Press Release PLEASE SHARE!
Citizens for Fair Representation's Court Case Moves Forward 
August 8, 2017 For immediate release 
Last week, Federal Court Judge Judge K. Muller, asked the Chief Magistrate to form a 3-judge panel to hear the case; Citizens for Fair Representation vs Secretary of State Alex Padilla. In May, Citizens for Fair Representation (CFR) filed the lawsuit against the State of California, for lack of representation and dilution of vote. The lawsuit was filed on May 8, in the United States District Court, Eastern District, Sacramento Division. The significance of the three-judge panel is paramount, according to the legal team representing the CFR. Issues decided by three judge panels have the right to appeal directly to the United States Supreme Court. Mark Baird, one of the CFR spokespersons, said, “the case will ask important questions: Can one State Senator properly represent one million people? Can one State Assemblyman properly represent one-half million people? Baird added, Californian's have no representation in the state house. The lobbyists and the unions own California and we intend to put the people back in charge of the government through smaller districts where it is cheap and easy to get rid of an incumbent who fails to serve the people. California has the worst representation ratio in the United States and we will prove that to be unconstitutional.” Citizens for Fair Representation is supported by the people of 22 Northern California Counties. 

Monday, August 7, 2017

SALEM, Ore. – One of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest’s iconic fish, native steelhead trout, have been migrating over Willamette Falls in Portland to spawn in Cascade Mountain rivers for millennia. They are now at high risk of going extinct, based on a new analysis by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1999 due primarily to the impacts of federal dams and habitat loss, wild native Willamette steelhead have now slipped to high risk of extinction. Willamette steelhead now face a new and growing threat from male sea lions that have learned to exploit the fish as they congregate below Willamette Falls before navigating upriver to spawn.

Continuing a decade-long downward trend, the number of wild steelhead returning to the upper Willamette this year was the lowest on record, with only 512 fish passing above the Willamette Falls. ODFW scientists found that sea lions consumed at least one quarter of the wild steelhead run and warned that if sea lion predation continues at these levels, there is an up to 90 percent probability that at least one wild steelhead population will go extinct as a direct result of the predation. The near-term risk of wild steelhead extinction can be significantly reduced or avoided by limiting sea lion access to Willamette Falls.

“We know what the problem is and have seen this coming for about a decade, we just couldn’t take action to prevent it,” said Dr. Shaun Clements from ODFW.

California sea lions have expanded along the West Coast over the past four decades to a population of nearly 300,000 animals coast-wide today. As numbers increased, a small proportion of sea lions – all males – have expanded their range into freshwater areas where migrating salmon and steelhead are especially vulnerable, including in places such as Ballard Locks in Washington, Bonneville Dam, and at the Willamette Falls, where fish tend to congregate before moving upstream. At these locations, predation by sea lions is especially high and adversely impacts salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. In the 1980s, sea lion predation on winter steelhead at Ballard Locks in Seattle effectively destroyed the Lake Washington stock.

“Removal of a few problem individuals will have no impact on the overall sea lion population but can significantly benefit ESA-listed fish,” said Robin Brown, lead scientist for ODFW’s marine mammal program.

Any solution to address the threats to wild fish populations will have to strike a balance between the recovery of imperiled salmon and steelhead populations and the ongoing conservation of sea lions. Also at stake are significant regional investments in recovery efforts, such as improvements in fish passage at dams, restoration of fish habitat, and implementation of fishing regulations that prohibit anglers from harvesting wild fish. ODFW scientists have determined that curtailing the immediate impact created by sea lion predation is essential to saving the steelhead from extinction to support the success of long-term recovery efforts.

Sea lions are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The MMPA, unlike the ESA, has fewer tools for managers to use to balance the conservation of predators and prey and prevent these situations in locations where fish are most vulnerable. Sections of the MMPA were revised in 1994 to allow limited management ofsea lions for the purpose of protecting ESA-listed salmon and steelhead. Unfortunately, the revisions do not allow for proactive management and cannot address emergencies like that occurring at Willamette Falls.

