reply to The North Coast E.O.L. Collective

Submitted By: cbbcalm@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
we just participated to the first ZOOM of this North Coast E.O.L. Collective. Seeing how all have waited in silence for a long time to talk and bring out those deep lingering questions and worries.
After participating we did not feel isolated or alone anymore
See the N.C.E.O.L. Collective Library books and Podcasts
as they say Let s bring light to the invisible

corinna & Daniel

Have a question about Manzanita City issues? Ask a councilor.

Submitted By: babbles@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
Kudos to Manzanita city councilor Mark Kuestner for reaching out to the public to talk about whatever might be on your mind, what might be bothering you, or to what you might be taking exception.

What a great idea, instead of complaining vociferously and perhaps publicly with partial information, you contact a city councilor and have a conversation. After all, they’re steeped in the details of city government and can likely answer your questions and concerns better than anyone else. Especially if the “anyone else” is using partial or biased information. Which does happen from time to time, not?

And, as Jim Heffernan posted on the Tillamook County Pioneer, let’s use a Civility Pledge in talking to each other about issues where we have differences.

Here’s one example of a Civility Pledge:
In the interest of civility, I pledge to promote civility by listening, being respectful of others, acknowledging that we are all striving to support and improve our community and understanding that we each may have different ideas for achieving that objective.

Here’s Mark’s simple, direct BBQ post.
“Have a question about Manzanita City issues? Ask a councilor.”
Posted on February 18, 2024
Submitted By: mkuestner10@gmail.com
ci.manzanita.or.us/city-council/

Tevis and Ukraine

Submitted By: genedieken@yahoo.com – Click to email about this post
I read through the article by David Stockman (former Reagan director of OMB) Tevis flagged. It’s hard not to agree with some of Stockman’s points. Why should we care about a Ukraine that isn’t totally ethnic Ukranian?

Here’s a timelapse animation of European borders from 400 BCE to the present: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1i1e6h. And just for context, modern Russia has over 190 ethnic groups.

It seems a bit specious to say that borders have all that much relevance to the U.S. supporting Ukraine at this moment in history.

The main reason we have an obligation to Ukraine is that we guaranteed them a security umbrella if, after the dissolution of the USSR, they would give up and destroy the nuclear weapons remaining on their territory. They agreed and the weapons were gone by 1996. Note that Ukraine was the heart of the Soviet aerospace sector. Nukes and aerospace are never a good mix. Here’s a short history from Brookings: www.brookings.edu/articles/the-trilateral-process-the-united-states-ukraine-russia-and-nuclear-weapons/

Lastly, during Vladimir Putin’s recent “interview” with Tucker Carlson, Putin mentioned Poland 30 times and capped off his remarks by accusing that country of forcing Nazi Germany to invade Poland. Are we going to be soon saying that we should not help defend Poland because its borders fluctuated and even periodically disappeared in the last 1000 years?

Just for bonus points, you can read through the Wikipedia articles on the First and Second Chechen Wars. These wars became the model for how Russia would conduct future wars in Syria, Mariupol, and now throughout Ukraine.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Chechen_War
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Chechen_War

Gene Dieken

REPLY TO yuiqwe1@gmail.com

Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
It is interesting to note that measure 110 decriminalizing drugs by amount was passed in 2020 – looking at a map produced by the CDC showing a map of the states. It shows that 2020 is the first year that mortality from drugs jumped to a new high in Oregon. See link at bottom.

But who cares? I can find states that have a higher mortality from drugs. So there! Just ignore it. It’s not that hard to step over a body – I can still do it and I am in my late 80’s. CRIME? I have a gun and a compost heap – perfect place for hiding a body. I am not worried.

