8A | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS
Lacer to the City Council Can- he made in the email.
Geraldine. And there was in no holding up? You’ve been on my comments to a candidate?
“I think the actions of a few
didate, Geraldine Lucio. Coun-
way any kind of ‘gotcha’ attack mind recently. I’m writing be-
cil President Joshua Greene city councilors, which may or
Cease and Desist
cause I am concerned. I have
sentiment at all. Not at all.”
“Just ue honest”
Regarding the incident, Lucio made a personal visit to Ms. Lu- may not be criminal, are very
It’s at that point Greene con- been told by multiple folks in
“I was essentially told that
Geraldine was uncomfortable tacted Lacer — who had been town that you are struggling told the Siuslaw News, “It’s un- cio’s place of business two days much unethical and inappro-
ago having basically the same priate,” he said.
speaking in public,” Greene
The Siuslaw News contacted
conversation.
said.
City
Manager Reynolds to find
These
communications
by
sit-
The idea that Lucio has an
“Just from what I’ve observed, and I’m not a political expert, but we
ting city councilors are totally if there were any city or state
aversion to speaking in a pub-
have chaos going on at a national level and, to some degree, at the state
inappropriate and may well be codes, laws or regulations that
lic debate was sparked when a
level. It’s either one bashing the other, or another bashing them. As I
more than inappropriate. To say the councilors broke in speak-
series of scheduled forums that
say,
the
20
or
19
years
I’ve
been
here,
we’ve
never
had
this
in
our
com-
the least, I am extremely disap- ing with Lucio. None were
were to host all three candidates
pointed to think that members found, and their actions appear
— Woodbury, Miltenberger
munity, but all of a sudden, we do. I believe [the email sent to council
of our city council would take to be legal. But for Henry, the
and Lucio — were cancelled or
candidate Geraldine Lucio is] politically motivated.”
steps to influence an election issues the email brought up go
modified for various reasons.
— Joe Henry,
in our community. Candidate beyond concrete laws.
As a result, the only real dis-
City of Florence Mayor
“My reasoning behind [re-
Lucio is very upset, so I strongly
cussion with all three candi-
recommend that you cease and leasing the email] was that a
dates together occurred during
desist from this course of action. candidate for city council made
Coast Radio’s recording of the
Greene responded briefly to us aware of an email, basically
Tuesday, Oct. 9, broadcast of its having similar concerns — with a fundamental require- fortunate that this has occurred.
ment of being a city councilor: I would like this to be put be- Henry’s email with the follow- attempting to shame her into
“Our Town” series, when host about his talk with Lucio.
resigning from the campaign,”
Public speaking. If that is true, hind us, move on and focus on ing:
George Henry interviewed the
he said. “I thought that was
and you are not comfortable the important issues facing our
“No habm, no foul”
three candidates simultaneous-
Bottom line is, Geraldine is definitely a campaign issue.”
Before Greene’s meeting with speaking to a room full of peo- community. It will continue to
ly.
Regarding the question of
“We started the interview, Lucio, he and Lacer had shared ple, I’m asking that you with- be my goal to work with every- terrific in so many ways! She is
and I told them, ‘Talk about some of their concerns about draw from the election now, one for the betterment of our not ready for council. She needs whether or not Lucio was qual-
to learn and work her way up. ified to hold a council seat,
some of your qualities and why what they had been hearing Geraldine. I believe that you community.”
That is the only comment Like the rest of us have. She ain’t Henry quoted the city’s code.
you think you should be elect- regarding Lucio’s aversion to care about Florence and that
“If you read our city code
public speaking, which was an you want what is best for the Lucio provided regarding the got the chops … Yet.
ed,’” George said.
and city charter, the only qual-
After Miltenberger and important topic for Lacer. To community. It would be a ter- email. However, Mayor Henry
Henry was the first person ifications are to live in the city
Woodbury gave their answers, her, public speaking is vital to rible disservice to our citizens said he felt it was important for
for you (to) continue in the elec- the public to know what had involved with the incident to for one year, to attend meetings
the position.
George turned to Lucio.
“As a councilor, not only do tion, if you are unable to serve occurred — something which speak with the Siuslaw News. and vote ‘yea’ or ‘nay,’” he said.
“She was very nervous. She
may not have happened since A week prior, he had received “Nowhere does it state that
started to answer the question, you do a variety of actual public effectively.
There is no shame in changing Lacer sent the correspondence some pushback regarding a being a gifted public speaker
then she froze for a minute. speaking, going to talk to dif-
Then I said, ‘Don’t worry, take ferent groups about whatever your mind based on new infor- to Lucio using her personal Guest Viewpoint he wrote in is required. We have council-
The Siuslaw News (Oct. 13) ors on our council who rarely
your time.’ We could see she was city business, you also, every mation. You may not have real- email.
