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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2017)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 Environmental commissioners Local law enforcement claims defi ed governor’s orders, fi red Warrenton man threatened police By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — Three former state environmental quality commissioners say they were fi red Wednesday by Gov. Kate Brown because they defi ed the governor in selecting a director for the Department of Environmental Quality. Commissioners kept the Governor’s Office informed every step of the way in their search for a new director, but Gov. Brown did not make her wishes known until the “eleventh hour,” former commission Chairwoman Colleen Johnson wrote in a statement. “She went so far as to sug- gest that any decision contrary to her wishes could have neg- ative consequences,” Johnson wrote. The three commission- ers — Johnson and Morgan Rider and Melinda Eden — received a phone call early Wednesday informing them of Brown’s decision. The gov- ernor’s news release on the change included the names of her nominees to replace the three commissioners, indicat- ing the decision had been in the works for some time. “After the past two years, it has become clear to Gov. Brown that the Environmen- tal Quality Commission has not been able meet new chal- lenges and implement poli- cies that protect Oregonian’s air and water resources,” said Bryan Hockaday, a spokes- man in Brown’s offi ce. “It is critical to Gov. Brown that leadership of the agency ensures DEQ achieves this mission.” The commission selected Brown’s natural resources adviser, Richard Whitman, as DEQ director Feb. 15, follow- ing a national search. Whitman, who had been adviser to Gov. John Kitzhaber, then Brown, had served as interim director since October. That month, former Director Dick Ped- ersen resigned amid scandal over the agency’s response to heavy metal emissions in the Portland area. The governor asserted that the process for hiring the director “did not signal a col- laborative approach that will lead to signifi cant improve- ments in the operations at DEQ,” Hockaday said. “Gov. Brown is confi dent in Richard Whitman’s ability to guide DEQ, and by appoint- ing new members to the EQC to support his leadership, she looks forward to a more col- laborative and transparent approach to DEQ’s policy and rule making process.” Johnson defended the commission’s process for selecting the director. “We take extreme pride in the way those searches were conducted — open, impartial, and always informed by our judgment of what was best for the state and DEQ,” Johnson wrote. “After considerable time, effort, and deliberation, including a self-imposed two- week delay to thoroughly and carefully consider the com- ments from the Governor’s AP Photo/Don Ryan Gov. Kate Brown speaks during her State of the State ad- dress in Portland in 2015. The governor has fired three members of the state Environmental Quality Commission. Offi ce, the commission unan- imously decided to hire Rich- ard Whitman. Unfortunately, Gov. Brown seems to feel that despite the clear language of (Oregon statute), the decision about the new director was really hers to make.” She said the governor “is now trying to distance her- self from the idea that our fi r- ing has anything to do with the decisions about whom to hire as a director, rather say- ing it was the process that concerned her.” Yet Commissioners Sam Baraso and Ed Armstrong will remain on the commis- sion, Johnson noted. Brown has nominated Kathleen George, a member of the Grande Ronde Tribal Council; Wade Mosby, a founding member of the For- est Stewardship Council; and Molly Kile, an associate pro- fessor at Oregon State Uni- versity, to replace them. If confi rmed by the Senate April 26, they will start their new positions May 3. The governor believes her new picks will bring new per- spectives to the commission and work more collabora- tively with her offi ce, Hock- aday said. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Law enforcement offi cials are requesting that a man who led police on a brief chase and then ran into his apartment Sunday night not be released from jail. Warrenton Police Chief Mathew Workman and Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin contacted the District Attor- ney’s Offi ce saying Edward Frederick Gates Sr., 38, of Warrenton, made threats to kill police during the incident. Workman said he makes such a request whenever a sus- pect threatens to kill police in order to give them more time to decompress. Both Gates and the passenger in the car — Isaac Daniel Lyons, 23, of Warrenton — were listed on the county jail roster as of Thursday afternoon. Warrenton Police Offi cer Tyler Johnston attempted to pull Gates over Sunday after he allegedly did not come to a com- plete stop while pulling out of the Super Mart parking lot on South Main Avenue. He then drove to an apartment building on South- west Cedar Avenue. When they reached the complex, Gates fl ed up to the second fl oor . Lyons, mean- while, stayed in the parking lot . Once backup arrived, police arrested Lyons and charged him with resisting arrest and interfering with a police offi - cer. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Monday. Gates eventually surren- dered himself to police more than 1 1/2 hours after they arrived at the apartment com- plex. He was indicted earlier this week on seven charges, including second-degree escape, resisting arrest and recklessly endangering another person . “It was quite a fi asco,” Workman said. Gates said at his fi rst arraignment Monday that he is fi ling a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union over his treatment by police. He is also facing harass- ment and disorderly conduct charges stemming from a case earlier this month involving his girlfriend. Circuit Court Judge Cin- dee Matyas ordered that Gates have no contact with his girl- friend, who was in the court- room at the time. Gates, appearing from jail through video, expressed his frustration with the decision and became visibly upset. Matyas asked to Gates calm down or she would end the arraignment. “I’m not going to calm down,” Gates said. Matyas then ended the arraignment. Gates threw documents at the screen and stood up, telling deputies not to touch him before the video disconnected. More than just paints, stains and janitorial supplies! Floor Cleaners, Concrete Floor Care, Finishes, Floor Restorers, Sealers & Strippers, Carpet Cleaners, Laundry Detergent, and MORE! 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