“We are in on-going discussions with state and tribal fishery managers and several stakeholder groups,” said Dr. Clements, “Given the situation at Willamette Falls, everyone is united in their call for swift action, and ODFW stands ready to provide expertise to the Northwest congressional delegation on a bipartisan, compromise bill to revise the MMPA to address these emergency situations without undermining the strength and importance of this law.” Bills in the House and Senate; H.R. 2083, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), and S 1702, sponsored by Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), represent the first steps toward that goal.

“We are at a point where any more delays in the Willamette may condemn this run to extinction,” Clements said. “We need to act now or extinction may be our legacy.”

Upper Willamette wild steelhead have been listed as “threatened” under the federal ESA since March 1999. ODFW has not allowed harvest of these fish for more than 20 years. California sea lion populations are robust, and the animals are not listed under the Endangered Species Act, but are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

###
Contact:
Dr. Shaun Clements, (541) 223-8437
Rick Swart, (971) 673-6038

Related Posts:
NOAA Antibusiness Plan for Coquille River ~ Public Private Property Partnership
ODFW ~ Commercial Crabbing Closed From Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head
ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access & Habitat Program – by Jan. 30
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016
OFRI ~ Fish Passage & Habitat Workshop Wednesday, March 9, 2016
NOAA Proposed Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon September 2015
Fish and Wildlife Commission delists wolves statewide in split vote (4-2) ‏
Coos Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting w/ODFW October 16, 2015
Coos County Approves Nature Conservancy's Tide Gate for China Camp Creek
ODFW ~ Conservation Opportunity Areas for Stealing Private Property

Press Release

Hailing the end of an intensive three-month process, the Sudden Oak Death Task Force publishes their strategic action plan to contain Phytophthora ramorum, an invasive pathogen threatening the economies and environment of Southwest Oregon

Salem, OR – Oregon State Representative David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, co-conveners of the Sudden Oak Death Task Force, today announced the release of the group’s strategic action plan to address the spread of Phytophthora ramorum – commonly called Sudden Oak Death (or SOD) – in Southwest Oregon.

“The residents of Curry County, their communities and the industries that support them, can no longer rely on current treatment methods as an economically viable option. We must have enhanced research, better detection and more effective treatment methods,” Brock Smith said. “The people of Southwest Oregon are at risk of losing their homes to fire and their livelihoods. We cannot afford to lose as a region or state, our wood product, nursery and agriculture industries, or the export industries of the Port of Coos Bay. We must act now, and we must act swiftly. Billions of dollars in regional economic development are on the line.”

“The risk to our communities, economy and environment is too high to delay any longer in taking more aggressive action. The longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive this problem will be,” Merkley said. “That’s why over 100 experts – representing over 40 agencies, organizations, associations and companies – have come together to develop this plan to contain NA1 and eradicate EU1. I have pledged to do everything I can from the Senate’s Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee to help secure resources to support the task force’s action plan.” 

Sudden Oak Death, caused by the non-native pathogen Phytopthora ramorum (P. ramorum), has killed hundreds of thousands of tanoaks in Curry County since it was first detected in an Oregon forest in 2001. Despite a containment program to slow the spread, the quarantine area administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has grown from nine square miles to 515 square miles over the last 15 years and the disease continues to spread. Without more aggressive measures, the pathogen will continue to spread north into Coos County and west into Josephine County.

The majority of the SOD infestations found in Oregon’s forests have been of the NA1 strain of P. ramorum, which predominately affects tanoaks, although repeated exposure can suppress new growth in conifer trees. Increasing the urgency is the recent detection of the EU1 strain of P. ramorum in Curry County, which has been known to kill conifer species in Europe. This strain has never before been detected in the United States.

Merkley and Brock Smith co-convened a broad alliance of stakeholders, staffed by the Association of Oregon Counties’ County Solutions program, to develop a collaboration-based action plan, including the pursuit of adequate resources, to contain the NA1 pathogen and eradicate the EU1 pathogen using the best available science.

