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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2011)
august9 2011 V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community Recall is Over! Vernonia Councilors Burch and Nicks Lose Election Vernonia citizens voted on August 4, 2011 to recall City Councilors Willow Burch and Marilyn Nicks. The final, certified totals were as follows: Burch: 433 Yes votes or 73.3 %, 158 No votes or 26.7%; Nicks 437 Yes votes or 73.6%, 157 No votes or 26.4%. Voter turnout was 53.3%. The recall of Burch and Nicks now makes three Vernonia City Councilors that have been recalled in the last two months. All three seats currently sit vacant. Mayor Josette Mitchell and Councilor Randy Parrow are the only remaining Council members. According to the Vernonia City Charter, vacancies are filled by appointment by a majority of the City Council. At the July 18 City Council meeting Councilor Parrow made a proposal that would call for choosing three citizen panels by lottery to interview candidates for City Council and recommend appointments for at least two of the empty seats. According to Mayor Josette Mitchell, the intent is to include the citizens in the process for selecting replacement Councilors. The current proposal calls for forming three panels consisting of five citizens each. To be eligible to serve, panelists must live within the Vernonia city limits; be a registered voter; have not held elected Vernonia Public Office within the prior eighteen months and not be a City of Vernonia employee. Starting on August 9th citizens would go to the Vernonia City Hall to sign-up for the lottery to serve on a panel. At a special City Council meeting on August 22, the names of fifteen panelists would be drawn. Interviews would be scheduled during the week of August 23-26. New Councilors would be appointed at the next regular Council meeting. Because the City Charter does not include provisions for citizens to appoint replacement Councilors, the panels will make recommendations for consideration to the sitting Council who will make the final appointment. A special City Council meeting has been called for Monday, August 8 at 7:00 PM to finalize details of the appointment process. free volume5 issue15 Logging Show Returns More photos from the 2011 Vernonia Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show are on page 10. DPSST Board Approves Kay Certification Revocation The full Board of the Oregon Department of Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) met on July 28, 2011 and approved the recommendation from the Police Policy Committee (PCC) to revoke inside 5 historic newspapers 7 knights of veritas 10 jamboree photos the Certifications for Vernonia police officer Michael Kay. The PPC had met on May 19 and voted unanimously to recommend to the Board to revoke Kay’s certifications for life based on dishonesty. The PPC identified conduct that involved findings that Kay was dishonest based on lies to a local judge regarding community service, lies regarding dog certifications and the omission of material facts on his application for employment with the Vernonia Police Department. The Full board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the PCC. According to DPSST Director Eriks Grabliks, Kay has sixty days to request a hearing on the matter. The DPSST Board includes members from the Oregon Sheriff’s Association, the Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association, the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, the Oregon District Attorney’s Association, the Oregon Fire Chief’s Association and others. It also includes the Superintendent of the Oregon State Police, the Chief of the Portland Police Bureau, the Director of the Oregon Department of Corrections, and others. Wu Resigns as Congressional Representative Governor Kitzhaber Sets Special Election to Fill First Congressional District Seat Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has set a special election to replace Congressman David Wu after receiving a letter of resignation from the representative of Oregon’s First Congressional District. Wu resigned on Wednesday August 3, amid complaints that he had made unwanted sexual advances towards an eighteen year old woman in November of last year. A special primary election will be held on November 8, 2011 and a special general election will be held on January 31, 2012. The Secretary of State’s Office will be releasing details of the special election process. “I have received a letter of resignation from Congressman David Wu and am working with the Secretary of State’s office on a special election process,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “Holding both a primary and general election allows the voters of the First Congressional District full participation in selecting a replacement.” State law mandates that a primary election be used to select Republican and Democratic nominees because the January 31, 2012 general election is more than 80 days after Rep. Wu’s August 3, 2011 resignation date.