“I deliberately did not send it concerning the city collecting speak, and we have had some
two weeks — up on a diocese, ized how much public speaking
uneasy,” he said.
George went to the next ques- on camera — speak in front of is required for Councilors; or from what I knew to be a pub- funding from the state. Some in the past. And that’s fine.
tion, deciding to ask Lucio last a room full of people. You have you may not have recognized lic-record email,” Lacer said. “I readers considered the state- They don’t have to speak.”
To the mayor’s point, for-
and provide her more time to to make decisions, you have to just how uncomfortable you did not send it with the intent ments to be partisan in nature,
think about her answer. “I could deliberate in public with fellow are with public speaking. Most that it would be public. It was a antithetical to the ethics of a mer councilor George Lyddon
bipartisan council. He later rarely spoke in meetings. And
tell she was still very uncom- counselors and make difficult people are not comfortable with private communication.”
The Siuslaw News was first clarified it was his personal Woodbury, who was appointed
decisions. You have to public- public speaking!
fortable.”
Now that you have a better introduced to the email by opinion, and a clarification ap- to the remainder of Lyddon’s
He doesn’t remember wheth- ly work through compromises
er it was the second or third with your fellow counselors. understanding, it’s perfectly Councilor Woodbury, who peared in the Oct. 17 edition’s term, is also known to be quiet,
though he has begun speaking
question, but at some point, Lu- You have to be able to do that okay to say: ‘I didn’t understand agreed to show Lacer’s let- Opinion page.
“It’s part of our council code more regularly in meetings.
cio said that she needed to use work to be an effective city what the position takes and I’ve ter in the context of a larger
realized this isn’t what I want email chain. That chain in- of conduct that we identify the And public speaking is some-
the restroom, saying she did not councilor,” Lacer said.
And the microphone is al- to do; I’ve decided I am not cluded Henry who, using his fact that we’re not speaking thing that a candidate can
feel good. The interview was
paused as the group waited for ways on. Even if there are no au- running for council; due to new City of Florence email address, on behalf of the city,” he said. learn.
But the question remains: If
dience members, meetings are information, I am withdrawing forwarded the letter to other “There are people that feel that
Lucio to return.
“I took it as nerves because, recorded, either through video my bid for election; I’ve decided councilors and Florence City the mayor can’t have an opin- a sitting councilor does have
when she came back in, she still and/or audio, and are available I am called to serve the commu- Manager Erin Reynolds. By ion and can’t state that opin- concerns regarding a candi-
doing so, the correspondence ion. So, understand that any date’s ability to perform their
nity in a different way; etc.’
had trouble answering,” George to the public.
I know this won’t be easy, became public record, to which comments past this point are job, how should they go about
Ensuring a candidate is ready
said.
At the end of the interview, for the position is something Geraldine. In the past, I have Henry included the following strictly my opinion, and not it voicing it? And should they?
“I think a councilor, or a
official on behalf of the City of
George told the candidates that both Lacer and Greene said is changed my mind and quit po- comments:
mayor for that matter, can put
Florence.”
he would not take any content important to them, as well as sitions that I had agreed to take
After clarifying his position, signs in their yard,” Henry said.
The following email was sent
out of the interview but would the amount of preparation they on, after telling everyone that
See POLITICS page 9A
edit it for time, cutting out all feel is necessary before each I was going to do the thing. It’s today from City Councilor Susy Henry echoed the comments
not
easy,
but
it
is
the
path
of
meeting.
the pauses.
“I have no personal knowl- integrity. If you know that con-
“They were all okay with that,
so I didn’t see any problem with edge of it, but I will say, at times tinuing on with what you said
in council, it has been apparent you were going to do, is not be
it,” he said.
Along with Lucio, Woodbury to me that one or more of my the right decision for you, then
cancelled events as well, citing fellow councilors have appeared the only ethical thing to do is
prior engagements out of town. not to have read the packet stop. No harm, no foul.
Thank you for being willing
The Siuslaw News, which gen- because of the comments or
erally does not participate in questions they have asked,” said to run for council, Geraldine. I
admire your courage and your
election forums, also attempted Lacer.
Given that Lacer is known for willingness to serve. And I trust
to set up a debate between the
candidates, but Lucio said she her research on matters facing that you will find the path to
was uncomfortable with debat- the council, it stands to reason service that is the right fit for
ing. She did not go on record that replacing her with some- you. If I can help you with any-
one with a willingness to be just thing, please let me know.
giving her reasons.
“I was surprised, because as thorough could be necessary
The letter specifically asked
I consider Geraldine to be a in keeping a balance.
