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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2015)
OPINION 4A T HE D AILY A STORIAN Founded in 1873 STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager SAMANTHA MCLAREN, Circulation Manager It’s not a piece of cake R Mayor Dianne Widdop was tough in the face of recall ecalls have been frequent in Clatsop County over the past 20 years. District Attorney Julie Leonhardt was recalled IURPRI¿FHLQ-DQXDU\/HRQKDUGWZDVVXEVHTXHQWO\LQ dicted and convicted, and she was disbarred. In 2008 County &RPPLVVLRQ&KDLUPDQ5LFKDUG/HHZDVUHFDOOHGIURPRI¿FH DQG LQ DQRWKHU FRPPLVVLRQHU ZDV UHFDOOHG ,Q two members of the Jewell School Board were recalled from RI¿FH$W WKH VDPH WLPH LQ DQ DWWHPSW WR UHFDOO IRXU members of the Astoria School Board failed. 1RZ ZH KDYH WKH UHVRXQG ing defeat of a recall brought against Gearhart Mayor Dianne Widdop. The recall campaign brought by Dr. Harold Gable and others was rebuffed by a ODQGVOLGH²SHUFHQW The ostensible cause of the UHFDOO ZDV :LGGRS¶V FRQYHUVD WLRQZLWKDVKRSRZQHUUHJDUG ing her display of an election sign for a city council candidate. There was nothing illegal about Widdop’s comment. Impolitic perhaps. In other American political cultures, the mayor’s comment would have been SDUW RI WKH JDPH 2UHJRQ¶V UH call statute is much looser than Washington’s, for instance, where a criminal conviction is the trigger for a recall. There were other, implicit 7KHFRPSHWLWLRQLVÀDW they get older, and they IURP FROOHJHHGXFDWHG YRWHUVIURPWR vote at higher rates. And White college grads older people are moving are drifting away from ike a lot of people who pay WR FUXFLDO VWDWHV ,Q $UL 'HPRFUDWV GRZQEDOORW attention to such things, I zona, Barack Obama won WRR $QG PRVW VLJQL¿ 63 percent of the young had assumed that Democrats DGXOWVEXWRQO\SHUFHQW cant, there are signs that had a huge advantage going into of the oldsters. Hispanic voters, at least in Sun Belt states, are This aging effect could next year’s presidential race. getting more Republican have a big impact in the Democrats do really well among DVWKH\PRYHXSWKHHGX VZLQJ VWDWHV RI WKH 0LG David the growing demographic groups, west, like Wisconsin, cational ladder. Brooks like Hispanics, single people and the Ohio, Iowa, Michigan 6XUYH\V DQG LQWHU young. views give us some sense and Pennsylvania. These Republicans, meanwhile, are VWDWHV KDYH JHQHUDOO\ JRQH 'HPR of what’s going on. Voters have a doing sensationally well with just cratic in presidential years, but it’s lot of economic anxieties. But they about every shrinking group. If KDUG WR PLVV WKH JURZLQJ 5HSXE also have a template in their heads \HDUROG UXUDO ZKLWH PHQ ZHUH lican strength at every other level. for what economic dynamism looks the future of the electorate, the GOP As Brownstein notes, Republicans like. That template does not include a would be rolling. KDYH D WR DGYDQWDJH LQ 86 But there’s a growing body of House seats in these states. They big role for government. Polls show evidence to suggest that, in fact, control the governorships in all but WKDWIDLWKLQJRYHUQPHQWLVQHDUDOO 'HPRFUDWV GR QRW HQWHU WKLV HOHF Pennsylvania. They control both WLPHORZV,QD*DOOXSVXUYH\YRW tion with an advantage. There are a statehouses in all these states save ers listed dysfunctional government DV WKH QDWLRQ¶V 1R SUREOHP ,Q series of trends that may cancel out the Iowa Senate. WKH 'HPRFUDWLF JDLQV ZLWK LPPL Second, Democrats continue to fact, American voters’ traditional grants, singles and the like. ORVHVXSSRUWDPRQJWKHZKLWHZRUN distrust has