And most of us know that Trump and Russia are responsible for this anyway – Don’t embarrass the Democrats – they already have so much more to be embarrassed about

www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/drug_poisoning_mortality/drug_poisoning.htm

Reply to andynorris21

Submitted By: yuiqwe1@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Although Norris states “And who knows how many thousands of pounds of the Chinese Communist Party’s fentanyl, the cartels’ meth and the cartels’ heroin were simply walked over and brought straight to Oregon thanks to the dipsh*ts running the DPO and the worst federal administration in American history.” a quote from an immigration report reads “The data indicates most smuggling of illicit drug substances into the U.S. happens at ports of entry, not between. Hidden in compartments in vehicles and cargo, smuggling is often quicker and more expedient at POEs compared to traveling through rough terrain between ports.” (immigrationforum.org/article/illicit-fentanyl-and-drug-smuggling-at-the-u-s-mexico-border-an-overview/#:~:text=This%20data%20indicates%20most%20smuggling,through%20rough%20terrain%20between%20ports.)

Although the poster would like to blame Oregon Democrats for the drug epidemic, thirty states, many of them red, have a higher fentanyl death rate per capita than Oregon. usafacts.org/articles/are-fentanyl-overdose-deaths-rising-in-the-us/#:~:text=2022%20data%20is%20provisional%20and%20subject%20to%20change.,-Source%3A%20Centers%20for&text=California%20had%20the%20m….

The bottom line is that as long as we create demand for drugs someone will supply it. Our drug problem is ours, not Mexico’s, not the Chinese Communist Party’s, not south or central America’s. As for border security it has very recently become abundantly clear it is the Republican Party directed by Trump that only cares about it when they think they can use it as a campaign issue in their favor. Remember “I will build a wall and make Mexico will pay for it”?

Ted Chu

3 BILLION IN NEW TAXES FOR OREGON RESIDENTS

Submitted By: genedieken@yahoo.com – Click to email about this post
Dixie Gainer’s assertion that Oregon has the 6th highest taxes in the country is true as far as she goes. The 6th highest personal income tax.

When you calculate the total tax burden of property tax, individual income tax, sales & excise tax, Oregon falls to 31st.

And don’t forget the 5.6 billion dollar kicker going back to taxpayers this spring.

Gene Dieken

Thank You for Your Bravery and Honesty!

Submitted By: brh7926@charter.net – Click to email about this post
Thank you, Randy Kugler, for calling out the lies and corruption in the Manzanita City government. Obviously, it doesn’t matter whether the corruption is big government, ie, US federal, Oregon State, or tiny, small town communities. I guess people have to feel powerful, no matter what. Certainly says a lot about their own insecurities, which of course they will never admit. Anyway, thank you so much! I appreciate you!

Don’t kill your pets yet?

Submitted By: genedieken@yahoo.com – Click to email about this post
Dixie Gainer’s recent BBQ post discounting the reality of climate change began with the assertion that the World Economic Forum advocates dispatching pets as a mitigation tactic. Of course, this is easily checked and isn’t true. Here’s Reuters Fact Check:
December 16, 2022. The World Economic Forum (WEF) did not issue advice to slaughter millions of pets to curb climate change. Online reports that it did are false.
Reuters found no evidence that the organization suggested slaughtering pets, and searches through the WEF website did not reveal any such guidance (archive.vn/wip/UgC3L). The claims appear to stem from an article published by the website NewsPunch, which has posted false news in the past. It is viewable (archive.vn/1IDuQ)…
Me personally, I’d have a hard time believing anything from a TwitterX feed calling itself “Illuminatibot.” The NewsPunch talking head in the linked video is a short silent clip repeating every few seconds and the audio is from a speech generator.
Many climate predictions certainly have been laughable. Modeling complex non-linear systems like climate is among things we don’t really have well-enough developed science, math, or computation for.
Nonetheless, certain things about climate change fall well within common actuarial math: If you live in Florida your homeowner’s insurance is now unaffordable if you can get it. If you live in Portland your electricity rate just went up by double digits partially to pay for undergrounding more than 100 miles of new distribution powerlines to prevent sparking of catastrophic wildland fires. Hurricanes and fires do not care about your politics.

