Letters to the Editor 06/01/2016

Last week there was a glowing reference to the Australian gun confiscation which was portrayed as a buy-back. There was also the ongoing attempt to attach the evil of the Sandy Hook creature to millions of decent law-abiding gun-owners. Governments have massacred tens of millions of people and they have used bullets that can penetrate walls, car doors and human skulls. But Terry could have an ammunition buy-back. If the serfs could be totally disarmed, it would be such a wonderful thing for the government party.

Larry Benson

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To the Editor:

Thank you, Andrew Gorayeb.

I really appreciate what you did for the City of Sisters during your three years as city manager. We have lived here since 1961, part-time, and you did more in three years for Sisters than any other city manager in a similar period.

First of all, the city looks better than ever, with flowers, new street work, the Fir Street Park (on the site of the old City Hall) and a City-sponsored program to subsidize the upgrading and painting of all the businesses on the main drag. That has translated into civic pride, good retail business, and growth in Sisters.

Secondly, the City finances have never been in better shape, with your assistance.  That is especially true of the debt refinancing, where you saved the City over $800,000 in interest expense over time ... Well done!

Thirdly, on the matter of severance, you received what your predecessor Elaine Stein received, one year's pay.  While some complain about that, the reality is every one of us who has ever been fired or forced to resign, or quietly retired, has tried to get the best deal we can on our way out the door.  So did you...

Finally, regarding the "Gorayeb Report," I am scratching my head after reading the articles in The Nugget and Bulletin (similar). The investigator, Ashley Driscoll, said there was "no cause" for termination, but that a "negative environment" was present at times.  Given your outstanding results it is too bad that all of this could not have been resolved "at home," inside City Hall, rather than raised to the State level. Looking back, that seems like a bad decision and we all lost a good city manager as a result. 

Bruce Rognlien

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To the Editor:

Re: "Candidates respond to latest DCSO discipline," (The Nugget, May 25, page 6).

Candidate Kozowski's general observation about the Sheriff"s Office having continuing challenges with "supervision and leadership" would be more helpful if he would be more specific.

That being said, a review of the candidate's online resume reveals that despite his claimed 15 years in law-enforcement he has not earned a college degree (neither two-year, four-year, or master's).

Parallel to this lack of higher education, a "must" for anyone seeking to essentially become the CEO of an organization like the Sheriff"s Office, is his apparent lack of DPSST Management training (supervisory/mid-level/executive).

Review of DPSST's web page offering the criteria for such certification should be must reading for the voter.  The training / education is extensive in nature and the pursuit of such training demonstrates an officer's professional desire to become a qualified prospect for leadership roles with a law-enforcement agency.

Clearly in his career as a LEO the candidate has chosen to pursue other interests (e.g. his private-sector police supply business) and avoid taking on additional responsibilities as a supervisor / leader to include having never served as a sergeant for any of the agencies he's worked for to date. It is clear he is no expert on supervision nor on leadership - he's not done the "flight time."

Would you or I be comfortable getting on an airliner knowing the pilot's sole professional experience was flying a hang glider?

I imagine not.

Greg Walker