Happy New Year!
The new year started off with a bang on Monday with the swearing-in of Susan Morgan as Douglas County Commissioner.
For a guy who has had to physically force himself to walk into the Douglas County Courthouse from time to time, going through the doors this morning was remarkably easy.
From what I found inside the courthouse, it seems others had the same experience.
Light-hearted laughter greeted me as I crested the small set of stairs and turned right towards the Commissioners' meeting room.
That hasn't happened in years.
And, by the way, that is not a cheap shot at the outgoing regime.
Its a fact.
Even on days when good things happened, people were a bit reluctant to let loose.
No matter which side they happened to be on.
I remember covering the Commissioners with Joyce Morgan, Mike Winters and Doug Robertson. I remember being welcomed - and being able to get a quote from any of the three about anything.
Maybe I'm becoming jaded, but I don't think it will ever go back to the way it was.
Because it can also be a bad thing for all three Commissioners are too friendly with the press.
What if I have to request a public record from one of the current three Commissioners?
What if I have to play hardball to see if the public trust is being threatened?
I know what will happen.
I'll have complete cooperation - as long as there is nothing to hide.
And why should a county commissioner hide something? If their ideas, proposals or actions are above board, they should stand up to whatever scrutiny I can generate.
Would any of the current three commissioners have the audacity to try to pull something over on the county, deny it AND attempt to carry on as if nothing happened?
I hope not.
This is not just about the Board of Commissioners.
If anyone representing an agency I have a good working relationship with (DSCO, Roseburg Police, the DA's Office) tried to take advantage of our comraderie while pulling a fast one on the people - and I caught wind of it - I would do the same thing I have done in the past.
Shine light on it.
If the exposure kills it - or brings more scrutiny - I've done my job.
Whether we stay friends or not.
For a guy who has had to physically force himself to walk into the Douglas County Courthouse from time to time, going through the doors this morning was remarkably easy.
From what I found inside the courthouse, it seems others had the same experience.
Light-hearted laughter greeted me as I crested the small set of stairs and turned right towards the Commissioners' meeting room.
That hasn't happened in years.
And, by the way, that is not a cheap shot at the outgoing regime.
Its a fact.
Even on days when good things happened, people were a bit reluctant to let loose.
No matter which side they happened to be on.
I remember covering the Commissioners with Joyce Morgan, Mike Winters and Doug Robertson. I remember being welcomed - and being able to get a quote from any of the three about anything.
Maybe I'm becoming jaded, but I don't think it will ever go back to the way it was.
Because it can also be a bad thing for all three Commissioners are too friendly with the press.
What if I have to request a public record from one of the current three Commissioners?
What if I have to play hardball to see if the public trust is being threatened?
I know what will happen.
I'll have complete cooperation - as long as there is nothing to hide.
And why should a county commissioner hide something? If their ideas, proposals or actions are above board, they should stand up to whatever scrutiny I can generate.
Would any of the current three commissioners have the audacity to try to pull something over on the county, deny it AND attempt to carry on as if nothing happened?
I hope not.
This is not just about the Board of Commissioners.
If anyone representing an agency I have a good working relationship with (DSCO, Roseburg Police, the DA's Office) tried to take advantage of our comraderie while pulling a fast one on the people - and I caught wind of it - I would do the same thing I have done in the past.
Shine light on it.
If the exposure kills it - or brings more scrutiny - I've done my job.
Whether we stay friends or not.
posted by Brian at 1:58 PM
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