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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2018)
DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018 145TH YEAR, NO. 177 ONE DOLLAR Thompson files, Clement passes on Clatsop County commission seat Field set for May primary By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian A familiar face in Asto- ria politics will vie for a Clat- sop County Board of Com- missioners seat, while the incumbent will bow out. Doug Thompson, a real estate broker, property man- ager and former Astoria city councilor, filed for the Dis- trict 3 seat ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Commissioner Lisa Clement, co-owner of Clem- ente’s Seafood, will not seek re-election. Thompson made his deci- sion after learning Clement did not file, he said. “I’m in it to win it,” he said. Thompson is the chair- man of the Clatsop County Democratic Central Commit- tee. He is resigning from the post to pursue to the commis- sion seat, he said. He earned a business administration degree from Portland State University before serving as a city coun- cilor from 1991 to 2002. The county commission has three positions up for election. Pamela Wev, an Asto- ria land use planning con- sultant, and Peter Roscoe, a former Astoria city coun- cilor and owner of Fulio’s Pastaria, have also filed for the District 3 seat. The posi- tion covers parts of Astoria as well as Miles Crossing, Jeffers Garden, Lewis and Clark, Youngs River, Olney, Green Mountain and parts of Walluski. Commissioner Scott Lee, the board’s chairman, announced in 2016 that he would not seek re-election in District 1. Mark Kujala — former Warrenton mayor and owner of Skipanon Brand Seafood — Andrew Davis — a medical data analyst — and George McCartin — a retired lawyer and frequent public meeting attendee — have all filed for the seat. Commissioner Lianne Thompson will campaign for a second term and run against Susana Gladwin, a Jewell farmer. The District 5 seat covers most of South County, including Cannon Beach, Arch Cape, Elsie, Jewell and parts of Seaside. The race to replace state Rep. Deborah Boone in House District 32 includes six candidates. CHANGING POLITICAL CLIMATE Climate change group searches locally for help nationally See ELECTION, Page 7A Marquis makes case for new jail going to be in jail. You’re not going to think about a jail. You’re not going to go to the jail, hopefully. Nobody you know will go to the jail,” Marquis said. “We are By JACK HEFFERNAN capped at 60 beds. We need The Daily Astorian at least 180 to 200.” County commission- A little more than a week ers approved a $51,000 fea- before Clatsop County com- sibility study last year to missioners decide whether explore relocating the jail to put a $23.8 million bond from Duane Street in Astoria for a new jail on to the now-shuttered the November bal- North Coast Youth lot, one of the coun- Correctional Facility ty’s top law enforce- in Warrenton. After ment officials made commissioners and another public pitch. the sheriff’s office District Attorney heard proposals from Josh Marquis was architects ranging Josh the featured speaker from $12 million to Marquis Tuesday night at the $28 million, the cur- rent figure — which Columbia Forum dinner, held at Columbia could include about $6 mil- Memorial Hospital’s Com- lion paid directly by the state munity Center. During the and county — is based on a talk, he laid out much of his designed 148-bed facility case in favor of a new jail. See MARQUIS, Page 7A “You’re probably not DA speaks at Columbia Forum dinner Citizens’ Climate Lobby Members of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby meet with U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian D uring a climate change presentation in Asto- ria in February, Tod Jones — a retired fisher- ies manager — challenged a speaker’s com- ments about human contribution to ocean acidification. Later in the meeting, as Jones again made a counter- point, Chris Farrar — a member of the Clatsop County Planning Commission who was seated behind Jones — leaned over his shoulder. “It’s called acidification. Get over it,” Farrar said. Following a silence in the room, another a spectator tried to lighten the mood. “I’m sorry, is this Astoria? That nice quiet lit- tle town? Are we in the right place here?” he asked rhetorically. The episode was just one of a few tense moments that night, and it caught the attention of the organiza- tion hosting the event. Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonprofit group founded in 2007 with hundreds of national chapters, will launch an Astoria chapter later this month. The chapter will represent the organization’s first on the Oregon Coast. Their goal: build political will at local levels to spur Congress to act. “We basically create political cover for our mem- bers of Congress so that they can step out into the lime- light, do something that is near and dear to their hearts even if they’re not doing it in public because it’s dan- gerous,” said Tamara Staton, the organization’s Pacific Northwest regional coordinator. “They’re aware of the See CLIMATE, Page 7A A dock and small building just off John Day Road juts out over the river. The area is vulnerable to flooding. Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Worker injured in hash oil explosion fires back Calls claims of culpability a smokescreen By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian A lawyer for contractor Jacob Magley, injured after a bu- tane explosion and fire in Astoria in October 2016, claims his client was a construction worker not culpable in an illegal hash oil-making operation. Jacob Magley, the worker badly burned in an October 2016 butane explosion and fire in Uniontown and later accused of culpability by the parties he is suing, called the allegations against him a smokescreen to deflect from an illegal hash oil-making enterprise. Magley was a contrac- tor working in the basement of a building leased by Wil- liam “Chris” West and Jason Oei for growing marijuana and manufacturing butane hash oil at the corner of Portway and Industry streets. A flash fire ignited from odorless butane gas in the air blew Magley backwards and badly burned his hands and face. Magley sued West, Oei and three of their companies in Multnomah County Cir- cuit Court for $8.9 million. He claimed the two had been dab- bing, a method of vaporizing concentrated marijuana with an open heat source, while making the hash oil. Magley also sued prop- erty owner Richard Delphia and several of his companies; two of investor John Harper’s companies; and Sweet Relief, an Astoria marijuana store that leased space above the process- ing operation. Harper in turn filed claims against Whip-It Premium butane gas distribu- tor Rich & Rhine and manu- facturer United Brands Prod- ucts Design Development and Marketing Inc., blaming them for any defects in the product. The defendants all filed motions to dismiss Magley’s case, claiming he had helped West and Oei make the hash See WORKER, Page 7A