The staff at the Siuslaw News is preparing to
After speaking with Greene Lucio to drop out of the race,
little more outgoing,” Greene
publish
the annual Veterans Day publication, which
said. “I know her in social situ- about his conversation with a sentiment that Lacer said she
is
a
special
supplement
that is devoted to all military veterans who
ations, and we have some mu- Lucio, Lacer felt their concerns had intended.
currently are Florence-area residents or have a connection to this area. It
“Yes, I was suggesting that it
tual friends in common. I just had been confirmed.
“I respect and admire what would be better for the city if
assumed that there was no issue
will be printed in the Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 edition, before Veterans Day,
as far as her being capable, qual- I know about her,” Lacer said. she would drop [out]. Our cit-
annually held each Nov. 11.
“My feeling was, maybe she izens deserve to have an effec-
ified and prepared [to speak].”
If you are interested in sharing your military background information
So, Greene decided to talk had signed up for something tive, capable, functioning city
in the annual tribute publication, or in updating information that we have
that ended up being more than councilor,” said Lacer. “I would
with her about this issue.
published previously, please complete this form and submit it to the Siuslaw
“I do believe that I had a right she realized. I felt like throw- say that an in-person conversa-
News. Service photographs are also welcome.
to go — to ask her face to face ing a life ring to someone who tion would probably have been
Submit forms and photos by email to mberg@thesiuslawnews.com, by
— because I don’t know her well had maybe gotten in over their more appropriate, perhaps, but
regular
mail to Siuslaw News, Attn: Misty Berg, P.O. Box 10, Florence,
it wouldn’t have been easier for
enough,” he said. “And I want- head.”
OR
97439;
or drop off materials at the Siuslaw News office in Historic Old
Lacer admits they were “ac- me because, again, I prefer to
ed her to be able to tell me the
Town Florence, 148 Maple St.
truth. And she did. And I was quaintances, not friends,” so write. Still, to this date, I have
If your profile was published previously Veterans tribute and you do not
there was no occasion that the had zero response from Ger-
very grateful.”
wish to make any changes to the profile, there is no need to resubmit this
Greene states that when he two would happen to meet, so aldine and did not get any re-
form or your military information.
talked with Lucio, he learned Lacer decided to write an email. sponse from the email.”
Though Lacer said she meant
“My comfort in communica-
that she was unaware of what’s
Please be sure that all materials are carefully labeled with your name and
expected of a city councilor and tion is writing versus talking, the letter to be informational
phone number and are submitted by Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.
just a personal preference,” said and persuasive, it could also be
what the process will be.
Thank you for participating in this project to remember and honor our
“I explained this in great de- Lacer, who wrote the following viewed as one sided. Beyond
veterans.
tail: The different parts of mon- email, obtained by the Siuslaw the question of how she went
Name: ___________________________________________________________
ey that we use to manage the News, to Lucio on Friday, Oct. about it, there is the question of
Contact Phone Number: _____________________________________________
whether Lacer should have done
city, and that while the job has 12.
it at all. Does a sitting council-
nothing to do with politics, it
Branch of Service: __________________________________________________
Dear Geraldine, how are you or have the right to make such
has everything to do with serv-
Rank Achieved (optional): ___________________________________________
ing the community, being fis-
Dates Served: ______________________________________________________
cally responsible and making
sure we don’t violate our eth-
Where did you serve? _______________________________________________
ics and get the city involved,”
_________________________________________________________________
said Greene. “The job entails
Desiree Clifton
Special Information (E.G., POW): ______________________________________________
40 hours a month of backsto-
Principal Broker
ry reading and research, so
_________________________________________________________________________________
541 999-5223
that when you get up in those
_________________________________________________________________________________
402 Sherwood Lp – You must see
two-hour meetings every oth-
Price Reduced
_________________________________________________________________________________
this 2171 sqft, 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath
er Monday, you know your
home with chef’s kitchen and break-
stuff already.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
fast area as well as formal dining,
As for the tenor of the con-
and large living room with corner
Has your veteran information been published previously in the Siuslaw News Veterans Publication?
tiled propane fi replace. Large mas-
versation, Greene stated it was
ter with spacious bathroom with
YES
NO
friendly in nature, and that he
soaking tub, double sinks and walk-
Do
we
have
your
military
photo
on file? YES
NO
was in no way looking for her
in shower. A wood worker’s dream
(Note:
If
you
have
submitted
photos
in
the
past,
we
will
still
have
them on file.)
to get out of the race.
inside garage, come see today!
$299,500.
#2800-18616511
“I hugged Geraldine,” he
said. “I think the world of
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
POLITICS from page 1A
In
Honor
of All
Veterans
Get Results...List With Desiree.