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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 2017)
6A • August 25, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com Airport bond defeat could foreshadow trouble for other measures down the pike Cannon Beach rejects the bond By Derrick DePledge EO Media Group Voters rejected a $1.96 mil- lion bond measure in May that would have helped finance the expansion of Life Flight Net- work and other improvements at Astoria Regional Airport. The bond failed by a slim, 146-vote margin in a special district election where voter turnout was a paltry 35 per- cent. But a closer look inside the vote tally by precinct showed a pattern that could foreshadow trouble for future bond measures, like money for a county jail. Precincts in Astoria fa- vored the airport bond, while Warrenton was divided. The rest of Clatsop County, out- side pockets of Seaside, North Clatsop, Hamlet and Walluski, went against the bond. The geographic divide could be important if the county seeks a bond to turn the North Coast Youth Cor- rectional Facility in Warrenton into a larger county jail. Coun- ty commissioners have or- dered a study into whether the youth facility, which is closing because of state budget cuts, could be an alternative to the overcrowded 60-bed jail in Astoria. The rejection of the air- port bond by voters outside of Astoria suggests advocates for relocating the county jail would have to make a strong argument that a jail would benefit the entire county. “People are concerned about the amount of taxes that they pay on their property. And I think that all bond measures, regardless of the benefit — for the most part — people are go- ing to be skeptical,” said Jim Knight, the executive director of the Port of Astoria, which backed the airport bond. Trapped by infighting Former Astoria Mayor Wil- lis Van Dusen and state Sen. JOSHUA BESSEX/EO MEDIA GROUP Life Flight Network wanted financial help for a new hangar, while the other infrastructure improvements at the south end of the airport could have enabled future development at the regional hub. Betsy Johnson, two of the most well-known politicians in the county, led a political ac- tion committee for the airport bond. But the vote was called on relatively short notice, the amount of the bond was re- duced for technical reasons just weeks before the election, and the merits of the infrastructure investment became trapped within the bitter infighting at the Port. Knight believes several factors doomed the vote, from the unexpected opposition from some on the Port Com- mission to the lack of a voters’ pamphlet. He also thinks some voters in South County were apprehensive about making an- other financial commitment so soon after the $99.7 million in bonds they approved last No- vember to move three schools out of the tsunami inundation zone. Port commissioners all said they supported Life Flight Net- work, but Commissioner Bill Hunsinger attacked the airport bond as a giveaway to special interests, while Commissioner Stephen Fulton, who was run- ning for a second term in the May election, called it specu- lative development that should be rejected. Fulton and his slate of Port candidates lost the elec- tion, but they may have influ- enced the narrow 51 percent to 49 percent defeat of the bond. “I don’t think any of us were really prepared for the negative position, or the an- ti-bond measure information that was being put out there,” Knight said. The airport bond and the Port Commission elections received extensive coverage in The Daily Astorian, but Knight and others believe a voters’ pamphlet would have helped educate voters about the issues at stake. The coun- ty does not typically publish voters’ pamphlets for special district elections because can- didates have balked at paying fees for the service. “In this particular case, I think the voters’ pamphlet could have been one of the more helpful documents for the bond measure,” Knight said. Unity Warrenton Mayor Hen- ry Balensifer, who works at Lektro, the aircraft tug mak- er at the airport, and who is a former chairman of the Port’s Airport Advisory Committee, said the lesson from the air- port bond is unity. Subversion from with- in the Port Commission, the mayor said, likely confused and distracted voters. He said county commissioners, if they decide to pursue a bond for a jail, will need to get fully be- hind a bond campaign. “I think the real lesson here is the bond became an election issue more so than a bond issue,” Balensifer said. Sheila Roley, the superin- tendent of the Seaside School District, said she heard from people before the election who did not understand exact- ly why the Port was asking for the bond money. Life Flight Network, which provides emergency medical flights, wanted financial help for a new hangar, while the other infrastructure improve- ments at the south end of the airport could have enabled future