Another opportunity for Clatsop County citizens to show their political savvy and flout the self serving advice dripping from the jowls of the Astorian's arrogant editors has descended on us with the upcoming elections. Ballots are due May 18th, and while the Cartons have remained politically silent for quite a while now, it has come to our attention that a movement is afoot that we should bring to our fellow Dried Salmon County inhabitants' attention.
Many people have taken to the habit of writing in names of various Disney characters, or an in-law they have no particular love for, in opposition to someone they perceive as a shady character on a ballot. The problem with doing this is that no one sees the clever name that has been penned in except a tired ballot counter who has seen it all and no longer finds any amusement in it.
You want to truly hurt someone who is running unopposed? Don't vote for ANYONE, do NOT write in anyone, especially in the primaries when they have to run again in the regular elections in November. This is called an UNDERVOTE. If the UNDERVOTES are anywhere close to the number that actually vote for the person running unopposed it is HUMILIATING for that person. It tells their party that they are not bankable. It also tells others that they can run a successful write-in campaign against the person and that the person's political party isn't going to expend any money on him keep him in his seat.
So, say, for instance, a certain district attorney was perceived as being selfish, self serving, egotistical, criminally inclined, ethically challenged, vengeance bound, neurotic and bent on destroying all those who have ever opposed him on any issue thereby making it difficult to find anyone to run against him. One way to show that the public was done with a tyrant like this would be to give the public the knowledge of the UNDERVOTE.
It would be clearly understood that with a good showing of the UNDERVOTE a certain group of people would take that tally and be able to convince an attorney (even one from another area of Oregon) that beating such a publicly reviled creature is doable and there is monetary backing for such a venture.
Not that the Cartons are advocating that each person reading now, print this out and share with all your friends and neighbors this information, imploring them to leave the box next to the district attorney blank. We are not politically inclined these days. We are not advocating that you tell everyone to do this immediately, before it is too late and they waste their ballot.
Nor do we wish to remind everyone that the three one-trick-ponies, running against incumbent commissioners, who no longer have LNG to oppose, meet together often with Taylor and "chain" it all the way to Hood River, getting their marching orders for our area from people far removed from us and what profits those of us who have families and need wages here and now.
Far be it from us to remind everyone that while perhaps Bradwood may have left a $180,000 bill behind it was the groups these three come from who chased them away with what is finally being
investigated as illegal activities by, so far: the IRS, the
Oregon State Bar and the Marion County District Attorney's office.
And far be it from us to remind everyone that while there may be a small bill left behind 1) The commissioners have little to do with the day to day operations of running the county, bills collected and paid are the Manager's and Planning department's headache. Ask Ed Wagner why he allowed the bill to go so high 2) We still are waaaay ahead of 33 other counties in the state of Oregon in terms of being in the black rather than the red and that is due entirely to the practices set in place by the Commissioners four years ago.
The grapevine says the red team will be gathering their herd of retirees, trust fund babies and ssi disability retainers to attack the County Commission meeting on Wednesday morning while all the rest of us are at work. We don't see how the working class can be expected to take an early lunch at 10 am to get to the meeting and make our voices heard.
There is the option of writing a note telling the BOCC how we feel about the illegal maneuvers used to oust Bradwood out of the permitting process and asking if any of the three contenders or Rohne knew of
Foster's involvement. Were they present at any meeting with political overtones where this state employee (Foster) was present? All four say they are all about OPEN TRANSPARENCY! Depending on how they avoid the question will show how they will avoid transparency once they are in office.
When emailing the BOCC with our letters, sending a copy of it to KAST, NorthCoastOregon, the Seaside Signal, Canon Beach Gazette, and the Daily Astorian is also something that we do not want to be accused of
encouraging everyone to do.So, in brief, the Cartons are still staying pretty quiet on the political front. We are not advocating for anything. Not us saying that
you should UNDERVOTE in regards to the District Attorney, nor question Dirk Rohne, Scott Lee, Peter Huhtala, or Debra Birkby about how much they knew regarding Brent Foster's activities last year, nor email any media outlet to
share your outrage. And definitely don't print this blog page out and share it with your neighbors, co-workers, family, friends, or plaster the town and coffee houses with it.
Clatsop County BOCC
administrator@co.clatsop.or.usDirk Rohne
drohne@co.clatsop.or.usScott Lee
Scottleecommissioner@gmail.comPeter Huhtala
peterhuhtala@gmail.comDebra Birkby
birkby@charter.netJohn Dunzer
johndunzer@msn.comKAST News Director Michael Desmond
michael.desmond@nnbproduction.comSeaside Signal Editor
signaleditor@seasidesignal.comNorthCoastOregon.com Editor
editor@northcoastoregon.comCannon Beach Gazette
news@cannonbeachgazette.comDaily Astorian Editor
editor@dailyastorian.com