This strategic action plan is made up of the recommendations of six subcommittees of the Task Force. Each subcommittee focused on specific issue areas that need to be addressed, including (but not limited to):

• Scientific research: Prioritizing and funding new research to improve treatment, detection and monitoring of SOD, including determining pathogen host range and examining integrated pest management strategies, EU1 epidemiology and ecological and social impacts of living with SOD.
• SOD Treatment:  Increasing state, federal and other funds in order to sufficiently contain NA1 and eradicate EU1 in Oregon.
• All lands coordination: Developing an interagency Memorandum of Understanding to implement collaborative SOD related projects across all ownerships and hiring an outreach coordinator to work with landowners.
• Adaptation within the quarantine area: Developing and implementing fire risk and prevention, transportation and recreation and restoration and conservation strategies, as well as best management practices in areas affected or likely to be affected by SOD.
• Communications and civic engagement: Hiring a marketing firm to develop a communications and civic engagement plan to begin implementing by January 2018.
• Economic impact: Hiring a consultant to conduct an economic impact study to evaluate the current and future economic impacts of SOD.
• Workforce development: Implementing workforce strategies to increase capacity for detection, treatment and monitoring of SOD.
• Funding: Forming an ongoing working group to identify and secure funding to implement landscape scale, place-based projects.
  
  

Anticipating potential cuts from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s budget for the coming biennium, Representative David Brock Smith introduced House Bill 3151 to ensure the agency received the same level of funding for SOD detection, treatment and monitoring. As a result of the Task Force’s efforts, the request was amended upward to $1.7 million for the 2017-2019 biennium. Additional federal appropriations requests are also underway and other sources of revenue are being investigated to implement this plan.

Click HERE for a copy of the full Sudden Oak Death Task Force Strategic Action Plan.

###

Hey Folks,

One arrest is bad, but two arrests for the same crime against the same victim twice is inexcusable.  The Founder of Leaven No Trace, Raymond Furr should have left no trace, but he did and now he faces some serious charges.  Furr claims he has squatters rights, but there is no such thing,

In fact, most property owners believe they have a right to shoot trespassers and that is what should have happened to Furr.  It would save the taxpayers money.  Any property owner would be well in their right to Stand Their Ground if they shot this criminal during the commission of committing his crimes against fellow citizens.  Hopefully, he will get some hard time with a real horny cellmate.  Lucky for them, the Sherriff's Department just got a new water heater for the showers.....Rob T.    

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Coos Bay Manager, Secretary of State & LOC Agree City's Laws Equal to State Law
LTE ~ Colombia County Approves Second Amendment Preservation Petition
Entering A Second Amendment Sanctuary County
Oregon Firearms Federation ~ Kevin Starret Endorses Teri Grier 
Second Amendment Chief Petitioners Needed for these Oregon Counties
Columbia County Receives Ballot Title for Initiative Petition 16-7
Video of the Columbia BOC Discussing the Second Amendment August 17, 2016
Columbia County Resident Files for Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance
Curry County BOC Vote to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary County
Curry County BOC Vote Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance July 20, 2016
Open Letter to the Curry County Board of Commissioners on 2nd Amendment
Curry BOC Voting on Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance Referral
An Election Message to Second Amendment Supporters

States Rights

I get regular emails from my state representatives.  The most common theme is:  the Willamette Valley controls the Senate, House and Governorship, and we can't do anything to stop them!

I believe I may shed some light on a solution.

In the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the major sticking point was that the larger (most populated) states wanted to have a strictly popular form of representation while the least populated states wanted the states represented.  In either case, the winner of that argument would control the new government.  Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman proposed that we have a Senate with 2 senators each to represent the states (satisfying the smaller states) and the House of Representatives apportioned per population (satisfying the larger states).  That was approved with Benjamin Franklin's Origination Clause, in that the House initiated all money bills.  See Utah Senator Mike Lee's 2015 book, Our Lost Constitution, for the full story.

This bicameral system of government, a Constitutional Republic, was such a successful concept, that nearly every state adopted the same type of constitution:  a House of Representatives apportioned by population and a Senate representing Counties.  The concurrence of both least populated and the most populated areas would be required for a law to be made.  This is a staple of the mixed form of government described by Polybius and formed by the Romans as a Republic (Res Publica “thing of the people”). 