Manzanita secrets

Submitted By: cbbcalm@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
I agree, 100 % with Kaleen Wineinger letter.
The police Station, and some of the Officers have expressed, they would be contented to stay in the heart town with yes some improvements upgrades to their quarters.
To hear watch and see the dismissive ,adult bullying
around our Respectable Mayor Deb Simons is unbelievable . A lack of grace dignity .
I too say NO to city hall

to : Tulemiller’s Walk your Talk

Submitted By: cbbcalm@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
I too want to commend Deb Simmons , our Mayor of Manzanita , for exemplifying the role of City Councilor. She is intelligent, extremely caring & respectful towards other. She listens , researches for solutions, to make things work bette ; She collaborates and listens again…She will make time for you. our Mayor , Deb has been unjustly attacked, by a pack of hungry , unhappy campers. It takes a lot courage, strength , guts, to be a leader. She has all that. I too look forward to the day we can all work together for the common goal ,,our Village , City of Manzanita. ! corinna Beuchet

Responding to Criticism

Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Recently I was criticized by using the word Nazi in a post about our government’s response to a recent health crises. The following video is by Vera Sharav who was both a witness and victim
to this time in history. She shows parallels. The video is 34 minutes long.
It is on Rumble.The title is “Vera Sharav’s historic Nuremberg Speech – Eugenics Then and Now.”

Never again?

Response to Dixie

Submitted By: mjsommers7@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
This is a response to Dixie Gainer’s post “How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times”. I have so disagreed with so many of Dixie’s posts that I stopped reading anything she posted. But then I saw this one. The title drew me in. As I read on, I realized I agreed with EVERYTHING she wrote there. My reaction exemplified the text of her message. We are so divided as a nation that the only way back is by having civil discourse with those with whom we disagree. I am neither a Democrat nor Republican but I align more with the liberal agenda. My news feeds are varied; including CNN, NY Times, NY Post, Washington Post, The Guardian, FOX, BBC, etc. My news motto would probably be “Don’t try to convince me, inform me”. I applaud Dixie’s attempt to bridge the gap between “us and them”. There is no other way I see us coming together without “Feerlessly Curious Conversations”.
Hopefully yours, michael sommers

Reply to dog attack

Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
I have little dogs -chi, pom, yorkie mixes
My dogs have been attacked about 8 times while walking on the beach. A small dog is like bait on a string, nevertheless that does not give other dog owners the right to let their dogs bother others.
Recently my dogs have been attacked by a new neighbor with a new dog. My arm was shredded by me trying to save my small dog that was being attacked by this dog. The dog owner apologized and said they would put up an electric fence – The dog is never inside the fence and was out the last time I walked by.
I bought a cattle prod – this was suggested by a friend who said that her two small poodles were always being bothered by a german shepherd whenever she walked her dogs – just one zap and the dog never bothered her again so I bought a cattle prod and the next time I go walking I am going to take it with me. I really don’t like aggression and I really don’t want to zap a dog with a cattle prod but unless I do this I cannot walk my dogs safely.

The VALUE of adopting a BONDED pair of kittens

Submitted By: cbbcalm@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
I saw the post of 2 kittens for sale.
From having adopted a bonded pair 5 month ago ,
I can’t say enough how much easier it is to adopt them together. For this makes them feel safe.
They entertain each other and it is a joy to watch how they take care of each other.
Yes she wants $ 50 it may seems odd at first but adds of animals for free ,are never never never a good thing for abuser torturers will take them for their own sick pleasures .
corinna and her pack

Response to THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Submitted By: proactivewheeler@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Deanne:

I did not receive any request to reschedule the candidates’ forum at the NCRD. Furthermore, I was limited to their availability.

If you read the notice, you would have seen that the rule to avoid discussing the existing waterfront applications was for the benefit of the candidates’ ability to serve. Comments could have prevented them — as future council members — the ability to vote.