morphed and hardened. :H ¿UVW EHJDQ WR QRWLFH WKHVH ing class. In 2008, Obama carried They used to think it was bloated FRXQWHUIRUFHV LQ WKH KLJKLPPL SHUFHQW RI ZKLWH YRWHUV ZLWK D and ineffective. Now they think it is grant red states KLJK VFKRRO GH bloated and ineffective and rigged WKDW ZHUH VXS JUHH %\ to help those who need it least. Democrats When many of these voters posed to start that was down turning purple by are now doing to 36 percent. think of economic dynamism, they now — places As John B. Judis think of places like Texas, the top OLNH7H[DV$UL]R worse among points out in a job producer in the nation over the na and Georgia. National Journal SDVW GHFDGH DQG HVSHFLDOO\ SODF college- 1HZW\SHVRIYRW piece called “The HV OLNH +RXVWRQ D ORZUHJXODWLRQ ers have, indeed, (PHUJLQJ5HSXE ORZFRVWRIOLYLQJ SODFH ,Q SODFHV educated ÀRRGHGLQWRWKHVH lican Advantage,” OLNH :LVFRQVLQ YRWHUV LQ WKH PLG places, but as the tilt of the GOHFODVV SULYDWH VHFWRU VXSSRUW voters. 5RQDOG %URZQ white working candidates who cut state pensions stein points out in class to the GOP DQGSDVVULJKWWRZRUNODZVVRWKDW The National Journal VLQFH has been even more pronounced in economic governance can be more Democratic presidential nominees other races. In 2006, Democrats got 7H[DVVW\OH In short, economic philosophy KDYHDYHUDJHGRQO\SHUFHQWRI SHUFHQW RI WKH ZKLWHZRUNLQJ WKHYRWHLQ*HRUJLDSHUFHQWRI class vote in U.S. House races. By LV PLWLJDWLQJ WKH HIIHFW RI GHPR the vote in Arizona and a pathetic WKH\ JRW RQO\ SHUFHQW ,Q graphic change, at least for a little SHUFHQWRIWKHYRWHLQ7H[DV 5HSXEOLFDQV KDG D VHDW while longer. Political guru Charlie Instead of turning pink or purple, advantage in House districts that Cook asks: Will this be a “Time for WKHVHVWDWHVKDYHEHFRPHPRUHWKRU were majority white working class. a Change” election or will this be a oughly Republican — from school 7RGD\WKH\KDYHDVHDWDGYDQ ³&KDQJLQJ $PHULFDQ 'HPRJUDSK ics” election? I suspect it will be a board elections on up. tage. Nationally, three big things are Most surprising, Democrats “Time for a Change” election. The happening to at least temporarily DUH QRZ GRLQJ ZRUVH DPRQJ FRO crucial swing voters will be white KROG RII WKH 'HPRFUDWLF UHDOLJQ OHJHHGXFDWHG YRWHUV 2EDPD ZRQ and Hispanic college graduates in PHQW )LUVW WKH DJLQJ RI WKH HOHF white college graduates in 2008, VXEXUEDQRI¿FHSDUNV7KH\DUHQRW torate is partially canceling out the but he lost them to Mitt Romney into redistribution or that Sen. Ted GLYHUVLI\LQJ RI WKH HOHFWRUDWH 3HR LQ,Q&RORUDGRIRUH[DPSOH &UX]RSHQHGKLVFDPSDLJQDW/LEHU ple tend to get more Republican as Obama lost 8 points in his support ty University. By DAVID BROOKS New York Times News Service L UHDVRQV IRU WKH DWWHPSW WR UH move Widdop. Among them was the contentious barn that is used as an events center. Katherine Lacaze reported last Wednesday that the state Land Use Board of Appeals is likely to rule on that matter in April. The voters were not moved by Mr. Gable’s argument. But his comments to Lacaze in our Friday edition indicate he will continue a war against City Hall by other means. A New Yorker, Diane Widdop’s persona stands out in plain vanilla Oregon. Her spirit LV FRPPHQGDEOH %HLQJ PD\ or of a small coastal town is not a piece of cake. Gearhart is 7KDQNV5HIXJHYROXQWHHUV he Willapa National Wildlife fortunate to have a mayor who Refuge Complex thanks its makes herself accessible to the many volunteers for their service LQ :LOODSD -XOLD %XWOHU community. IN GRATITUDE $YHQXHLQ:DUUHQWRQ$WHDFK SHRSOH DFFRPSDQLHG E\ 1HZ Northwest Broadcaster’s Dave