hits since mid 2005; and none of that qualifies me for the office of County Commissioner.
Every elected representative of the people of Oregon knew that timber payments would stop some day. Instead of preparing for that day, the man seeking our vote for reelection was apparently consumed by the snowy plover - his top priority for many years. In his press release picked up by the World paper, Mr. Griffith apparently believes that it is important that we understand that he knows how political bodies are supposed to work. His way or the highway? It's sad that he failed to recognize that he was elected to be a representative of
Like Coos County Sheriff Andy Jackson and many others, I am supporting the candidacy of Bob Main to replace John Griffith as Coos County Commissioner. Mr. Main knows the county and its people. He can effectively represent us from day one. I have communicated with Mr. Main. He has a vision and a plan. And, he will ask each of us to get involved with him to remedy the problems of the county. He understands that being a leader and being responsive to all of the people is much more important that being a self appointed expert in how political bodies are supposed to work.
I have met and communicated with many hundreds of Coos County citizens during the past three years and I ask each of them to join me to elect Bob Main as our next County Commissioner.
With kindest regards,
J. Fred Kirby
Coos Bay, Oregon