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Opinion Letters Letters to the Editor for June 19, 2009
Letters to the Editor for June 19, 2009
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Meddling in mayor election To the editor: Why did city council terminate Steve Brocato’s employment as city manager? One reason may be Brocato’s violation of the International City/County Management Ethics Code: “Not engage in the election campaign of any candidate for mayor.” How did Brocato violate this code he told councilors he followed? After last fall’s election, the likely candidates to succeed Jeff Petry as mayor were councilors Andrew Bryan and Dennis Dorrah. It was no secret that Brocato favored Bryan and did not want Dorrah to be mayor, but Bryan could not muster the votes. It appears Brocato couldn’t endure the thought of a Mayor Dorrah. So he asked Councilor Aletha Bonebrake on several occasions to run telling her unkind things about Dorrah, which she researched and found untrue. She declined to run. Councilor Milo Pope with Brocato’s support tried to recruit Councilor Clair Button to run, but he was not interested. Finally, Brocato prevailed upon his staunch supporter Pope himself to run against Dorrah. Without taking a tally of support, Pope threw his hat in the ring publicly, since by this time Brocato’s attempt to manipulate mayoral succession was being reported in the news media. Only then did Brocato and Pope realize the votes weren’t there, and Pope abruptly withdrew from the race. At the first meeting of city council in January, council elected Dorrah mayor by a unanimous vote. Many citizens object to this mostly hidden process of choosing a mayor. But, it’s completely legal. All the City Charter requires is that every two years council “choose from its members a person who shall be mayor.” That’s it. But the foregoing does show a violation: Brocato’s violation of the ethics code he claimed to use to guide his conduct as city manager. One more fact. At the meeting at which Brocato was fired, both Pope and Brocato claimed the four councilors must have met in private in violation of Oregon’s Open Meetings Law? Pope even vowed he’d sue all four councilors. I believe it will turn out to be an empty charge and threat. No illegal meeting took place. Gary Dielman Baker City
To the editor: It is rare when a legislator will put the common good above his career, but it does happen sometimes. Case and point: the honorable Greg Smith. Representative Smith voted to put children, education and health and human services above his career. He voted yes on a tax package that will help stave off cuts to education and programs that help students when his fellow Republicans opted instead to allow these cuts to happen. Thank you, Greg! When you represented Baker County and I first invited you into my classroom, you didn’t hesitate to come and find out about my students and my programs. Your commitment to education has continued through the years. Thank you for doing the right thing even though your own party is making threats about running another candidate against you in the next primary. Thank you for making education a priority and for walking the talk of investing in Oregon’s future. I hope the rest of your party will follow suit. Judy Trohkimoinen Baker City
To the editor: The three thwarted councilors and I are in the same boat. I didn't vote for Obama. I knew his leadership would bring on inflation, he would raise taxes, he would put our country in further debt with other countries. He won the election, I lost, he is now my president for the next four years. So I say to myself, “George, get over it!” So I say to you three, get over it!” Mr. Brocato was not a good manager. I applaud some of the things he did. He rightly decided they could get by without a full-time city attorney. He fired a planning director that really had a job that was out of his league. From reading Mr. Schumacher’s letter and quote, “If you want a team builder and a fiscally responsible financial manager then he was it.” He was building “a team.” But it was “his team.” His idea was, “it's my way, or the highway.” He wanted to control the Council. Mr. Brocato, you can't push a string. You might want to remember that on your next job. A good manager pulls the string (the councilors). Now for the dissenting councilors: Judge Pope, when you were the presiding judge, a lot of people didn't like your decisions, but when you banged your gavel, it was over. I say to you “It's over!” Try to respect others’ opinions. You're one of seven, bring them together, don't fight them. Mr. Bryan, I have listened to you at meetings and because of the wisdom of your decisions, I am proud that I voted for you. But it is my understanding that your regular job is at the discretion of the court. You are working at their pleasure. You are serving us, “the peanut gallery,” as only one of seven. Respect those who don't agree with you. Mr. Bass, my beloved neighbor and friend, be a healer, not a thorn. George Wilder Baker City
To the editor: Just an idea, don’t know if this is legal or not. What if Baker City held a city wide lottery program, like selling tickets to win free yard makeover/vehicle makeover/year of yard service/free water and sewer for a year/free groceries for a year/different categories of lottery programs that would not require tax dollars but just money from ticket sales? What do you think, people of Baker City? Maybe this would end the eyesore problem, the economy problem, lower our water and sewer rates etc. Let’s vote on it. Manny Gutierrez Sr. Baker City
To the editor: Webster’s dictionary defines “injustice” as, 1) “being injust”; 2) “an unjust act causing injury.” I am not usually inclined to use my pen in the local Letters to the Editor column. However, the latest activities of “injustice” performed during City Council’s proceedings have forced my “heart” to response — albeit uncharacteristically. I will try this without as much heated emotion as I fell. In the 20-plus years that God has allowed me to live and be a member of this community I have seen various “disruptions” arise at city and county levels that caused me concern. But the absolute “railroad job” that occurred last Tuesday night in council chambers defies even my imagination. The word “crucifixion” comes quickly to mind. Personal agendas, axes to grind, “feelings” and struggles with personal self-worth should not ever be qualifications to be a city councilor in charge of decisions of this magnitude. This behavior from certain councilors has gone on long enough in our precious community. We must take care of a recurring problem of “rabidity” that is constantly working against a spirit of goodwill and unity in our city leadership. My desire is not to hurt anyone. Ephesians 6 tells us “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the authorities and powers of this dark world. . .” I want to say I am in this fight! There is much to win and much to lose. I choose to stand with councilors Andrew Bryan, Milo Pope and Sam Bass in an effort to lawfully reinstate one of the finest community leaders I’ve known. Steve Brocato is Baker City’s friend. He and his family are loved by the majority. The outpouring of support at council’s last meeting is testimonial to that (disregarded though it was). Four members of City Council have placed their own agendas above the needs of the mass. If that’s what you want — or just don’t care — do nothing. But, if you want to bring a spirit of unity to our city leadership, get in the fight. Time is of the essence. Lennie Spooner Baker City |
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