September 19, 6PM
GP City Council Chambers
Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) is fully immersed in election season now. We are sorting out candidates and are setting up an informative town hall for voters to get a better idea of who they are -- and most importantly -- how will they govern.
CRG has invited all candidates to a Town Hall for citizens to ask their questions of all. The format of the session will allow the audience to submit questions to one or more candidate. Good responsible government comes from knowledgeable voters. Join us in the Grants Pass Council Chambers (101 NW A St), 9/19 at 6PM.
WEST RECALL
Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) has looked at the pros and cons of supporting the John West recall effort. Although CRG is committed to staying neutral in elections so its members can provide unbiased information to voters about candidates, the non-partisan recall effort has been determined to be justified. Commissioner John West’s misinterpretations of state statutes have been damaging to the county, unnecessarily hurtful to many of his constituents, ignoring the will of voters and if left to serve out his term for another two years he is likely to do much more harm, especially if he uses his money to get like-minded people elected to the Board.
CRG encourages all to volunteer to collect the signatures needed to get the recall on a special election ballot. Close to 7000 signatures are needed by October 30th. Learn more on the recall website www.recalljohnwest.com -- and volunteer there.
QUESTION: CAN THE COUNTY REPLACE MASTER GARDENERS WITHOUT OSU?
In regard to the OSU defunding, OSU and Oregon Master Gardener's Association (OMGA) are very aware of what is going on. There was a statewide OMGA board meeting yesterday, and I attended as the (former) Josephine County Representative. There were representatives from, I think, eighteen counties there, as well as the executive board. The OSU Community Outreach coordinator was also in attendance. I gave a report, reading directly from Pam Zakian’s email. Jamie Davis, the regional OSU coordinator is working on things also. OSU (publicly funded) and OMGA (501-c-3) must remain politically neutral, but they can lobby for causes that affect their mission. Since OSU no longer exists in Josephine County, Josephine County Master Gardeners Association no longer exists except to tie up loose ends. Chris Rusch, OMGA president, has been very supportive and active in helping us as far as she can.
Master Gardeners is a national organization, and even has some international chapters. The name cannot be used without permission of the national organization. According to their rules, any Master Gardener chapter must be sponsored by a Land Grant University. In Oregon that is OSU. Period. End of story. Anything else is a garden club. A master gardener certification is recognized nationally, and nothing Josephine County can do that can match that. Josephine County also cannot match the access to research facilities, researchers, information, and networking that OSU can provide.
The comparison to Josephine County opening their own DMV is accurate. While they can tell the Sheriff that the licenses they issue are valid in Josephine County, once they go one foot into Jackson County, they are an unlicensed driver. With my Master Gardener certification, I can move in with my sister in Henderson County, Texas and be recognized as a Master Gardener. A Josephine County Garden Club member could not.
As far as the meeting [with the commissioners] on the 19th is concerned, we [Master Gardeners] do not yet know what we will do. We know that no matter what we say, the decision is already made. Factual information will not change things. It is a political stunt by West in response to the recall, nothing more. We have not received any official word, so as far as I am concerned, it is just a rumor.
John Miles, Master Gardener & member of CRG