How do you know Mayor Honeycutt and the current council have tried to find resolution and compromise with the developer? Have you not read the city’s response to LUBA’s remand to Wheeler?

Mike Anderson, affiliated with proactivewheeler

Dispelling Rumors in MY TWO CENTS posted Oct 20, 2022

Submitted By: themarthataylor@yahoo.com – Click to email about this post
I would like to inform the community on statements made by Mr. Anctil on Oct. 20th BBQ were possibly misconstrued with a screen shot of the city documents.
1. Wheeler City Council needs to focus on avoiding lawsuits

Applying the law to avoid lawsuits is just what Wheeler City Council has done the past couple of years. Wheeler has consulted land use legal experts and attorneys every step of the way and they ARE enforcing the laws. Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) has ruled multiple times that the developer must consider the Vision Plan and Traffic Issues. Based on those rulings it seems to me that they recognize the document as being valid and enforceable.
2. There are 2 hotel owners on council, both of whom voted in land use decisions regarding a hotel application.

There is only one hotel/motel owner on Wheeler council not 2 as stated in Mr. Anctil’s post. The councilor is my husband Gordon and he indeed recused himself from voting on the 2019-10 and 2019-11 hotel and large 110 seat restaurant. This was despite my husband and my belief that a small boutique hotel would be good for the town and potentially bring more business. The problem that I see (my opinion) is that the proposal was large scale and not in keeping with the character of Wheeler as stated by citizens and the Vision Plan. The two hotel/motels in Wheeler currently operating are, 9 and 11 rooms, respectively. And, by the way, both councilors who recused themselves supported a small boutique hotel but at legal council’s advice recused themselves from the decision making. Boutique, small town character businesses will likely attract more visitors and be an economic benefit for Wheeler. Large Scale establishments will diminish our quaint nostalgic feel.

NOTE: I was unable to find a finalized meeting minute record on the Wheeler Website.

Yours in Transparency, Respectfully
Martha Taylor
Wheeler on the Bay Lodge, Owner/Operator.

Linda Kozlowsky for Manzanita City Council

Submitted By: babbles@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
I am writing in response to the post below, from last night’s BBQ.

Even though I am a Nehalem resident, Manzanita and Wheeler are also important to me. Who is on city council in each of our three towns matters to me.

I have been thinking exactly the same thing as Ms. Edginton, that Linda’s historical knowledge from her 16 years on city council is extremely valuable. I feel it would be a loss to the effectiveness of the Manzanita city council to not have Linda still on the council as a liaison from the past to the future. Jerry Spegman is in his first term. Ms. Edgington was very recently appointed to fill a vacancy. Deb Simmons will be brand new on the council as mayor. Whichever of the two gentlemen running for a council seat winds up winning will also be brand new to the council. Even the city manager is new. That’s a lot of “new!” I think it would be best if there is at least one “old.”

I just decided to put my two cents worth in as an independent observer.

om peace namaste
Lucy Brook

from jenna edgington:
“… She will enable the new Council to hit the ground running by being able to provide insight on past Council decisions and also her thorough understanding on how the City functions and the role of City Council….”
I will be voting for Linda Kozlowski.”

A response to Wheelertattler

Submitted By: brentanctil@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Ok, here I am doing something I told myself I wouldn’t do. Which is to comment on an anonymous post on the internet. Yes, you Wheelertattletales I will take the bait.

Really? You are afraid to post your views with your name because? You suggest you would be in danger. This is just too much. We are neighbors and we are allowed to disagree. You should not feel scared to have an opinion. I wonder if you are afraid or simply want to spread rumors and misinformation with zero accountability. There are people in Wheeler who were attacked and maligned for even having considered someone building on the waterfront. That’s where the vitriol came from in my opinion. Some very vocal people characterized the situation as some kind of corrupt sell-out. You must be an awful person for even allowing this person to be allowed submit plans to build there. You must hate the environment, animals, and Wheeler. Where is all the animus coming from? I am truly disgusted by the stories of how former Mayor Stevie Burden was treated. I won’t recount them here or speak to all of the years that she dedicated to making Wheeler better for everyone, yes everyone, not you or her but everyone. I genuinely believe that and not the anonymous rumors.

