THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017
Micromanagement
wanted to pass along a concept
that might be helpful in some
way. There has been a lot of talk
about “micromanagement” in this
election, with one side arguing that
it is a bad thing and the other side
arguing that it is protecting the pub-
lic and its tax dollars.
The way most boards and com-
missions work is that the board
hires an executive to run the day-
to-day operations according to pol-
icies and goals set by the board.
The executive is the board’s only
employee. All the other workers
report to the executive rather than
the board.
The board essentially tells the
executive what to do as a group and
by majority vote. The board can
fire the executive if he or she is not
doing a job that is acceptable to the
majority.
Micromanagement is when a
board member sees him/herself as
a sort of super-executive who can
tell the executive what to do, sep-
arate and apart from official board
actions. It simply doesn’t work
when different board members are
individually demanding different
and often contradictory things from
the executive.
A board member’s role is to
argue his/her case at public board
meetings and seek agreement from
a majority of board members.
ROGER ROCKA
Astoria
I
Informative voting
he recent candidates forum was
informative. Clatsop County
voters can be grateful that so many
good people are willing to volun-
teer in the democratic practice of
government.
Mindy Stokes is my choice
to serve on the Clatsop County
Health District Board. I had to
make a choice between a friend, Pat
O’Grady, and Frank Spence for a
seat on the Port Commission.
I visited with Pat, and he shared
more of his reasons, and I did the
same with Frank. My choice is
Frank Spence, because he will bring
both the knowledge base of man-
agement and extensive workplace
experience.
Voting is our right and obliga-
tion. Please do it.
SARA MEYER
Astoria
T
Businessmen for Port
irk Rohne is a small business-
man, and knows what it is to
maintain a balanced budget and
keeping his business functioning.
As a Clatsop County commissioner,
he also demonstrated his business
acumen in the budgeting
process.
This strength, budgeting,
appears to be a needed skill on the
Port Commission. Vote Dirk Rohne
for Port Commissioner and bring a
strong budgeting voice to the Port
Commission.
Also, vote for Pat O’Grady for
Port Commissioner. Pat is a very
successful private business owner,
and will bring this knowledge to
help the Port out of its current fail-
ings. He is intelligent, knows how
to deal with people and issues, and
will help put the Port back into a
successful operation.
SAM PATRICK
Astoria
D
Vote for Rohne
lease join me in voting for Dirk
Rohne for Commissioner, Port
of Astoria, Position 2. The eight
years he served on our Clatsop
County Board of Commissioners
demonstrate his independent
thinking and voting for what is best
for our county. His ability to work
with people will help stabilize the
Port, and restore the public’s trust
in Port operations. He will help
bring the Port back to where it
should be.
MYRNA PATRICK
Astoria
P
Asking tough questions
ough questions must be asked.
Ask yourself do you want a
Port commissioner who does not
play the “old boy” politics, but
rather one that is committed to the
mission of the Port, and not afraid
of asking tough questions?
Do you want a commissioner
who thoroughly researches the
issues, expects complete analy-
sis, and whenever possible, is will-
ing to follow up with the solution?
How about an independent thinker,
focused on the long-term position
of the community and the Port, not
swayed or aligned with the airport
special interest group?
We should expect open-minded
decisions based on a complete
review of all the options prior to
asking the community to pay for
the airport bond. Whether you are a
T
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
staunch supporter, or dislike the
airport bond issue, let’s elect a
commissioner who truly looks out
for all the taxpayers of Clatsop
County.
Commission Stephen Fulton
demonstrated his commitment to
open and transparent government
when he stepped up to question the
process regarding the airport bond.
I want someone who is looking out
for my tax dollars and how they are
spent.
This is why I am voting for Ste-
phen C. Fulton for Port commis-
sioner, the best candidate for Posi-
tion 1.
MATT SOPKO
Warrenton
Fulton watches taxes
oing the right thing isn’t
always easy. It is all right to
question authority. Stephen Fulton
wants to do right for the taxpayers
of Clatsop County. He is passion-
ate that the taxes collected for the
Port of Astoria be spent in the most
cost-effective way possible. All
expenditures should be credible,
and accounted for.
Stephen Fulton is willing to put
in the time and effort to keep
up with the many government
rules and regulations the are
necessary for the operation of
all the Port properties. He is a
good person who wants to do
good work for the taxpayers
of Clatsop County. He is my
brother, and I am proud of him.