However, in 1964, The Supreme Court decided a case originating in Alabama, Reynolds v. Sims (377 U.S. 533).  It would transform 30 states from a republican form of government (as required in the Constitution, see below) into a democratic form of government in which a majority of the people make the laws.  

Reynolds v. Sims righted a wrong in which apportionment in its House of Representatives, supposed to occur every 10 years, had not been done since the year 1900.  This was apparently a racial issue purposefully done to deny a certain population representation.  The Court was correct to rectify this “error” but Chief Justice Earl Warren went a step too far.  He wrote that the Equal Protection Clause, “one man, one vote” requires equal legislative representation for all citizens, even in the Senate.  His ruling forced the Senate to also be apportioned by population.  Both houses represented the same interests.  The Republic was drowned in a sea of Democracy.

In dissent, Justice John Marshall Harlan II criticized the Court, claiming it was imposing its own idea of “good government” on the states.  Harlan further claimed that if Reynolds was correct, the U.S. Constitution's own provision for two senators from each state would be constitutionally suspect.  If it was to be for the states, it should also be for the federal government.

Historically, there is no evidence that the term Equal Protection applied to political questions, like how a government chooses to allocate representatives.

The Supreme Court cannot write laws or amend the Constitution.  I submit that this ruling unlawfully amended the constitution of the 30 states that modeled their constitution after the federal standard, taking away their rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 4 “The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a Republican form of Government.”

It can't get much clearer than that, and that is reinforced by the 10th Amendment “The powers delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”.  So, our Republican form of state government was taken away and replaced with a democratic form of government.  We no longer have a rule by law, but a rule by men.

A quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin “A democracy is where two wolves and a lamb vote upon what to have for dinner”.

This changed the political climate so much that rural areas of states are no longer represented.   The State of Jefferson movement in California is based upon this exact notion, as they feel that their votes do not count, as whatever Los Angeles & San Francisco votes for, happens.  They contend that LA County has 11 Senators, while 11 Northern Counties have only 1 Senator.  The same situation prevails in Oregon (page 135 of the Oregon Blue Book).  Senate District 29 in Eastern Oregon has 1 Senator for 6 ½ counties and District 30, also in Eastern Oregon, has 1 Senator to represent 7 ½ counties.  Multnomah County has 11 Senators fully or partially representing that county.

I propose that we do one of two actions:

1)  Litigate to overturn this ruling.  We could probably get most rural counties in those 31 states to join in the suit.

2)  Get a backbone and invoke states rights.  We allowed this to happen in 1964 because the population was ignorant of the ramifications of the court overstepping their bounds, trampling on states rights.

Robert Chard
Grants Pass, OR  97527
[email protected]

P.S.  Thanks to John Chambers and his Constitution Studies Class, in which he enlightened me enough to enable me to write this paper, and to his editing skills.

GENERAL ELECTION SPECIAL Part Two ~
The Candidates
 ***LIVE STREAMING*** on KWRO 630 am & 101.1 fm
 Jim Bice & Rob Taylor review the November Ballot:
 We are going to let the public know who and what we are voting for and against and why. Then you can decide your choice.

THE JIM BICE SHOW
 MONDAYS 3:00 – 5:00 PM
 October 31, 2016
Happy Halloween  
CALL-IN Live on air at 541-267-2124
Join us Live on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/TheJimBiceShow

GUEST(S): Rob Taylor
 SUBJECTS DISCUSSED:
 Discussion and analysis of the candidates on the November 8th ballot

www.kwro.com

The Coos County Chapter of Oregon III% will be holding its monthly
meeting on Thursday October 27th from 6-8pm at the Coos Bay Fire Station
(450 Elrod Ave. Coos Bay, OR 97420).

Teri Grier (candidate for Oregon State Representative, District 9) will
be speaking to the group again to update us on her candidacy. The NRA
recently endorsed Caddy McKeown in this race based on her vote against
Senate Bill 941 last year. The NRA failed to do proper research and
incorrectly labeled Caddy McKeown as a 2nd Amendment supporter. This
could not be further from the truth, as she only voted against SB941 due
to her vulnerability in this election. Teri Grier is a true supporter of
our gun rights and has been endorsed by the Oregon Firearms Federation.