I think that your post displays your anger and willingness to slash and burn for your own interests or needs.

It seems clear that anyone who acts with outrage and maliciuosness must have something personal to lose, like your view? Not sure, or maybe you are just someone who is angry and likes to be outraged by the latest thing that you find upsetting.

I would like to try and redirect viewers who are interested, but confused about what is going on, to simply read the minutes from the Wheeler City Council and Planning Commission. Yes, the developer submitted multiple plans from architects, I assume from his lawsuit that he spent a lot of money on changing his plans multiple times to try to appease some very angry people. It’s in the minutes, which I know is boring to read. Also, the minutes are a summary, I know that there was a lot of discussion not included in the written minutes. That’s unfortunate, but there is enough there to see the general discussion, votes, etc. No conspiracies.

Finally, my understanding that the meeting at the NCRD to discuss Wheeler’s water situation was public and advertised as such. Unfortunately I was busy and couldn’t attend. The idea that it was some sort of secret Lumanati meeting is laughable. Can we please stop spreading misinformation in an attempt to lobby people to your perceived side? Do you even live in Wheeler?

Regards,
Brent Anctil
Wheeler, Oregon

Response to Will Stone: Manzanita City Hall and Council Elections

Submitted By: Tinnindeb@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
In 2019, Manzanita had a bond issue vote for new city facilities. The measure was defeated. Democracy in action.

Looking up and down the coast, there have been several ballot measures for much needed city facilities that have failed. Gearhart turned down a bond issue, by the same percentage as Manzanita, for city facilities in May. Seaside took a couple of ballots before a bond issue passed for building schools out of the tsunami zone. Cannon Beach is self-funding their (temporary) $5 million plus city facility build, located in a tsunami zone. Nehalem has been cutting their timber to raise funds for city facilities.

Manzanita took a few votes to finally pass a ballot measure for water filtration for our drinking water that didn’t meet federal standards. (I remember bringing water to my home to drink in the nineties.). We had a long heated debate over a bond measure to build our tri-city fire station. We had people arguing against sidewalks on Laneda! (It would destroy our quaintness, taking away the uneven dirt surface to walk on. Progress is slow.)

Listening to the ballot measure outcome, the city has moved forward looking at a smaller footprint for city facilities. Self-funding for the facilities is under consideration, which has tourist paying a larger share of the project. The Manzanita General Fund’s main revenue source is the Transit Lodging Tax (TLT). (Oregon has over 400 townships, Manzanita ranks 5th from the bottom, at $.42/$1,000 in the state for property tax rate. See www.orcities.org ) In the 1990’s, the Manzanita property tax rate was not changed by the City Manager and the Council during the allowed period to raise one last time before freezing the rate. Our property tax rate brings in less than $250,000 revenue per year, whereas the TLT brings in over a million dollars.

For the Manzanita voters that supported a larger city facility, they exercised their right to vote. One group of voters made one decision; another group of voters made another decision. Democracy at work. There is no Right or Wrong position, Mr. Stone, just a difference of opinion on how to grow our community.

Mr. Stone references the citizens petition submitted to the city to keep the dilapidated building now located at Underhill to ‘remodel’. Mr. Stone is all about the overwhelming vote on the bond issue making a statement by registered Manzanita voters but fails to state that about half of the 260 signatures submitted on the petition were Manzanita voters or about 25% of the current registered voters. This, Mr. Stone, demonstrates an overwhelming majority, 75%, of registered Manzanita voters do NOT want the old falling down building remodeled.

The city listened to the majority on the ballot measure despite Mr. Stone’s unfounded comment. But apparently Mr. Stone prefers to ‘stir the pot’ implying that two of the candidates running will ignore the current work that is progressing. Based on what facts Mr. Stone? Quit pushing divisiveness in our community.

