County Elections Questions from a Constituent for County Commissioner Cribbins

5/8/2014

From a wise old Watchdog in Coos Bay:

A CONSTITUENTS QUESTIONS FOR MS. CRIBBINS

RPCC---Video of Candidate Forum for County Commissioner April 24, 2014

7 May 2014

According to the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Department web site, you have accepted a campaign contribution that is more than 10 times greater than most of your other reported contributions. Please tell us about Kevin Neely, the company C&E Systems, the PAC known as Coalition for a Healthy Oregon, and the company called Family Care Inc. All are located in Portland and all are related to that large gift.

According to the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Department web site, another most generous Cribbins campaign contributor is the Coquille Tribe and its members. This is followed by Counselor Whitty and his partners. Both are involved in matters often before the Board of Commissioners. In consideration for the citizen’s vote May 20, will you promise to recuse yourself from influencing any decisions and voting on the CEP, the Bayfront Investment Corporation and the Wagon Road timber matters from this day forward?

Pulitzer Prize award winning author David Cay Johnson has been here and is writing another article for a national magazine showing just how stupid we are here poorly managing the people’s tax money. Have you been interviewed for the article?

The last time that I made an annual wage of $60K ($234,000 in today’s buying power according to the BLS) was 1977; so, I am sympathetic to your needs. The county commissioners are the people’s employees. Two years ago, when you applied for the commissioner’s job, you knew the salary for a county commissioner. However, shortly after being elected, at a time when county services were being cut and people were being furloughed, you gave yourself a pay raise and you told us that you deserved more. Please comment.

Apparently with minimal notice and to some media (insufficient time to alert the citizens to participate); when you acknowledge that you knew that Commissioner Main was not available to participate; when you apparently knew that there was no urgency to vote; you could not wait two business days to conduct business before the citizens in a regularly scheduled meeting; and you seized the opportunity to join the South Coast Community Foundation knowing that a majority of the citizens who have spoken before the board of commissioners are opposed to SCCF as the Bylaws are written. Why?

The people expect a county commissioner to be available as may be required 24 / 7. In the past you have not refuted reports that you are a full time mother (and that is wonderful); you are a part time small business owner with your husband; you are a vodka manufacturer; you are an officer of the Coos Bay North Bend Water Board; you recently accepted a leadership position with another state wide organization; you apparently are a member of the Enterprise Zone Committee; and I understand that you are an occasional legal consultant. Do you have time to be a full time county commissioner?

Have you, at any time since being elected Coos County Commissioner, been a paid or unpaid consultant, employee, or agent to the Coquille Tribe or the Cow Creek Tribe or any of their members?

You support having the sovereign nation Coquille Tribe manage our Wagon Road timber lands? Why do we citizen owners of Coos County need the Coquille Tribe?

You are a supporter of the not yet defined Community Enhancement Plan, the South Coast Community Foundation, and the Bayfront Investment Corporation. Why is keeping the public from being involved in the management and distribution of as much as a half billion dollars of the citizens money in the best interest of the citizens?

Why is it in the citizen’s best interest to give a substantial amount of their money to three South Coast Community Foundation people who are not elected, who are self - appointed, and over whom the citizens have no control, to distribute monies as they alone may decide?

Apparently you voted to join the SCCF based on promises of Veresen and Jordan Cove Energy. What has Veresen / Jordan Cove Energy agreed to do in writing regarding funding of the Community Enhancement Plan and is their promise in a written agreement that will be enforceable in court and will survive if Veresen sells out when permits are received?

One former local state politician called the SCCF a money laundering scheme; others believe that it’s a way to pay back friends of Jordan Cove Energy for ten years of support. Please comment.

Jordan Cove Energy is years away from receipt of all required permits. Nothing is in writing with Veresen / Jordan Cove Energy. What’s the hurry to get this Community Enhancement Plan and the South Coast Community Foundation agreed upon?

People are the counties greatest resource. Timber is second. Tell us about your experience in forest / timber management and how that experience has and will benefit the citizens.

You have supported sending county citizen’s money to fund SCDC an organization that has spent millions and accomplished nothing. Why?

Why shouldn’t Jordan Cove Energy pay taxes at the same rate as the citizens and business of Coos County?

Why should the people pay Veresen / Jordan Cove interest on monies that they have repeatedly promised to the citizens of Coos County?

According to the front page of the April 29 World newspaper, Mr. Sweet is telling the SCCF to expect a 7% return on the people’s money invested during the next 20 years. Why should we assume ROI of the past to be the future? During the past year that you have been Board of Commissioners chairperson, did the county realize the same 7% on investments? If not, why not?

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