Rob Taylor from Coos County Watchdog will also be present to speak about
the Coquille Watershed Association and possible political action to be
taken after the presidential election.

The Rural Organizing Project out of Scappoose, OR recently released a
research paper titled, "Up In Arms - A Guide To Oregon's Patriot
Movement". I will have several printed copies of this report available
for examination. We will discuss the false claims put forward in the
report and talk about how to counter ROP influence in our area.

Finally, we will discuss upcoming events and goals for the group
including spreading the message about Jury Nullification.

Hope to see you there!

ROP is  thrilled to announce the release of our activist resource toolkit, Up in Arms: A Guide to Oregon's Patriot Movement!  For the last two years, ROP has worked on the front lines with local community leaders to document, analyze, and respond to the Patriot movement's activities. Now ROP and Political Research Associates are releasing a comprehensive toolkit with over 200 pages of research and resources for organizers, community leaders, elected officials, and journalists in Oregon and across the country.

You can read Up In Arms: A Guide to Oregon’s Patriot Movement online.  You can also place an order for a paper copy here, handy for sharing with neighbors, friends, reporters for your local newspaper, or to donate to your local library.

Share a link to this resource with your community by forwarding this email, or sharing it on Facebook and other social media.

Thank you to all the local human dignity group leaders, volunteer researchers, and inspiring activists for building community, sharing your stories, and helping inform and resource other rural people desperate to figure out next steps.
Warmly,
Jess, Cara, Grace and the entire ROP Team


Rural Organizing Project, Political Research Associates Release Toolkit to Aid Oregon Communities Facing Militia Movements
October 3, 2016
Contact: Cara Shufelt, [email protected], 503-438-8638
Scappoose, OR-- Up in Arms: A Guide to Oregon’s Patriot Movement is a groundbreaking resource with essential information and tools for Oregon’s small towns and rural communities under siege from militias and other patriot movements.  The toolkit and research report is being released by the Rural Organizing Project in partnership with Political Research Associates.

In early 2016, patriot movement paramilitaries stormed onto the national stage when they seized the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, and occupied it for 41 days. Oregon remains a hotbed of Patriot movement activity. Across the state, heavily armed paramilitaries and self-anointed “judges and courts” vie for public support, while a handful of county sheriffs and other elected officials actually collude with these more radical groups and organizers.

“As Oregonians, we have a responsibility to support those who are resisting these movements and struggling for real democratic control of their communities,” says Jessica Campbell, Rural Organizing Project Co-Director. “Rural Oregonians want healthy and vibrant communities where everyone can live their lives fully with safety and dignity, and that isn't possible when those who have the most guns get to intimidate their political opponents into silence.”
The “Up in Arms” toolkit was developed through extensive research on right-wing movements, as well as local knowledge by rural community activists and economists. The toolkit exposes, explains, and offers alternatives to this movement.

Up in Arms’ illustrates how a statewide array of paramilitaries who are eager to join armed encampments to confront the federal government has been fostered by the militia and patriot movement. The report also clearly spells out how the movement recruits county sheriffs and other law enforcement officers under its influence, while simultaneously creating fake courts and self-proclaimed judges to dispense its own notions of justice.
“The Oregon Patriot movement engages in the same political culture of violence as the national movement, including armed occupations, protests, camps, and marches—as well as threats against elected officials, community activists, and critics,” says Spencer Sunshine, a sociologist and associate fellow at Political Research Associates who wrote a study of the movement included in the kit.

Also revealed are the many elected officials and candidates with ties to this homebrew of armed, anti-democratic politics. It documents the threats of assault and murder that Patriot movement adherents and supporters have made toward critics, Native American leaders, law enforcement, and even the Governor of Oregon.