Martin, made a trip to Lincoln &LW\ WR WKH &KLQRRN :LQGV &D +DQVHQ DQG /HZLV DQG &ODUN 1D sino. The trip, organized by Tim tional Wildlife Refuges are part Murphy of NNB, was to raise of the National Wildlife Refuge money for the local chapter of the System, a nationwide network of Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). lands managed by the U.S. Fish In total, Murphy and Martin and Wildlife Service, specifically UDLVHGRQWKLVWULSZKLFK for wildlife. LQFOXGHGDQRQERDUGUDIIOHIRUYDU ,Q YROXQWHHUV GHGLFDWHG LRXV SUL]HV '%6$ RI 1RUWK 2UH KRXUV RI WLPH WR WKH 5HIXJ gon and South Washington Coast es. The complex thanks each of FRQGXFWVPRQWKO\PHHWLQJVDW&R our volunteers for their service and OXPELD 0HPRULDO +RVSLWDO LQ$V honors the following people who toria on the first Monday of each FRQWULEXWHG PRUH WKDQ KRXUV LQFOXGLQJ 5RQ &UDLJ .DWK\ )UH Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service PRQWK VWDIIV DQG UXQV WKH QRQ itas, Russ Lewis, Clayton Nichols, Ron Craig, Willapa National Wild- profit PennyWise Thrift Store in Floyd Sinclair, Janet Sinclair and life Refuge Complex Volunteer of Warrenton, and runs Heaven Sent Boarding House, a transitional 6X]\:KLWWH\7KRVHZKRJLYH the Year for 2014. housing alternative in Warrenton. KRXUV RU PRUH RI VHUYLFH WR IHGHU Murphy was the driving force al agencies qualify for an America es’ websites and other forms of the Beautiful National Parks and media. Many volunteer their time behind the organization of this )HGHUDO5HFUHDWLRQ/DQGV3DVVDO ZLWK ORFDO VWXGHQWV IRU WKH (QYL outing, and has indicated that he lowing them free access to federal ronmental Education program. will be organizing more such trips The assistance of volunteers, no in the future, possibly filling two fee sites for one year. Craig was also recognized as PDWWHU KRZ ELJ RU VPDOO FRQWLQ buses, as word of the success of Refuge Volunteer of the Year for ues to be a vital contribution to WKHILUVWWULSDQGWKHQHHGIRUFRQ donating over 800 hours of his the mission of Willapa National tinued funding for mental health awareness within our own county time, energy and talents to the Wildlife Refuge Complex. <RXFDQEHSDUWRI7HDP:LOOD spreads through the community. 5HIXJHLQ DBSA of North Oregon and $UHD JURXSV DQG VHUYLFH RUJD SDWRR&RQWDFWWKHUHIXJHDWZLO QL]DWLRQV SOD\ D UROH LQ FRQVHU ODSD#IZVJRY RU South Washington Coast wants vation, too. Special thanks to the for more information on how you to extend our thanks to Murphy and all those others at NNB who )ULHQGVRI:LOODSD1DWLRQDO:LOG can help wildlife. For additional information worked to make this fundraiser OLIH 5HIXJH DQG 6KRDOZDWHU %LUG about Willapa National Wildlife KDSSHQDQGVXFFHHG,WLVWKHFRQ ers for all their efforts. There are many avenues for Refuge Complex, go to www.fws. tinuing support of each individual within the county that is making volunteering at the Complex, and gov/refuge/willapa JACKIE FERRIER our efforts here a success, and all volunteers have offered their Project leader, Willapa NWR we look forward to continuing to talents and time for a valuable Complex serve our community in the future. FRQWULEXWLRQ WR ZLOGOLIH FRQVHUYD PETER AND PATRICIA Ilwaco, Wash. tion. Some get their hands dirty FESSLER while surveying, data collecting Facilitators, DBSA of North and performing trail maintenance. %ULQJRQWKHPDFKLQHV Oregon and South Washington Others use their creative outlets Q )HE D VSHFLDO EXV OHIW Coast VXFK DV SKRWRJUDSK\ DQG YLGHRJ from Third Street and Alder Warrenton UDSK\ WR FRQWULEXWH WR WKH UHIXJ T Oregon can lead the way RQDQLPDOQHJOHFWFDVHV