I hope you will vote for him.
SARA FULTON ORR
Astoria
D
Time for change
s a private citizen, I have con-
cerns over the controversy
in the financial management of
the Port of Astoria. It seems we
are constantly hearing that there
has been mismanagement of their
finances, and most recently the
fines that were not shared with the
board at their April meeting when
the the Port staff knew full well the
fines were being imposed according
to local news.
Whatever the reason for a fine,
the board of commissioners should
be well aware of it before it finds its
way to public scrutiny.
I, along with others, believe it is
time for some change at the Port,
and while most voters may have
already completed their ballots, I
would support the election of Dick
Hellberg for his years of experience
with the Warrenton City Commis-
sion, Pat O’Grady for his knowl-
edge and experience running a
business as well as being a member
of the Warrenton Business Associa-
tion and subcommittees, and Steve
Fulton for his tenacity in fighting
for a fiscally responsible Port of
Astoria.
PAM ACKLEY
Warrenton
A
Aho for health district
latsop County special elec-
tion ballots are due Tuesday,
May 16. Please vote for Michael
Aho for Clatsop Care Health Dis-
trict Position 3. Last summer, I was
appointed to fill the vacant Position
3. The CCHD is facing challenges
we are working very hard to over-
come, and I look forward to con-
tinuing my participation in the pro-
cess. I will work to keep the Care
District and all of its facilities and
entities solvent, and able to accom-
modate our current residents/cli-
ents and all of those to come in the
future … maybe even me.
Thank you in advance for your
consideration.
MICHAEL AHO
Warrenton
C
Stokes is committed
atching the flourishing of
local democratic engage-
ment has been one of the highlights
of this long, wet winter. There are
so many good people committing
to public service toward our com-
munity’s healthy future. And Mindy
Stokes, for Clatsop Care Center
Health District director, is one of
my favorite new faces on the
ballot.
We first met through her work
with the Lives in Transitions pro-
gram at Clatsop Community Col-
lege, and I’ve known Stokes and
her wonderful family as valued
neighbors and co-parents for nine
years now. Mindy is a true social
justice advocate, with impeccable
personal integrity and outstanding
communication skills.
As a volunteer who regularly
brings students to the Clatsop Care
Center, I witnessed Mindy’s com-
mitment, caring and grace with
elders and co-workers during her
tenure at the 16th Street facility.
It was inspiring to then watch her
plan the patient-centered environ-
ment at the beautiful new Clatsop
W
Care Memory Community.
Mindy is never afraid to speak
up against injustice, yet she is a
true mediator. She will fight for fair
wage jobs for this community, and
most importantly, she will advocate
from her heart and experience for
our local elders. I’m stoked to see
Mindy Stokes on this year’s ballot.
She’s got my vote.
NANCY COOK
Astoria
Conflict of interest?
’m really wondering if Stephen
Fulton gets along with anyone at
the Port. His latest beef is with the
airport manager, who he says has a
conflict of interest because the air-
port manager supports the bond
measure for the airport.
My definition of “conflict of
interest” is longshoremen on the
Port Commission. How does that
work?
PRESTON DEVEREAUX
Gearhart
I
Time for change?
efore we vote, we should ask
just how well our Port has per-
formed over the last many years.
Undeniably, the Port’s situation is
getting worse and worse.
Do not be surprised if the new
water treatment system, required
by the Department of Environmen-
tal Quality order and fine, brings
the Port to its financial knees. It is
costing millions of dollars, the cost
overruns are real, and the system
still is not complete or operating.
If the current design fails, the
Port will be forced to redesign
and reconstruct the system at huge
additional expense. It appears the
Port is in no financial condition to
tolerate any of this expense, since
it borrowed money to build it in
the first place.
There are all the nasty problems
with the huge debt the Port took on
over the last 15 years: the release
of $600,000 in collateral, the rot-
ting piers, historic underground oil
contamination, silted in boat basins
and an extremely uncertain future
for log exports because of too-shal-
low/short piers.
Yes, the Port’s situation is dete-
riorating. The Port needs a new
commission, ready to run the Port
like the business it is. Let’s not
return a commissioner to Posi-
tion 1 (James Campbell) who first
joined the commission in 1965 and
already has been on the commis-
sion for 16 years. His focus on the
airport does not provide a long-
term financial solution to the Port’s
problems.