Up In Arms details how the Patriot movement takes advantage of the collapse of the rural Oregon economy and deteriorating communities. University of Oregon Professors Dan HoSang and Steve Beda describe how vital county services such as 911 response and public libraries have disappeared from rural areas as the jobs rooted in natural resource extraction have evaporated. The failure of the federal and state governments to invest in rural America has allowed the Patriot movement to provide its own alternative policing and emergency responses as a means to gain traction and power in these forgotten communities.

“Providing alternatives for communities who are being targeted for Patriot movement recruitment is crucial,” continues ROP Co-director Jessica Campbell. “We cannot abandon folks in these communities to an environment of threats and intimidation.   Now is the time for engagement and action, before the politics of exclusion take root.”
Campbell offers a number of strategies for community members to break out of a sense of isolation, form a group, and speak out with a democratic and inclusive vision of what the community should look like. Examples from five different Oregon counties and towns over the last year are given to show how progressives can successfully counter Patriot movement messaging and intimidation, and help build inclusive communities where everyone can live their lives with safety and dignity.

Up In Arms: A Guide to Oregon’s Patriot Movement is available for free online as a PDF.

About the Rural Organizing Project:  The Rural Organizing Project (ROP) is a statewide organization of locally-based groups that strive to create and build communities accountable to a standard of human dignity: the belief in the equal worth of all people, the need for equal access to justice and the right to self-determination. Starting in 1992, ROP’s challenges to the anti-democratic right have earned ROP a national reputation for being an effective grassroots organization that takes on the hard issues.

About Political Research Associates:  Massachusetts-based Political Research Associates is a social justice think tank devoted to supporting movements that are building a more just and inclusive democratic society. We expose movements, institutions, and ideologies that undermine human rights.

Related Posts:
TEA Party---Rally Around The Flag in Cottage Grove June 14, 2014
TEA Party---Solution Revolution in Josephine County Saturday June 7, 2014
The TEA Party---Events in Grants Pass June 7 2014, & Cottage Grove June 14, 2014
The TEA Party 5 Year Anniversary February 27, 2014
TEA Party---Video of Brookings TEA Party January 18, 2014
TEA Party---The Brookings Harbor TEA Party January 18, 2014
The TEA Party---National Town Hall IRS Intimidation: Are you next?
The TEA Party---IRS: Protests, Petition, and the People
The TEA Party---The Brookings Harbor Tea Party 3/16/2013
The TEA Party---Auto-Pilot Toward the Fiscal Cliff
The Tea Party---Some Republicans Caving to No New Tax Pledge
The Tea Party---Sign Our New 'No New Taxes' Petition‏

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT NEEDS TO REGISTER TO VOTE?

Did you just move to Oregon or know someone new to Oregon?

Do you know a high school student that will be turning 17 that can pre-register to vote?

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 18, 2016

Oregon Abigail Adams(OAA) Voter Education Project has the most complete website for voters. Starting with registering to vote, election process, getting involved in a campaign, and being an informed voter through the candidate comparison guides.

For new voters to Oregon, OAA website provides information on Why Choose A Party, and a party platform comparison chart to aid in Choosing A Party, followed by the Requirements to Register, and how to register.

https://oregonabigailadams.wordpress.com/register-to-vote/

Greetings:

I wanted to share with you that Gordon Young has been transported to Sacred Heart and is awaiting brain surgery. Many of you may not know him by name but Gordon is the man we traditionally see manning the public access camera at many of our public meetings. It is my understanding that Gordon displayed the signs and symptoms of having a stroke earlier sometime this week while in Coquille while filming a public meeting down there.  Reportedly Gordon refused medical assistance and decided to drive himself back to Bay Area Hospital, but unfortunately he ended up in a motor vehicle accident. A CAT scan was later performed at area Hospital which revealed that Gordon had a tumor on the right side of his brain. Gordon was transported up to OHSU for further testing.  I have been told that Gordon is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. 
Please keep Gordon in your thoughts and or prayers.

