City Council filing concludes and what does it tell us? One lesson is the importance of leadership involvement H&N View Filing for Klamath Falls City Council positions ended last week and only one race developed of the three that were possible. In the race to represent Ward 4, former chief of police Dan Tofell faces a challenge from Terry Etters, who has lived in Klamath Falls for 32 years, 20 of them in Ward 4, which wraps around the northeast edge of the city. Tofell won his first term on the council in 2010 in a three-way race. There’s no question the city has issues and problems. It faces ever-increasing costs to meet water treatment standards, has just begun to deal with drought-induced restrictions on its use of groundwater that is the city’s principal source of water, has an airport in need of an airline and an economy in need of help. Etters stressed his business background and Tofell said he and the council have worked to make the city more friendly to business while keeping the city’s infrastructure sound. Sometimes letters to the editor and comments in social media seem to suggest the writers believe the city has the magic power to reach out and create jobs. It doesn’t. The issue of whether the city is doing enough to set the table for business to respond and create jobs, however, is always a welcome discussion to have. That’s especially true if there are specific, doable proposals made. It’s worth noting that even with the barbs aimed at government at all levels, two of the three open council seats will not be contested. Incumbent Matt Dodson is the only candidate in Ward 3 and incumbent Bill Adams, is the only candidate in Ward 5. We always like to have real races because those tend to bring up issues that should be dealt with. We hope the lack of the opposition comes from the feeling within those wards that the incumbents are doing a good job, rather than public apathy. We read and hear the complaints about local government. Those making them should consider running themselves or persuading others to do so who better reflect their views. As Klamath Falls Council member Trish Seiler said in a news story after filing closed last week, “I would rather see people be part of a solution, than just complain about city government.” So would we. – The H&N View represents the opinion of the Herald and News Editorial Board. Its members are Publisher Heidi Wright, Editor Gerry OBrien and Forum Editor Pat Bushey, who wrote this editorial. Community advisers to the editorial board are Tracey Liskey, Jeff Ball, Chip Massey and Ernie Palmer.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 15:46:41 +0000
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