Deb Tinnin
Manzanita voter

ENOUGH! A response to Ms. Thomas’ last post.

Submitted By: proactivewheeler@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Citizens of Wheeler: Please stop. These back and forth attacks on each other are not solving any issues. They serve only to further divide us.

Ms. Thomas, please know that your mention of my name and your opinion of who I am or what l stand for both were rude and defamatory. I have never
met you, nor had a conversation with you.

If you want to know about me, just ask. As I am a private citizen, neither you or anyone else has a right to defame me, especially on the internet.

Let’s work on this one fact: Wheeler is in a financial
crisis and is well on its way to losing its ability to remain incorporated. Regardless of who thinks who is to blame. This is all of our problem now.

There are some brilliant minds in this town. Let’s use them together to make sure Wheeler
continues to be viable and lets do it with some integrity.

Respect and peace ,

Heidi Stacks

Reply to

Submitted By: babbles@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
i am responding to “proactive.wheeler@gmail.com” post last night.

i can’t read the document! and i haven’t been able to make it enough bigger to read it.

if you want to naysay someone with public information, please make it clear and legible. please re-post so the document is legible. then i can make an intelligent decision about its worth.

i copied last night’s post below, assuming i would get the document as well. only the written verbiage was copied. ??? i’m no techie!

thank you.

om peace namaste

lucy brook

Karen Matthews Says She Didn’t Support this Document.
Posted on October 17, 2022 by North Coast BBQ

Submitted By: proactivewheeler@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Resolution 2012-06 details the role of the Wheeler Vision 2011. Exhibit A explains findings and interpretations of the Vision. Despite Ms. Matthews’ signature on it, she denies its existence.

Wheeler Laws not Recommendations

Submitted By: gardencoachkaren@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Reply to Proactive Wheeler and Candidate Leverete

Thank you Proactive Wheeler and candidate Leverette. You have made my point. Wheelers did indeed incorporate the Wheeler Vision Plan by reference into the City of Wheeler Comprehensive Plan Background Report and added by title to the Table of Contents.

For those of you who want to do your own research, read Wheeler Comprehensive Plan page 1 table of contents and page 4 Updating the Comprehensive Plan to Incorporate the Wheeler Vision Plan 2011.

www.ci.wheeler.or.us/administration/page/comprehensive-plan

Both of these elements were completed and adopted unanimously by Ordinance 2017-01 by councilors Bell, King, Harlow and Wilcox-Siglin

Ms Tinnin Truth Matters

Submitted By: rkinor@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Ms Tinnin, seeking information through legal Public Records requests is a citizen’s right to assess legal compliance with State voter registration laws. The State Legislature says so and created specific criteria and processes to review registration compliance because people do not have the right to create their own subjective standards for determining where they get to vote.

You falsely claim in your October 7 BBQ post that somehow through a PUD public records request “(I) was asking for personal account information to show that we didn’t live in Manzanita.” and “I possess Mr. Kugler’s correspondence asking for my personal account details.”

No information of any kind was requested from DMV because these records are not available to the public so I have no idea why you would include those irrelevant statements. You have my permission to publicly share any correspondence that you claim to have in your possession between me and the County Elections Clerk and the Oregon State Elections Office to support your various claims.

Below is a copy of the correspondence with the PUD referenced by Ms. Tinnin in her post which clearly shows no personal account information was being requested nor was any received.

