HIPFiSHmonthly

Special Districts Election Ballots Due May 17Ballots have been mailed out to residents ofOregon for the 2011 special districts election andare due by May 17.In Clatsop County, the only county-wide racewith a challenger is for Port of Astoria Commissioner,Position 3. Tim Liddiard, a progressiveand newcomer to politics, is running against theincumbent, Bill Hunsinger, who is finishing uphis term as board president. Hunsinger won hisseat on an anti-LNG, pro-union platform, and hasbeen instrumental in guiding the Port towardsbeing a more industrial, shipping-based agency.After a bitter battle with Oregon LNG, the Porthas given up on the goal of ending the sub-leaseon the Skipanon Peninsula with that company.Liddiard has promised to be more open andresponsive to county residents, and focus onproviding services to the whole county. He is criticalof the decision to start a log export operationat the Port, and wants to start work right away tobring rail service to the whole county. (For moreon Liddiard, see the April 2011 issue of HIPFiSH.)In Tillimook County, one of the races that hasgenerated a lot of interest has been the NorthCounty Recreation District (NCRD) board in Nehalem,which has 3 open seats that all have challengers.Only one incumbent, board chair MarieZiemecki, is running. She is being challenged byDarrell Winegar, a former business owner whowent to work for the Mohler Co-op in 1996. Liningup on the progressive side with Ziemecki areJulie Chick, former owner of Nehalem Bay KayakLETTERSElect Tim LiddiardYou, the voter of Clatsop County will soon have anopportunity to make a positive change at the Port ofAstoria in the May17th election.Tim Liddiard is running for Port of Astoria Commission,position 3. Tim has the critical thinking skillsnecessary to do a fantastic job as a port commissioner.With a degree in mathematics, as well as a constructionbackground, he possesses the theoretical and practicalproblem solving skills needed to be an excellent boardmember.Electing Tim Liddiard could change the dynamicson the port commission in a positive way. Having acommissioner who is thoughtful, co-operative andreasonable could result in true teamwork and elevatethe quality of decision-making and long-term planningby the board. Tim also wants more public involvementbefore important changes are made at the port.I believe Tim would ask the tough questions thatneed to be asked, while also holding himself and othercommissioners accountable for transparency andhonesty in dealing with the public and other boardmembers.Tim Liddiard is not running to represent one narrowpecial interest group. He is running because he wantsthe port to benefit all members of our community.While the recent log shipping operation has createdlongshoreman jobs, other portions of the county couldhave benefited by the continuation of air service.During the year Commissioner Hunsinger was portcommission president (July 2009-July 2010) I do notrecall reading or hearing about him actively promotingthe air service offered through the port, even thoughthe port commission president is frequently invited torepresent the port at outside events. It was clear, evenfairly early on, that the air service needed help to besuccessful over the long haul. Recently, the port’s executivedirector was quoted in the April 13, 2011, DailyAstorian as saying “ We learned in that 6-week periodthat if we step up the plate, do some advertising, sellour passenger service ourselves, we can do a far betterjob than any airline’s going to do,” he added.”…Whatwe did in the last six weeks is what we should havedone in the last 24 months.”Where was Mr. Hunsinger, as well as the other fourcommissioners, during those 24 months?Company, and Kevin Greenwood, Manager at thePort of Garibaldi since 2009, and former Managerof the City of Garibaldi. Greenwood also servedon the NCRD board from 2005-2008. In additionto Winegar, two other conservatives are running– Jon Welsh (against Greenwood), part-ownerof Manzanita Fresh Foods, and Angela Hanke(against Chick). The conservatives are againsttaxpayer funding of the district facilities, whilethe progressives would like to see continuedpublic funding.A similar situation exists with the NehalemBay Fire & Rescue District, with 3 conservativestrying to unseat current members of the board.The conservatives claim that the fire district is toobig for the region it serves, and want to reducetaxpayer outlays.Residents of Clatsop County should note thatapplications to serve on the county planningcommission are due by May 13. The county boardof commissioners recently voted to vacate allseven seats on the panel and invite the currentmembers and new applicants to apply for thevacated positions. The planning commissionadvises the board of commissioners on land-useplanning, conducts land-use hearings and implementsthe county’s zoning and comprehensiveplan. The panel normally meets once a month.For more information on the elections and appointmentsin Clatsop County, including drop-offsites, call the county clerk at 503-325-8511. InTillamook County, call 503-842-3402.