Rodger Craddock, City Manager
City of Coos Bay
500 Central Ave
Coos Bay, OR  97420

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rodger Craddock <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 4:45 AM
Subject: Councilor Leahy's Resignation
To: mayor <[email protected]>, Stephanie Kramer <[email protected]>, Jennifer Groth <[email protected]>, Mark Daily <[email protected]>, "Mike Vaughn ([email protected])" <[email protected]>, Fred Brick <[email protected]>, "Joe Benetti ([email protected])" <[email protected]>, "DiNovo, Lucinda ([email protected])" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "Anthony Farmer ([email protected])" <[email protected]>, "fred kirby <[email protected]> ([email protected])" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Cc: Nate McClintock <[email protected]>, "Nate ([email protected])" <[email protected]>, Jackie Mickelson <[email protected]>, Jim Hossley <[email protected]>, Gary McCullough <[email protected]>, Susanne Baker <[email protected]>, Amy Kinnaman <[email protected]>, Mark Anderson <[email protected]>, Sami Pierson <[email protected]>, Eric Day <[email protected]>

Mayor, City Councilors and Council Candidates:

I'm sorry to have to report that at the conclusion of last night's Council meeting, Tom Leahy tendered his resignation from the City Council.

The matter of filling the vacancy on the Council will be on the agenda for the next Council meeting scheduled for October 4th.  Below you will find the relevant sections of the City Charter which addresses filling a vacant position:



Section 3.6          Qualifications: 

A person who at the time of election or appointment is a qualified voter within the meaning of the state constitution and has resided within the City one year immediately preceding the election or appointment to fill a vacancy shall be eligible to fill an elective office of the City. No elective office holder of the City may be employed by the City in a position that is not substantially volunteer in nature.  Before the names of candidates for elective office are placed on the ballot and before the appointment of an elective officer to fill a vacancy, the candidate for elective office shall present proof of qualifications to the municipal judge whose decision shall be a final determination of both fact and law, but if there is no municipal judge then such determination shall be made by the city attorney.



Section 6.8          What Creates Vacancy. 

An elective office shall be deemed vacant by declaration of the Council upon the incumbent's death, adjudicated incompetence, convictions of felony, resignation, recall from office, ceasing to possess the qualifications necessary for the office, the failure of the person elected or appointed to take the oath of office within three weeks after the time for the term of office to commence, which shall be the first regular council meeting following election or appointment, or absence from meetings of the council for 30 days without the consent of the Council.



Section 6.9          Filling Vacancies.

Vacancies in elective offices of the City shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the entire membership of the Council holding office at the time of the appointment. The appointee's term of office shall begin upon taking the oath of office following appointment and shall continue until a successor has been elected and qualified following the next regular city election.  The successor to a council member appointed during the first two years of the term shall serve for the unexpired term of two years.

Over the last 24 years the City Council has been in the position of deciding how best to fill a vacancy on the Council nine different times.  The Council has used a variety of methods to fill those vacancies which have included a direct appointment to the Council by a majority vote, using an application/interview process to identify and appoint interested persons, and appointing a person based on the results of the previous election. In this case the Council could do any of those three and/or leave the position vacant and allow it to be filled in the upcoming election.

All my best,
Rodger Craddock, City Manager

City of Coos Bay
500 Central Ave
Coos Bay, OR  97420


541-269-8912
Fax 541-267-5912

Mark Daily, is running for Mayor, City Coos Bay, November 2016. Replacement of waste water treatment plant #2 is on the table. Mark’s issues revolved around two concerns. One,  user rates, fees. Two, best available technology for quality of water discharged into the Bay. 

DEQ, promotes lower standard of discharge quality currently available in the industry as of 2016.  13 years, City Staff proceeded to design a plant of a lower standard, than best available technology, DEQ meets minimum NPDS permit standards, and is offering to in-debt the Citizens of Coos Bay with a one percent loan of 26.1 million to build this lessor quality plant. 

Yes, most of the City Councils members over the 13 years said yes, voting in a fee structure in the summer 2009, and in 2013 a resolution for a 20 year fee schedule at 6.5 percent. 2015, it was pointed out to the Council, 6.5 percent increase, each year going forward would be overwhelming, burdening rate payers.  Several members of the Council acquired magnifying glasses, and started viewing the waste water plant construction plan and fees.

