Hukill: Group threatens recall over restoration agreement

August 5, 2009

    Unlike some of our elected officials in Washington, D.C., I plan on reading the final draft of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement before casting my vote.

    I am very much aware that the same people who failed at their attempt to change our form of county government to a charter form of government last November, are demanding that I take a position on the restoration agreement now; but not only a position, but their position. And if I do not take their position and vote against the restoration agreement, they are ready to launch a recall and initiate another attempt to bring a charter form of government so that our current board will be dismantled.

    When the time comes for me to take a public position, it will be what I feel is best for the majority of the citizens of Klamath County, after I have read the restoration agreement, and not for a special interest group.

     I have a message to this group: I will not be threatened, manipulated, or coerced into voting your way, in order to keep my job. If this is your mode of operation, than you had better be prepared to initiate recalls every month.

    So, in any particular week, a decision by the board of commissioners goes against your wishes. So, what do you do? You begin to threaten with: recall, recall, recall! But, wait a minute. What happens next week when a decision by the same board pleases you? Now what?

    With this mentality, this county could see new leadership every few months because someone is always going to be disappointed in a particular vote.

    Living in the United States is a privilege because each one of us can cast a vote for the person we would like to see hold that elected position. The majority vote wins. If our candidate does not win, then we must look for ways to work with those who were elected, for the betterment of Klamath County.

    How can you decide that an elected official is unfit for the job they were elected to, by just one decision? During this past election, there were several candidates who I voted for who did not win. Now what? I choose to work with those who won, on the issues that affect Klamath County. To inform them about our needs and work on legislation that will benefit all of us.

    We, as a community, are much bigger people than this. It is time to let hatred, bitterness, and offenses go by the wayside and find ways to be a part of making our county a wonderful place to live.

     If you disagree with an issue, take the time to come and discuss it. There are always two sides. Have an open mind to look at all the aspects of the situation. And, if by some reason, whether state, federal, or local laws, the outcome is not what you would have liked, accept it; look for ways to work within the parameters, and maybe look for legislative ways to change the law.