T here are people in other parts of the U.S. and probably even some in Western Oregon ZKR VFRII DW WKH LGHD WKDW LQ dividual animals deserve to be treated as separate victims in cases of mass abuse. However, the tide of social justice is clearly on the side of making humans more accountable for wanton cruelty and neglect of creatures under our care. Earlier this month, the Oregon Supreme Court determined that it made a technical legal mistake when it and the Oregon Court of Appeals both accepted a state prosecutor’s appeal of a sentence LQDPLVGHPHDQRUDQLPDOQHJOHFW case. To save money, when it comes to appeals by prosecutors, laws generally give the trial judge ¿QDO VD\ RQ PDWWHUV ZKHUH UHOD WLYHO\VPDOO¿QHVDQGOHVVWKDQD year of jail time are involved. %RWK OHYHOV RI 2UHJRQ DS pellate courts earlier ruled that unfortunate animals who are starved, neglected or tortured WRJHWKHU FDQ EH WHDWHG DV LQGL vidual victims for charging and sentencing purposes. Despite the Supreme Court walking back LWV GHFLVLRQ EHFDXVH RI WKH PLV GHPHDQRUDSSHDOV UXOH 2UHJRQ lawyers who practice in this ¿HOG EHOLHYH MXVWLFHV ZLOO VWDQG by their underlying belief that groups of animals aren’t just DQRQ\PRXVO\ OXPSHGWRJHWKHU pieces of property when it comes to legal protections. Animal advocates are on the THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 lookout for an appropriate case to help the court solidify its case law on the subject. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, “two pending cases in the Court RI$SSHDOV²RQHLQYROYLQJQH glected pit bulls in Beaverton DQGDQRWKHULQYROYLQJFDWKRDUG ing in Gresham — could give the high courts another chance to say animals are victims in the same way as people.” 7RGD\¶V IUDFWXUHG SROLWL cal system may not permit the Oregon Legislature to codify a statute that makes this same SRLQW%XWLWVKRXOG7KRXJKDJ ricultural interests might worry about such protections being WDNHQWRH[WUHPHOHQJWKVDQGDS SOLHG WR RUGLQDU\ IDUPLQJ SUDF tices, the fact is that the vast majority of farmers and ranchers are compassionate animal lovers who lament cruelty and neglect. Frequently, it is hobbyists and mentally unbalanced “animal collectors” who are responsible IRUWKHPRVWKRUUHQGRXVLQVWDQF es of prosecutable crimes, not ag professionals. Whether we’re talking about domestic cats, nuisance sea lions, backyard horses or feedlot cattle, there is an increasing consensus WKDW IXQGDPHQWDO PRUDOLW\ GH PDQGVZHDFWLQZD\VWKDWPLQ imize suffering and fear. People ZKR WUDQVJUHVV WKHVH QRUPV GH serve vigorous prosecution and the impacted animals deserve to be regarded as individual living beings. O Where to write • 86 5HS 6X]DQQH %RQDPLFL (D)5D\EXUQ+2%:DVKLQJ WRQ '& 3KRQH )D[ 'LVWULFW RI¿FH 6: 0LOOLNDQ :D\ 6XLWH %HDYHUWRQ 25 3KRQH)D[ :HEERQDPLFLKRXVHJRY • 86 6HQ -HII 0HUNOH\ ': +DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ :DVKLQJWRQ '& 3KRQH :HE ZZZPHUNOH\ senate.gov • 6WDWH 5HS %UDG :LWW ': 6WDWH&DSLWRO&RXUW6WUHHW1( + 6DOHP 25 3KRQH :HE ZZZOHJVWDWH or.us/witt/ Email: rep.bradwitt@ state.or.us • 6WDWH 5HS 'HERUDK %RRQH (D)&RXUW6W1(+6D OHP 25 3KRQH (PDLO UHSGHERUDK ERRQH# VWDWHRUXV'LVWULFWRI¿FH32%R[ &DQQRQ %HDFK 25 3KRQH :HE ZZZ leg.state.or.us/ boone/ • 6WDWH 6HQ %HWV\ -RKQVRQ ': 6WDWH &DSLWRO &RXUW 6W 1( 66DOHP257HOHSKRQH (PDLOVHQEHWV\MRKQ VRQ#VWDWHRUXV :HE ZZZEHWV\ MRKQVRQFRP'LVWULFW2I¿FH32%R[ 56FDSSRRVH253KRQH )D[$VWRULD RI¿FHSKRQH • 3RUWRI$VWRULD([HFXWLYH'L UHFWRU3LHU6XLWH$VWRULD 25 3KRQH Email: admin@portofastoria.com • &ODWVRS &RXQW\ %RDUG RI &RPPLVVLRQHUV FR &RXQW\ 0DQ DJHU ([FKDQJH 6W 6XLWH $VWRULD253KRQH