The Shape Of Things To Come

What if?

What if the voters in county districts one and five recall their county commissioners?

What if efforts to recall a third commissioner are likewise successful?

What might be the outcome of those actions and what shape would our collective future take as a result?

Since those supporting the recall are fond of using a crystal ball in their campaign to unseat Hazen, Samuelson and, Roberts let's do the same.

Since a successful recall of Hazen and Samuelson would not happen at the same time as a recall for Roberts it is entirely likely that Rohne and Roberts will deadlock on the appointment of successors. Leaving John Raichl the deciding vote. Sorry John. If the Governor becomes involved you can count on him to appoint exactly the wrong people.

Now, I don't bring any of this up to try and convince you that you should vote against the recall. It's just important to put all of this into perspective. In a normal election cycle you would get to pick who sits in that commission seat. In a recall you do not. Few people understand that fact.

By voting in favor of the recalls you place our future outside the voters hands. It's just that simple.

So let's speculate some more.

Let's say the radical Democrats of Clatsop County are successful in this recall. Let's say they also apply pressure in the right places and get their people appointed. What happens then?

Under these circumstances the anti-LNG crowd would finally have exactly what they want and any opportunity to kill either or both projects will result in an end to those.

If they are not extremely careful in how they do that the county could face a lawsuit just like the Port of Astoria is facing. Just millions of dollars larger. I suppose they've already figured out that part. No need to worry. Really. I predict we'll just lose the estimated $8 million a year in tax revenue, the fire tugs, the extra emergency equipment and personnel, the road improvements, and the new commissioners, after getting the county into the red, will end up getting the boot themselves leaving a new commission with the biggest mess in Oregon history. That will happen just as soon as the new commissioners decide to take the next steps in protecting us from ourselves.

LNG is the most public part of the agenda. The next focus will be on all other development.

Unless the deal on the North Coast Business park is firmed up Costco will end up with the biggest parking lot in this part of Oregon because those other businesses will not appear.

Planning on building anything in the unincorporated areas of the county? Good luck.

The upside to all this is that in the end we will be right back where we were in 1981. It will be quiet and the natural environment will begin to take over the scared landscape that was once a vibrant, active community. There will be plenty of empty storefronts that used to be restaurants, hardware, clothing and grocery stores.

The only jobs available will be picketing WalMart.

So go ahead and dismantle county government. After all, this is just shear speculation.