Confused by confusion
The January 4, 2012, edition of Coast Lake News stated, they would only put out a print paper on the first and third Wednesday of each month, “as long as feasible.” The January 19, 2012 edition says, their next issue will be February 22. One month away, not two weeks, not three weeks, but a month.
Weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, going going…gone?
Two letters to the editor
Two letters to the editor that sparked a response:
The first from Orville Nelson. Mr. Nelson was Mayor of Lakeside when the recall attempts against Councilors Armstrong, Eubanks, Swift, Schilling, and Anderson failed. On the same ballot was recall attempts against Mayor Nelson and Councilor Tim Crockett.
The campaign “no on recalls” carried the day. No one was recalled, the council stayed the same, the voters spoke. The result of “the five” not being recalled, was the resignation of Nelson and Crockett, they quit. They didn’t care what the voters wanted. Their stated reason, the five wouldn’t go along with what they (Nelson and Crocket) wanted to do.
Nelson champions Mayor Gowan
Orville Nelson was instrumental in the successful recall of Mayor Gowan in 2006. Go figure!
In Nelsons’ letter to the editor he says Darlene Atkins (chief recall petitioner against Gowan, Parker, and Langley) recall reason for Mayor Gowan this time is that “he carries a concealed weapon.’ “There are a lot more people who carry a concealed weapon in Lakeside. Mr. Gowan has a disability. Mr. Gowan has a lot of off the wall remarks said about him. If some bully confronts Mr. Gowan and wants to do bodily harm to him, they at least know what to expect.”
We ask:
Nelson, have you even read the recall statement?
Does having a disability entitle you to break the law (expired concealed weapons carry permit)?
Is Mayor Gowan entitled to harass city employees to the extent they file a ‘TORT’ complaint? Doesn’t this make him the “bully”?
Mayor Gowan admitted in the World Newspaper article that he threatened Councilor Mack Eubanks. Are you, Mr. Nelson now threatening for him? How should we interpret the sentence “they at least know what to expect” in reference to his gun.
In Nelsons letter, about Councilor Langley, he says:
“Mr. Langley is a combat veteran.” He then goes on to describe scenes right out of a TV war movie. Nelson says: “I have a lot of respect for all our vets and I don’t like to hear someone run them down who doesn’t even know what they are talking about”.
We ask:
Mr. Nelson what are you talking about?
Mr. Langley’s heroic service to our country is not mentioned anywhere in the recall statement. The fact he is a combat veteran does not have anything to do with his inability to be a councilor. His not holding the state mandated safety meetings have nothing to do with his being a veteran. The recall statement says Langley is “unprepared and does not participate” for council business.
Mr. Nelson, did you read the recall statement?
Mr. Nelsons letter says:
“It would be nice if Darlene Atkins and the group she represents would accept the people that have been elected by a majority of the votes.”
We ask:
Again, Mr. Nelson, did you read what you wrote?
Did you say this to Chief Petitioner Midge Viedo (aka Mildred M Dover-Bennett) of her recall attempt of Sue Allen?
Mr. Nelson, if you feel this way about the majority of the voters, why, after the people voted to keep you in office, did you quit? Do you really care what the majority of Lakeside wants?
Mr. Nelson, does this mean you don’t want to recall Sue Allen and have not signed, or circulated any petitions because you “have accepted her because she was elected by the majority of the voters?”
MIDGE VIEDOS letter (AKA MILDRED M. DOVER-BENNETT)
The second letter to the editor in Coast Lake News that demands comment (now monthly edition?) was from Midge Viedo (aka Mildred M. Dover Bennett).
She says:
“I hope that some of you that live within the city of Lakeside now see the importance of why we need a seventh member to the council. The council meeting had to be canceled because there was no quorum.”
“I am doing this because Sue Allen has stated the seat should be left open because the city can run just fine without a seventh member. Well if that is the case then why was last weeks council meeting canceled?”