- Bob GoldbergWe need port commissioners who understand thefull scope and range of their responsibilities, especiallywhere millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money areinvolved, as was in the air service grant.Please join me in voting for Tim Liddiard for Portof Astoria Commissioner, position 3. It’s time foraccountability, responsibility, and positive change atthe port.Kathy Sanders - Astoria(former Port of Astoria Commissioner)NCRD Candidate EndorsementIn a nutshell, we have 3 experienced, progressivecandidates (Kevin Greenwood, Julie Chick, and MarieZiemecki) who use and value the services of NCRD. Inanother nutshell, running against them (each seat isa separate position), we have 3 candidates who don’twant to continue to pay taxes to support NCRD.NCRD is currently thriving. We want to keep itthat way and build a new pool (modest size, separatebuilding). These three candidates, Kevin Greenwood,Julie Chick, and Marie Ziemecki, have experience andwill hit the ground running. They will not have to“investigate” to make sure internal operations are ok.They already understand the great progress of NCRD inclimbing out of its black hole of closure and debt. Theytrust and respect the capability of the present GeneralManager.We must seek leaders who are aware of what isneeded and what would be for the greater good of thecommunity, leaders who have vision and consensusbuildingskills. Kevin Greenwood has sat on the NCRDboard in the past, and currently sits on the CapitalImprovement Plan committee. Julie Chick works forthe Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, and has non-profitboard experience. Marie Ziemecki is the current boardchair and brings continuity of leadership and a constructiveworking relationship with NCRD staff.Ballots will be mailed tomorrow, Friday, April 29.You will receive your ballot Saturday, 4/30, or Monday,5/2. And then you have until May 17 to have your ballotAT the courthouse, or ballot box in Manzanita.Please join me in casting your vote for Kevin Greenwood,Julie Chick and Marie Ziemecki.Respectfully,Lucy BrookManzanitaExploring Our Oceans: the Mysteries of the Tides and Tidepool LifeA new temporary exhibit opens at the Cannon Beach History CenterThe CannonBeach HistoryCenter andMuseum will hosta dedication receptionand lecture forthe new temporaryexhibit “Exploringour Oceans: theMysteries of theTides and TidepoolLife” on Wednesday,May 11, at 7p.m.Donna Lenius,HaystackRock AwarenessProgram (HRAP) Marine Educator andVolunteer Coordinator, will explore thevibrant world between the tides and theextravagant wildlife visitors can see in theintertidal zone in her lecture “A Walk in theTidepools: A Glimpse of the Ocean.”The dedication reception willbegin at 7 p.m., and will feature wineand refreshments. The reception willallow attendees a chance to view theexhibit, which was produced in partnershipwith HRAP and features historical artifacts,photography, and sea life specimens fromtidepools.Oregon LNG Hearing on Friday the 13thFrom 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Lenius willexamine what lives in the tidepools, thegreat lengths that life goes to exist there,and how the tidepool ecosystem is translatedinto a classroom.news and eventsThis event is free and open to the public.Call 503-436-9301 for more information, orvisit www.cbhistory.org.Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event to be held in JuneClatsop County, in conjunction with Western Oregon Waste(WOW), will be holding a household hazardous waste collectionevent at WOW headquarters on Airport Road near the AstoriaAirport in Warrenton on Saturday, June 11, from 9 am - 3 pm.Wastes such as used or leftover pesticides, paints, poisons, fertilizers,solvents, batteries, automotive fluids, thermometers and lightbulbs will be accepted for free from Clatsop County residents only.No medications, medical sharps, explosives, radioactive waste orwaste from businesses will be accepted. For more information, contactthe county at 503-325-8500.The Oregon LNG legal saga will entera new phase in May. In late April, thecompany withdrew their argument that allof Clatsop County’s judges are biased. As aresult, Clatsop County Circuit Court JudgePhillip L. Nelson will hold a hearing onMay 13 to evaluate the arguments beingput forward by Clatsop County, ColumbiaRiverkeeper and the Northwest PropertyRights Coalition in defense of ClatsopCounty’s right to make a final land use decisionabout Oregon LNG and its pipeline.The County is asking the court to dismissOregon LNG’s claims that the county nolonger has jurisdiction over the land usedecision on the Oregon LNG pipeline dueto the clock running out after the previouscounty commission’s decision last October.The hearing will begin promptly at 9 amin courtroom 200 at the Clatsop CountyCourthouse in Astoria.The Clatsop County Commission madea preliminary decision in March to denythe Oregon LNG pipeline project. LeucadiaNational Corporation, which is theNY-based financial backer for Oregon LNG,is indicating that community oppositionis prompting Leucadia to reconsider itsinvestment in Oregon LNG.In other LNG news, local residentscelebrated the 1-year anniversary of BradwoodLanding’s decision to pull the plugon their LNG terminal and pipeline projecton May 4. Over 4 years of protests and legalaction, and countless thousands of hoursof volunteer time were required to causethe project to run out of money in attemptingto procure local, state and federalpermits. The project was scrubbed despitethe backing of the previous Clatsop CountyCommission, and moves by the companyto integrate into the local community.Oregon House Bill 2700, which wouldallow a person that proposes removal orfill activity for construction or maintenanceof a “linear facility” (read pipeline) to applyfor a removal or fill permit, instead of theowner of the property, continued to movethrough the legislature in April and earlyMay. The bill, called the “LNG fast-trackauthority bill” by anti-LNG activists, iscurrently being considered by the SenateBusiness, Transportation and EconomicDevelopment Committee. The bill passedthe House 40-18 in March. Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie) voted for the bill, while DebbieBoone (D-Cannon Beach) voted against it.This is the 3rd attempt to pass this legislationin recent years.- Bob Goldberg5 may11 hipfishmonthly.com