March 25, 2008

CCFOG urges transparent public process for choosing Lee replacement

The voters of District 3 have now spoken, and we hope the remaining members of the Clatsop County Commission will understand and heed what citizens are saying.

To begin with, we encourage an open, inclusive, public process of appointing a replacement for recalled commissioner Richard Lee.  We hope to see an immediate call for applicants from within District 3 and publication of the information each applicant submits on the County’s website.

We hope county residents, particularly those in District 3, will be afforded an opportunity to meet and question the candidates.  And we hope public input will be the primary factor in the commission’s choice, allowing for a commission with a divergence of viewpoints that matches its constituency.

We urge a decision making process that is entirely transparent and respects the call for change in today’s decision by the voters.  We believe the success of the recall clearly reflects the desire of citizens for ethical and responsive government and a strong interest in the way in which things are done. 

The people voted for recall even though they were deluged with commercials, flyers, calls, letters and signs from Richard Lee and his supporters.  Lee’s forces spent more than six times as much as recall supporters.

Many citizens with whom we talked during the campaign expressed concerns about the commission as a whole, on a wide variety of issues.  There was a clear disconnect between commissioners who leaped to the support of Richard Lee and the majority of his constituents who saw his actions as unlawful and self serving.  The election results make clear that voters expect their representatives to serve the public interest rather than their own and carry out their duties in a manner that is above reproach.

Successful recall would not have been possible without the help of a broad coalition of dedicated and talented people.  We thank all the people who put their time, money and energy into this effort.

The recall process is difficult and unpleasant for all.  Now that it is finished we hope differences will heal and we can work together cooperatively for open, responsive and effective county government.

 

Who else supports this effort? Click here to find out