In Nelsonville, only “yes men” need apply

An analysis

The death of Jim Brown in September has created the third opening for Lakeside City Council in the last two years, under mayor Nelson’s first term. It was decided last month that the position would be filled at this Thursday’s 7 p.m. council meeting.

Will mayor Nelson attempt to re-stack the council like he did in the past? Will Lakeside citizens witness a fair and open process in evaluating the applicants this time around?  Can they expect an appointment of the qualified?

Will the four brand new council members who were elected last Tuesday and will be sworn in January be consulted in this appointment?

An analysis of appointments that have already taken place since Orville Nelson took the office of mayor in January of 2007.

The death of Cathy Walker
The first appointment was necessitated a few months after the last council/mayor election as a result of the death of then newly elected Councilor Cathy Walker in 2007.  At the time, there were three applicants for the vacancy: Fred Clausen, Elaine Armstrong, and Gary Wilson.

The council appointed Gary Wilson.  This came despite the fact that Gary Wilson himself stated at the time that he knew he wasn’t as qualified as Armstrong.

Several vocal members of the audience shared that sentiment and claimed ‘cronyism’.

Additionally Armstrong posed a fresh reminder of the Contract with Lakeside residents that Nelson cheerily signed his name to and used to get elected, but then summarily ignored.  (Armstrong was part of the group that developed and believed in the plan.  She still does.)

Fast forward to 2008
Those serving on the budget committee are appointed by the council.  This year was no exception, people were appointed.  But, what was unusual is that the council did not appoint the very qualified Michelle Robison, who is a CFO for a fortune 500 company.

One stated reason came from councilor Crockett “I want to talk to people that use words I can understand.”

Councilman Harlan Green resigns
A council appointment was necessary after Harlan Green also elected in 2006, resigned from the council.  Three candidates filed for the office, Mary Schilling, Julie Wilson and Benny Henry.  An appointment was made of a well-qualified applicant, Julie Wilson.  Wilson was seated at the meeting and even had a vote on the remaining issues that night.

After the meeting, widower of the late councilwoman Cathy Walker, Calvin Walker approached mayor Orville Nelson shaking hands and identified Julie Wilson as his fiance.  This was the first Orville knew of the relationship between Walker and the newest councilor Julie Wilson.

The following morning mayor Nelson was on the phone with the city attorney to find out how to invalidate the seating of Julie Wilson.  Nelson came to the next meeting with a contorted explanation that since the city charter requires a majority of members to gain approval of a proposal before them, and since there were a couple of council members absent, the majority vote of those attending was not a “majority” of all the council members. See Lakeside Charter Section 19: “Vote Required”

No one ever bothered to explain how all the other votes, approving ordinances prior to that date, or any vote since that date, didn’t seem to require this new definition of the charter’s meaning of what constitutes a “majority.”

The council did kick Julie Wilson ‘off the island” and appoint Buford Gould. Buford became another rubber stamp for mayor Nelson.

The people spoke loud and clear about this local cronyism.  Both Nelson appointments to the council:  Buford Gould and Gary Wilson, were soundly defeated for their council positions by Lakeside citizens in the November general election.

On Thursday, November 13, the Lakeside council will have yet another council position to fill.  Will the current council find another lifelong friend of Nelson to appoint or will actual qualifications be a determining factor in who replaces Brown, the most knowledgeable and possibly longest serving city council member in Lakeside history?

[Updated Nov. 14: Council delays appointment of vacant  position to December meeting]