Vote in favor of renewed
energy, a genuine enthusiasm for
accomplishing something at the
Port, and a commitment to finally
bring new freight terminals to
Astoria. I ask the voters to elect
Stephen Fulton, Dick Hellberg and
Pat O’Grady for a better future for
the Port and Clatsop County.
BRANDEN GORR
Warrenton
B
Speculative bond
inety-eight percent of us in
Clatsop County do not own
or fly private planes, or live along-
side the Astoria Airport. So what
will we (the 98 percent) get out of
the proposed $1.96 million airport
bond?
As of today’s date, eight of the
Port’s existing aircraft hangars
are vacant. A significant part of
the $1.96 million will be devoted
to the highly-speculative devel-
opment of three new hangar pads
(completely unrelated to Life
Flight) and seven commercial lots.
Not a single potential tenant has
committed to occupy any of the
speculative hangars or lots. That
is not an appropriate use of public
bond monies.
I want to thank Port Commis-
sioner Stephen Fulton for stating
the airport bond measure is not in
the best interest of taxpayers. Life
Flight is already located at the air-
port and transporting people in
need. I appreciate that someone on
the Port Commission is watching
out for the 98 percent of us who
will not benefit from the specula-
tion at the airport.
Please vote for Steve Fulton,
N
Dick Hellberg And Pat O’Grady
for the Port Commission, as they
want to stop waste and inappropri-
ate use of taxpayer funds.
JOHN HREHA
Astoria
‘Fake news’ is here
ake news” is a buzzword
these days, and I see that it’s
alive and well in Astoria. On Nov.
8, 2016, Hillary barely won the
popular vote in Clatsop County —
8,899 to 7,794 — i.e. a 14 percent
margin of victory. Of the 36 Ore-
gon counties, Hillary was the win-
ner in only seven. Nationwide,
Trump won more than 98 percent
of all counties
Polls at the 100-day mark were
very remarkable: 1) If the vote
were held again today among those
who voted, Trump would win by
3 percent; 2) Among those who
voted for Trump, more than 97 per-
cent said they would vote for him
again. These polls indicate to me
that the current president is doing
an outstanding job.
In The Daily Astorian May 1
issue, there were 28 published
responses to “Your 100 Words
on Trump’s First 100 Days,”
24 opposed and four in favor
of our new president. This is
an anti-Trump response of
6-1, i.e. a 600 percent margin.
Comparing 600 percent with
14 percent, this is a 42.9 times
exaggeration of the true repre-
sentation of those who voted
in Clatsop County. Sadly, “fake
news” is very much alive and
well in Astoria.
DAN NEBERT
Tillamook
‘F
Vote for A-Team
im Campbell is a gentleman, a
successful business owner and
a dedicated, fair and honest Port
commissioner who only wants the
Port of Astoria to be the best it can
possibly be.
The Port staff and the citizens
of Clatsop County deserve and
need to have a top quality, smooth
running board of commissioners
who will work together as a team
to move the Port forward in the
next decade.
Please join me in voting for Jim
Campbell, Dirk Rohne and Frank
Spence, “The A-Team in 2017.”
LYNNE JOHNSON
Astoria
J
Fulton comes prepared
s Warrenton mayor and a War-
renton city commissioner, I
had the opportunity to work with
Steve Fulton on some of the unique
issues facing our region. The issues
of levee accreditation, flood plain
mapping and flood insurance have
significant economic impacts to
coastal and waterfront communities.
I was always impressed with
Fulton’s knowledge of the sub-
ject matter and his preparation for
meetings. The issues of flood pro-
tection and insurance are very
complex, and require both a tech-
nical and political savvy. Steve
Fulton successfully bridged those
worlds in an attempt to find solu-
tions for Warrenton, and I appreci-
ated that.
MARK KUJALA
Hammond
A
Campbell’s integrity
im Campbell is a longtime res-
ident and active member of our
community. We have been able
to see firsthand that he is an intel-
ligent man of integrity. I have
known and admired him for over
30 years as a good person, with-
out any hint of participating in a
scandal or using his public author-
ity for anything but all the public’s
benefit.
We expect people in a position
of public authority to look out for
the public’s well-being, and not for
themselves, friends or relatives. I
believe Jim Campbell has carried
out his responsibilities and duties
as a Port commissioner with integ-
rity and competence by acting in
the public’s best interest. I hope
you will join me to vote for Jim
Campbell for Port commissioner.