 It soon became clear the current plan cost were high, water discharge quality of a lessor standard, and the sewer fees were designed to pay those high cost.  The seven member council, including Mayor became divided in their views. These two issues, fees, necessary to support cost, and quality of discharged waste water, on one side, and the other side, just move on with the plans as are, with money from DEQ. The Council was split.

 Is there a way to decrease escalating fees and improve discharge, in the short term, 20 years? Yes, privatize the whole operation. Attorney Report, “ Viability of Privatizing”. Currently, a plan called, a DBFO, where a private partner, designs, builds, finances, operates, City owns plant, a shoe, fitting most Councilors foot.

 DBFO, can provide cost saving for rate payers. The DBFO bid process, open to all, meeting the specs of the bid, not limited to bidders from the state of Oregon.

 Mark Daily proposed motion to the Council to initiate a privatized bid for plant #2, to have a comparison of the current project. He then went a step further to make a motion to start this same process, privatized bid on Plant #1, soon, to be required to meet new NPDES permit standards, requiring plant upgrades. Motion did not pass?

Denny Powell
Coos Bay OR, 97420

Date: September 5, 2016 at 11:56:53 AM PDT
Subject: Anti-Republican Vandalism at Old Cedartree in Florence

This morning, Labor Day, 2016, Duke and Trish Wells, owners of Old Cedartree Woodworking came to work to find yet another work of vandalism against their support of Donald Trump.  This time, instead of just throwing their Trump signs in the street and driving over them,(see picture) a slingshot was used to break the window holding the large Trump sign.  This large, bay window in the front of the store has been in their shop, with its matching windows for 30 years.  The hole is in the upper left and the entire window will have to be replaced.

Duke and Trish have offered their shop as a place to pick up Republican campaign signs and a place for patriotic rallies for the last many years.  We need to support them by funding the replacement of the window.  They feel this is violent intolerance encouraged by democrats and they will not stop supporting the candidates they feel can help get our country back. 

As a fellow Republican, grateful for Duke and Trish's courage and patriotism, I urge you to support them in this effort. Stop by their shop and put some cash in their "Repair the Window" donation bucket or click on https://www.gofundme.com/oldcedartree .  Pick up some more signs and stickers while you're there.  We really need to get people out to vote to win this election.

Hey Folks,

During the last election cycle I was contacted by Attorney Daniel M. Hinrichs about a Coos county judicial candidate, Ryan Hughes.  It was about some personal issues that was allegedly plaguing Hughes.  Even candidates should have to be considered innocent before proven guilty and it did not rise to a level of real concern. 

Also, he was never charged for any crime or misconduct in his capacity in any official position, but the mere perception created by his opponents may have cost him the election.  The following is the email thread between me and Mr. Hinrichs.....Rob T.     

From: Rob Taylor
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 11:46 AM
To: Dan Hinrichs
Subject: RE: Coos/Curry Circuit Court election 

Hello Daniel,
 
Do you have a link to the article?  I'm having no luck hunting it down and really have not been paying much attention to that race.  A DUI would not be a reason to disqualify anyone from judgeship, but it would be something to look into if there was a pattern of criminality and a background story. 
 
However, I would be more interested in this persons stance on the issues and how they would conduct themselves on the bench than I would be about some personal problems.   In some cases, the leaders who show no human emotions and who have not lived a varied life may be more detrimental than someone who has lived a little.  
 
By the way, who are you supporting and why?  

Sincerely,
Rob Taylor

From: Rob Taylor
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 2:57 PM
To: Dan Hinrichs
Subject: RE: Coos/Curry Circuit Court election
 
Hey Daniel,
 
Please send what you can, because some close confidants have expressed their concern for the legitimacy of this candidate.  Yet, others like this person's policies. I do not know this person, but it is starting to become a very intriguing issue and yes there should be a standard for judgeship.  Of course, I like to determine the case based on its own merits.   
 
Hey, If the law states a person convicted of a crime cannot be a judge then how did the candidate's filing fly by the County Clerk and SOS?  Do they know and can someone file an injunction to the candidacy? 

Sincerely,
Rob Taylor

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