Opinion
Samuelson Wants to Give Marquis Stipend Back
I want to put a call out to all residents of Clatsop County to stop and take a look at answers that we haven’t looked at yet. Understand that what I’m sharing with you here and now is from my gut. I don’t know about how the rest of you see your world, but I know and appreciate deeply that I don’t get to have this day ever again. I believe we must move toward reconciliation and forgiveness for the betterment of our County. So for me, that means I forgive those who have set out to harm me and those close to me. Now that isn’t always easy, sometimes I need to remind myself every 5 minutes that I’m forgiving that act or person. It is much easier to blame than take responsibility. We must get beyond personal attacks, he said she said, our egos, and what has become chronic negative news in our local newspaper. I want to talk briefly about a painful issue we have all shared and that is the stipend for the District Attorney. Frankly this was a simple human resources issue that became a very hurtful campaign and ballot measure, which was ultimately defeated. I voted against that ballot measure, but that does not mean that I believe we should not pay a stipend to the District Attorney. The DA has submitted his performance measures. I originally voted to cut the stipend because performance measures were not done, now it is done, so I believe it should be put back in the budget. I intend no disrespect to our budget committee by asking my fellow commissioners to reinstate the stipend, but like I said earlier we don’t get another today. Living in a community of resentment, rather than one of forgiveness gets us nowhere. Every day that we as elected officials (and I mean all elected officials) allow this negative behavior to continue more damage will be done and there will be yet more to forgive.
Ann Samuelson
Commissioner District 5
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15 Comments
On Mar 21, 8:07 AM, Uncle Walt wrote:
I agree that IF a Commissioner voted to remove the stipend because of the performance measures issue, they should vote to reinstate it now that the issue has been resolved. Though I think the stipend should be pro-rated for the time the issue was unresolved.
HOWEVER, if a Commissioner voted to remove the stipend because the county shouldn’t be paying a state employee to make up for the state not paying enough ... they should stand by that vote.
On Mar 21, 9:09 AM, not a fan wrote:
Sounds like she is worried she will be next on the recall ballot.
On Mar 21, 9:17 AM, Ann Samuelson wrote:
Dear not a fan,
I would not say I am worried I am next in this recall effort, rather while I am a Commissioner of Clatsop County I see it as my responsibility as an elected official to move forward. I am well aware of the critics that will likely minimize and ridicule what I’m doing here, and I’m ok with that. Part of participating in a community is that we agree to disagree, but whenever possible do so respectfully.
On Mar 21, 4:28 PM, Jennie F. Decker wrote:
Heck yeah! Reinstate the stipend by all means!
But not for the current District Attorney.
He screwed the pooch on that dealio big time.
The next District Attorney should get it though.
He/She shouldnt be punished for the sins of his predecessor.
On Mar 22, 8:15 AM, Jon Dana wrote:
Your forgiveness might do yourself good. The only way it will help the rest of the citizens of Clatsop County is if our District Attorney confesses his sins and asks for forgiveness. It works better if it’s a two-way street. I would forgive him then, you can return his stipend, and I’ll return something much more valuable, respect.
On Mar 23, 8:52 AM, Guy wrote:
What was being said about his not turning in the performance assessments was that had he done so it would have shown his department to be over staffed. So if he has turned in what the BOCC has requested, what do the numbers say about his staffing level?
On Mar 23, 5:45 PM, Not a Christian, So Why Do I Have to Tell You This wrote:
Per Jon Dana, the concept of forgiveness in the Christian sense of the word is often misconstrued.
In order to be forgiven, one must reconcile with those wronged.
Jesus emphasis was that forgiveness was the only door to a happy life and a sure ticket into the kingdom of God. In fact, God should not be approached until one has forgiven others and was himself forgiven. In one way or another, we are debtors to each other. We put ourselves in debt to others by what we do and say. We are held responsible for the sins or transgressions we commit against others and so are those against whom they were committed. God will not accept us or our gift until we are reconciled with our brother (Mt.5:23-24). That is, no forgiveness has taken place until reconciliation has occurred. In fact, before we pray, we are told to forgive even the things that we have against others; that is, if we want God to forgive us (Mk.11:25). And we are to make it a daily routine to forgive before we expect to be forgiven (Mt.6:11-12).
Source: http://www.kolke.com/article.espx?show=12256&slot;=&show;_related=
That being said, this is a civic matter, outside of that realm, and the commissioners themselves will have to decide whether or not amends have been made, and vote accordingly.
On Mar 23, 9:24 PM, because you had to wrote:
I hope your response sinks in to a few, and I agree on some of what you write, so all is good. Happy Acenscion, The Gnostic, Jon Dana
On Apr 3, 12:58 PM, somebody wrote:
Please don’t give the money back! He does not deserve an increase. He has cost our County plenty
On Apr 3, 2:53 PM, Patrick McGee wrote:
“Please don’t give the money back! He does not deserve an increase. He has cost our County plenty
So, how exactly has the D.A. cost our County Plenty
On Apr 3, 4:01 PM, who cares wrote:
Significant cutbacks announced today at county health department. Beginning in July health department staff will have their hours cut to about thirty hours per week. If the county will reduce services to those truly in need, then why increase or restore compensation for one administrator. Shouldn’t everybody share the pain?
On Apr 3, 5:48 PM, THartill wrote:
Doesn’t the Board have to ok the budget before the cutbacks become official?
On Apr 4, 6:22 AM, who cares wrote:
Yes...been approved. Yesterday it was unveiled to the Health Department staff. Stipends before immunizations
On Apr 4, 7:56 AM, Yo Momma wrote:
I’m sure with the impending drop in county revenue our DA will step forward and decline the stipend. With this gracious move he might be able to keep 1 of the 2 new employees his dept. added
On Apr 4, 12:21 PM, neighbor wrote:
Yep, our DA will do the right thing and decline the stipend,lol
Health care is so important, there must be away to save the their hours.
We are going backwards in our County. Now do you see why the DA didn’t receive his stipend? Thanks to our Commissioners, the smart public for voting it down. Let’s not go there again.