LOU LARSON
Astoria
J
Support for Life Flight
am writing to support the pass-
ing of a local bond measure for
providing Life Flight Network ade-
quate hangar and support services
to maintain a constant presence
Astoria and Northwest Oregon.
Columbia Memorial Hospi-
tal, over the years, continues to
increase its commitment to pro-
vide more sophisticated medical
and emergency services for trauma,
strokes, heart attacks and cancer
abetted by close links to tertiary
care providers in Portland. Life
I
5A
Flight’s presence in Astoria helps
to make optimal patient care a real-
ity. This project merits funding for
not only the local community, but
also tourists.
This connectedness between
CMH and tertiary medical cen-
ters in Portland will help attract
new medical and surgical special-
ists to practice and live in the Asto-
ria community, thereby decreasing
the number of unnecessary patient
transfers to Portland.
Astoria can become a model for
how rural medicine is integrated
with urban care. I urge the commu-
nity to support this project.
WILLIAM LONG, M.D.
Former Life Flight medical
director
Portland
Repeal education act
admire our local high school stu-
dent who wrote a letter to the
editor about the excessive testing
he is experiencing, and the teach-
ing directed only toward those tests
(“Drop standardized tests,” The
Daily Astorian, April 21). When
I went to junior high and high
school, it was exciting. We need
vibrant, inspiring education. To
do that we must repeal George W.
Bush’s “Leave No Child Behind
Act” of 2002, also known as the
testing ad nauseum act, or the leave
every child behind act. It is a disas-
ter. Our national and international
ratings are low.
Funny Molly Ivins, and serious
political investigator Lou Dubose,
exposed the history of President
Bush Jr.’s “Leave No Child Behind
Act.” The two authors explain the
events in their book “Bushwacked,
Life in George W. Bush’s Amer-
ica.” Bush promised to give the
Educational Department our tax-
payer money, if Sen. Ted Kennedy
and the other Democrats would
pass this bill.
They passed the bill, which
would require all new books and
expenses to implement. President
Bush reneged on over one-third of
the payment, and cut $400 million
from the after-school budget. But
Bush’s budget did include $5 bil-
lion for experimental vouchers for
private schools. President Bush did
not give the promised money. Pres-
ident Bush did not honor his nego-
tiation promise.
So, not only did the educational
system not receive the money
promised, they also incurred the
expenses of implementing this new,
tedious system of testing. This was
a recent double economic blow to
the educational system as a whole.
It is a triple blow, because the stu-
dents, our children and grandchil-
dren, suffer and are suppressed
under this new archaic system. The
only people to gain big time were
the publishers.
Education is the future. Edu-
cation is the economy. Education
is the greatness of America. Our
development of the microchip, the
technology, won the Cold War.
Education is for mankind. We must
repeal the “Leave No Child Behind
Act,” so our children can go on to
create, invent, inspire and lead to
make America, and the world, a
great place.
MONICA TAYLOR
Astoria
I
Subhuman savages
he subhuman savages in many
of the nation’s big cities, most
recently Portland and Seattle, con-
tinue their insane destructive riot-
ing under the pretense of dis-
playing their hatred of President
Trump.
To the average law-abiding cit-
izen, these actions are simply the
abdication of authority, result-
ing in anarchy. To these riot-hun-
gry morons, it’s either just plain
fun, or giving them the opportu-
nity to destroy private property and
to loot.
The police, apparently under
orders, continue to mishandle these
animals. Arresting them and whisk-
ing them off to jail for a few hours,
or days, in comfy cells and eat-
ing off the long-suffering taxpay-
ers, is exactly what they enjoy (not
to mention the loot they can steal).
They become martyrs and heroes
among their tribes.
I believe that an effective
method to handle these criminals
is for police to use their clubs on
these creatures, but not below the
neck. Cracked skulls (although
they’re undoubtedly hard and
thick), broken jaws, smashed
cheekbones and noses will prob-
ably give these thugs second
thoughts when they get the next
“call to action,” assuming those
mind-numbed Neanderthals are
capable of any semblance of ratio-
nal reasoning.
Then again, maybe I’m assum-
ing too much.
E. ROBERT NASSIKAS
Astoria
T