development at the re- gional hub. Taxpayers would have paid an estimated $12.35 a year for property assessed at $100,000 as the bond matured over four years. “I did hear quite a few people mention their misun- derstanding of what it was and why would we be voting for something that’s going to benefit Astoria,” Roley said. Three of the four precincts in Seaside rejected the air- port bond, as did precincts in Gearhart and Cannon Beach. Roley said there is always a little bit of South County versus North County senti- ment, but she believes the fail- ure of the airport bond does not cloud a potential bond for a jail. She said it is easier for voters to see how a jail would benefit the entire county. “I think that was fairly is- sue specific,” she said of the May vote. BUSINESS DIRECTORY L AWN C ARE Timberland Lawn Care & Home Maintenance LLC. Ask About Our Handyman Services! Excavating • Fences • Yard Maintenance and More! 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Stevens, a veteran of 34 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy and a merchant ma- rine, said he would offer calm, quiet confidence to help the Port promote growth and stay fiscally responsible. “The Port’s received a lot of criticism, some of it justi- fied,” he said during introduc- tions of the seven hopefuls for Mushen’s seat. “I’m here to make this a professional, de- liberative body, the way that democracy is envisioned, and I know that several of you be- lieve the same thing.” He was joined in interviews Tuesday by former commis- sion candidate Pat O’Grady, former budget committee Chairman John Lansing, land use planner Pamela Wev, former Yam- hill County Commissioner Robert John- Robert stone, South Stevens County devel- oper Russ Earl and retired in- ventor Ronald Meyer. Stevens, a licensed captain of vessels large and small who recently retired from teaching and evaluating captains of off- shore platforms in emergency management, ran Port Com- missioner James Campbell’s successful re-election cam- paign against fellow incum- bent Stephen Fulton in May’s special districts election. He said he was encouraged by others to apply for Mushen’s seat and felt he had something to offer the Port. Stevens’ take Stevens fielded questions Tuesday from Port commis- sioners on several of the agen- cy’s big-ticket issues. A bond measure to fund infrastructure improvements at the Astoria Regional Air- port narrowly failed in May’s special districts election. Asked by Commissioner Dirk Experience Family Dining in a Relaxed & Friendly Environment Serving Seafood, Pizza, Sandwiches, Espressos, Beer, Wine, Ice Cream and our Homemade Desserts We have a fabulous patio where you can enjoy the weather and your meal. “TO-GO” Orders Welcome Rohne about his outlook at the airport, Stevens said it was a shame the ballot measure failed, but that the Port can take baby steps to improve the facility, help medevac service Life Flight find a better loca- tion and attract more business. “I would be supportive of maybe looking at going to the voters again with a bond mea- sure and doing a better job of selling it,” he said. “I’d be welcome to help do that.” Most of the people who voted the bond down were in South County, he said, and he’d be willing to stump for the project on behalf of the Port. Stevens said he wants to help get government sup- port on big issues such as the $13.7 million difference between the Port’s and the Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency’s estimates on damage from the December 2015 storms, and in dealing with stormwater-treatment re- quirements. The Port Commission re- cently voted to send a letter to North Tongue Point landown- er Washington Development Co. seeking to terminate the agency’s remaining lease and allow boatbuilder Hyak Mar- itime to negotiate a purchase of the property. Commission- er Hunsinger, who abstained from the 3-0-1 vote and has blasted the decision, asked Stevens whether he would want more history and public input on the issue. “Tongue Point appears to me to be a classic example of opportunity exceeding re- sources,” Stevens said of the property, which staff has said loses the Port $250,000 annu- ally. Stevens said the Port needs public input on the issue, but that the Port needs to consid- er turning the property over to private enterprise. “The Washington Group, if they agree with the letter we wrote to terminate the lease early — they come back and say that’s fine — then I think we need to take a look at public comment and testimony and make a de- cision.” SERVING LUNCH & DINNER OPEN AT 11:30 Tuesday’s Open at 4pm Delightful Beer Garden • Ocean View Deck Pool Tables • Darts Full Bar ( including Bill’s Tavern brews ) but that’s not all... Smoked Pork Ribs • Steak • Seafood and much, much more! 156 N. Hemlock • Cannon Beach Located in SOUTH Cannon Beach Owned and Operated by the Cleary Family 3301 S. 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