We offer a possible answer:
Councilor Eubanks notified city hall he would be unable to attend the meeting, he was unexpectedly called away by his employer. Mayor Gowan, when told, called in sick (after being seen in town by many people with no signs of illness). Approximately ten minutes later, Councilor Langley called in sick. (We have to state the obvious and say no one was surprised that Langley did what Gowan did. That’s part of the problem with Langley).
Councilors Allen, Armstrong and Parker were going to be there, so if Gowan or Langley would have shown up, there would have been a quorum. So, where really does the fault lie for cancellation of the meeting due to lack of a quorum?
If Viedo (aka Dover-Bennett) wants to blame someone for the cancellation of the meeting, credit Gowan and/or Langley.
Councilors Allen, Armstrong and Parker were there to “fulfill their duties”.
Fabrication?
In her letter Viedo (aka Dover-Bennett) states, “Elaine Armstrong and Mack Eubanks have said that those that are to be appointed should meet a higher standard than those who run for election. This position is not found in the city charter”.
We contacted Councilor Armstrong and asked if she had ever said this. Her response was “nope”.
We contacted Councilor Eubanks and asked if he ever said this and his response was “No, I have not said that. I just want somebody on the council who will do their homework and do what is best for all the citizens, not just a small group. We need an independent thinker”.
Charter rewrite
Viedo (aka Dover-Bennett) continues “I might to that agree if we were to also rewrite the city charter to keep those that have been recalled and have ever had more than two recall attempts made against them from serving on the council.”
“This would have kept Elaine Armstrong from ever being on the council now. It would also save the city money on recalls”.
We ask:
Did you read what you wrote?
Ms. Viedo (aka Dover-Bennett) are you now saying you don’t want Mayor Gowan on the council either?
Did Mayor Gowan read what you wrote?
Final question
Chief Petitioner Darlene Atkins says the recall petitions against Gowan, Langley and Parker will only be filed if the petitions against Sue Allen are turned in. The cost of a recall to Lakeside will only happen if Viedo (aka Dover-Bennett) files.
Our final question is to Viedo (aka Dover-Bennett). Wouldn’t you be the one to blame for another costly recall in Lakeside?
Submitted by M. Smith
Opinions and/or statements expressed in guest editorials, articles, stories and comments, are neither created nor necessarily endorsed by LakesideInfo.com.
Another masterful editorial by M. Smith, thanks for setting the record straight. When one councilor has to be at work and can’t make the meeting, then when the Mayor learns of this gets his panties in a wad and calls in sick, along with his sidekick, and couple this with a vacant council seat and you no longer have the required quorum to conduct business. I would say shame on Gowan and Langley for throwing what amounts to a temper tantrum.
As to Mildred Dover-Bennett, the lady lives in an alternate universe, with no real grasp on reality. She should be the poster child for why Oregon needs to modify the recall law, in order to protect elected officials from the malicious use of the recall process. Her attempts to recall Councilor Sue Allen are nothing more than punitive, based on the dissemination of her untruthful propaganda.
Jessica L. Lloyd-Rogers is attempting to make inroads into Reedsport, as her tabloid when printed appears to be making herself palatable to the folks in Reedsport who don’t know her, with fluff stories centering on Reedsport. Just like she did when she first reared her head in Lakeside. One good thing is that her true self is exposed on the Internet and available to those wishing to educate themselves about her.
What can you say about Mr. Ed, he must have come back from the service a mute, devoid of the ability to speak? One year as a city councilor and you can count the words he has uttered at council meetings on one hand. One year as the most qualified council member (according to Gowan) to be safety officer, and he has not held one safety meeting. WOW ain’t he something.
Mr. Ed was also seen at the liquor stor buying alcohol after he left city hall and found out councilor Eubanks was called out by the wind storm to keep the power on. Why didn’t someone get up at the meeting and call him on why he was not there? Langley was probably over at his house having a few with him. Naomie should just resign after her performance on Thursday night, we really need people on the council who can think with a clear mind and not come to meetings with her panties all tied in a knot.