From:Tillamook People’s Utility District <tpud@sendmail.websiteformemail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, November 17, 2020 4:58 PM
To:Marissa Durrer <mdurrer@tpud.org>
Subject:New submission from Tillamook PUD Public Records Request Form:

I would request the City only to which your PUD billing is sent for the following physical addresses in Manzanita. I do not seek any personal identification information such as customer names, driver’s license or SS number, street numbers for mailing addresses, phone numbers etc. that would be prohibited under ORS 192.345 to 192.355. that would be connected to these physical addresses.
Thank you

Nine of the property owners in this inquiry with second homes here who registered just before the 2020 election and still own their Manzanita homes that they then claimed were their primary residence have decided that Manzanita is no longer their home and are not currently registered to vote here. Maybe the inquiry by the County Elections Clerk did some good and caused them to rethink where their primary residence is. If that is the case, then I think we all would agree that this inquiry by Manzanita residents in 2020 was worthwhile and in the interests of fostering voter registration integrity in both the upcoming and future elections.

Ms Tinnin, you are not a victim here but rather a citizen subject to the same laws that we all have to follow. If you do not believe that those laws are just, then work through our Legislature to amend them to better reflect your personal viewpoints. And please, can we all just acknowledge the worst kept secret in town from 2020, that being that second homeowners were actively being encouraged to change their voter registration?

Rather than waste any more time on this matter from the last election, let’s get back to what prompted your response, that being Mr. Keustner’s public record of comments on various City issues and qualifications as a City Councilor for the upcoming election.

Randy Kugler

In response to Mr. Kugler on Public Record to Run On!

Submitted By: Tinnindeb@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Mr. Kugler ran for Manzanita City Council November 2020. He placed fourth for the two open seats on Council. It was a close race, Mr. Kugler lost by 27 votes. Within a few days, Mr. Kugler wrote to local utility companies with a list of 27 Manzanita voters that he targeted as not being voters. He was asking for personal account information to show that we didn’t live in Manzanita. Mr. Kugler was attempting to use ORS 247.035 to prove we weren’t Manzanita voters.

Mr. Kugler says it’s not wrong in obtaining someone’s billing information. Really? Tillamook PUD said by subpoena only. The DMV Fraud Division was very responsive to inquiries on any attempt to obtain personal mailing details; they ran a check on my account. Manzanita Police Chief Harth did the same. DMV takes anyone attempting to access someone else’s data seriously.

I was one of those voters and I possess Mr. Kugler’s correspondence asking for my personal account details. I also possess all the correspondence filed with Tillamook County Clerk and the Oregon State Elections Office from Mr. Kugler and team.

How did Mr. Kugler determine that I was not a voter? I spend considerable time working at Aldercreek Farm every week. I assist with our local Food Bank. I sent out thank you membership letters for Friends of the Library and worked the book sale. I work with my local EVCNB cluster and volunteer for any EVCNB events. I have for years attended City Council meetings, the Planning Commission, STR workgroup, Budget Committee; it’s important to participate in my local government. This is where my home is.

Mr. Kugler says ORS 247.035 doesn’t care if you volunteer in your community. I care Mr. Kugler. It is part of my commitment to my community. According to Mr. Kugler it’s all about where your mail is sent. Mr. Kugler is living in the past, it’s online bill paying these days. Paperless billing.

Mr. Kugler accumulated information, much of it false, on the 27 voters and the information was distributed to the Tillamook County Clerk. In the end, all voters were exonerated. Mr. Kugler was dismayed that he was unable to change election results through his data gathering prior to the newly elected officials being sworn in.

In the November 2020 election, the state of Oregon had 140 election irregularities filed. 27 of those 140 were Manzanita.

Accusing your neighbors of voter fraud because they didn’t vote for you, is that adult behavior? Is that the behavior of a person running for office? How would you be trusted with more of my private information? Most of us had opposition signs in our yards so we were easy to pick off.

Mr. Kugler, I agree we need adults to govern. While you aren’t running in this election, you do want to be appointed to the Budget Committee. What should be the criteria of a good public servant? Working for all citizens, not a chosen few. Being trustworthy.

Your actions speak loudly Mr. Kugler.

In the upcoming election, I have to say that all of the Manzanita candidates running this time have put considerable work and time into their campaigns. They should all be commended for their efforts and I wish them all well.

Deb Tinnin
Manzanita voter