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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
Gearhart to reconsider video poker machines
City Council had
voted against
gaming in April
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Daily Astorian
GEARHART — The Gear-
hart City Council will take a sec-
ond look at its decision to deny a
permit that would have allowed
video poker machines at a new
brew pub in a neighborhood
down the road from City Hall.
At an emergency meeting
Wednesday night, the council
voted unanimously to recon-
sider its denial of a permit
application submitted by Terry
Lowenberg, owner of Gearhart
Crossing.
The Planning Commis-
sion denied the permit in Janu-
ary and the council upheld the
denial in April, citing concerns
about maintaining the neigh-
borhood character and say-
ing there was no proven need
for the machines at the pub.
In reconsidering the per-
Lowenberg, who had appealed
the Planning Commission’s mit, “obviously the City Coun-
decision, appealed the coun- cil could come to a different
conclusion (about the
cil’s decision to the
permit),” Watts said.
state Land Use Board
“They could come
of Appeals.
to the same conclu-
The city then
sion. I’m not sure what
had the option to let
will happen. It would
the appeal go for-
be a reconsideration
ward or to bring the
but whatever conclu-
application back for
sion the City Coun-
reconsideration.
Terry
City Attorney Peter Lowenberg cil comes to we would
make sure that the find-
Watts recommended
the council reconsider the permit ings (reflect) that conclusion.”
“I still question why we’re
application. While the council
and the Planning Commission expending so much political
came to the same conclusion to capital, if you will, fighting
not allow video poker machines this,” said City Councilor Dan
at Gearhart Crossing, city coun- Jesse. He was the only one to
cilors had slightly different rea- vote in the permit’s favor in
sons for their “no” votes, Watts April.
“Well I think the good news
said. Currently, the findings the
state would see only reflect the is it’s for reconsideration,”
Planning Commission’s reason- Mayor Matt Brown said.
ing. If the council brought the “So we have a lot of choices
permit back, this would give depending on what happens in
them a chance to make sure the the reconsideration.”
The five councilors voted
official findings represented the
opinions and conclusions of unanimously to bring the per-
mit back and review it a sec-
both groups.
R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian
The new look at the Gearhart Crossing Pub & Deli, which wants to add video poker.
ond time.
The city is now required to
hold another public hearing,
something it plans to do as soon
as possible — likely in late
June or early July. Anyone who
testified at the previous hearing,
whether for or against the lot-
tery machines, can speak again.
Lowenberg and his lawyers
believe the city’s denial of the
permit ignores state law and
that Lowenberg does not need
the city’s approval to install the
lottery machines.
“The denial does not appear
to be based on any relevant fact,
but rather on a prejudice against
gaming and the people that par-
ticipate gaming,” Lowenberg
wrote in his appeal.
State House approves ballot
measure for impeachment process
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
Donaldjtrump.com
The state House of Representatives voted Wednesday to
join a group of states that want to elect the president by
the national popular vote. The movement has intensified
since President Donald Trump’s election in November.
State House votes
to join effort to
elect president by
popular vote
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
SALEM — The state
House of Representatives
voted 34-23 Wednesday to
join a group of states that want
to elect the president by the
national popular vote.
Under the Constitution, the
president and vice president
are the only officials selected
through the Electoral Col-
lege process. Candidates are
awarded votes equal to the
number of senators and repre-
sentatives from the states they
carry. Under the bill, Oregon’s
electors would be awarded to
the winner of the national pop-
ular vote, regardless of who
wins the state.
“House Bill 2927 ensures
every vote in every state will
matter,” said state Rep. Alissa
Keny-Guyer, D-Portland.
The House has voted three
times since 2009 to join the
National Popular Vote com-
pact. Each time, Senate Pres-
ident Peter Courtney blocked
the legislation.
Courtney, D-Salem, has
said he would support the
effort this year only if the deci-
sion were referred to voters.
“I would be open to amend-
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ing the bill and sending
the question to the bal-
lot,” Courtney said. “If you
believe in the popular vote,
then let the popular vote
decide the issue.”
The popular vote cam-
paign took on new life after
President Donald Trump
won election by the Elec-
toral College while losing
the popular vote to Hillary
Clinton by almost 3 million
votes.
“Oregon deserves a
voice in who becomes pres-
ident,” Keny-Guyer said.
SALEM — The state House
of Representatives voted 49-5
Wednesday to send a constitu-
tional amendment to voters to
create a process for impeaching
the governor.
Oregon is the only state in the
nation that has no mechanism
for executive impeachment.
State Rep. Jodi Hack, R-Sa-
lem, has been working on the
joint resolution since 2015,
the year Gov. John Kitzhaber
resigned amid an influence-ped-
dling scandal.
Hack and other lawmak-
ers introduced the proposal to
address the lack of an impeach-
ment process. The proposal
was not a direct reaction to the
Kitzhaber debacle, said Pres-
ton Mann, a spokesman for the
House GOP.
“I think most Oregonians
would be surprised to learn that
our state does not have a mech-
anism for executive branch
impeachment already in place,”
Hack said. “In fact, Oregon con-
tinues to be the only state in the
nation without this kind of pro-
tection against executive branch
misconduct. I am of course
hopeful that we would never
need to pursue an impeachment
proceeding, but we should not
pretend that Oregon is immune
to potential political scandals.”
The measure would allow
the House to impeach a state-
wide official on the grounds
of malfeasance in office, cor-
ruption, neglect of duty, felo-
nies or misdemeanors. The pro-
cess would require a three-fifths
majority vote in the House. The
official would then face a trial
in the Senate, where convic-
tion would require a two-thirds
majority vote.
The proposal was first
offered in 2015 but stalled in the
Senate, Mann said.
“As I have said since I orig-
inally introduced this concept
in 2015, this resolution is not
intended to create a new weapon
for partisan politics, but rather a
tool for holding our executive
branch accountability when
necessary,” Hack said. “Let’s do
right by the people of Oregon,
pass HJR 10 out of the Legis-
lature, and give Oregonians an
opportunity to weigh in on this
discussion.”
The resolution now heads
to the Senate. If approved,
the measure would appear
on the 2018 general election
ballot.
The Capital Bureau is a col-
laboration between EO Media
Group and Pamplin Media
Group.
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May 29, 2017
Memorial services will begin
at 11:00 am
Fly Over by the
United States Coast Guard
Guest speakers
A potluck immediately following the
services at the American Legion —
bring your favorite dish
This Year
An Avenue Of Crosses & Flags
will be displayed at the Ocean View Cemetery.
Crosses & Flags will not be placed
on individual grave sites.
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