So, what happens now? Griffith seeks to run another term so he can further drive the county and our economy into the ground? The word through the grapevine is that they are going to lay off more of the county employees to make room for their "Pet Projects." Give me a break, I would much rather keep rapists and murderers in jail than walk down a paved path that is not even on county property. Thing is that rapist or murderer is probably waiting in those bushes for you, me, your son/daughter, mom, sister or even your grandmother. And what about spending the millions on the facelift of un-occupied buildings? You know, Griffith, it just seems that your priorities are in the wrong areas of concern, and you wish to continue building what is to become your legacy.

Think about it people, what are the things that you would look for when moving to another area? When researching an area you look at (1)schools to educate your children. (2)police to keep us safe and jails to house those who commit offenses against us. (3) Jobs to keep our families fed and housed. And (4) A viable housing market that would allow us to invest in a home and not have to throw our money out on rent beyond our retirement.

Take a close look at those numbers above. Remove any of those variables and the others are severely diminished. I for one would not ever move to a place where I could not provide for the health, safety or welfare of my family and community. With that said, why in the world would you tear dowm the county's ability to keep our area safe? Let's think of this to simplify it for those who have no idea (the majority.) The cities all have a good sized police force. When the arrest offenders, where do they go? To the city lockup right? Wrong, when they are arrested they go to the county jail to be processed and released, or in moreserious cases, wait for the court processes to take place. A little over a year ago the jail held, on average, between 165 and 200 inmates. Guess what, it is now 97. Thats a good drop yes, but wait. Now Mr. Griffith (Boss Hogg), is helping to drop the jail down to a max of 32 by cutting more jail deputies.

What does this mean, who really cares? This is a concern to all citizens of the county. In the cities you have police who will arrest someone, but that someone will now come and kill you for turning him in. If you're unlucky, you live outside of the city limits. With all these cuts that happened, the Sheriff is the only one who is capable of responding, so no one knows what happened to you or who did it. But like Boss Whitty stated last year, "I'd shoot 'em." This is the mentality of those we elected to protect us and our investments.

So, will I vote for Griffith, the man who is too busy with all his other projects and appointed commissions around the state to really spend much time dealing with the issues that matter at home?

Will I vote for Stuffelbean, the man who is too busy playing roadmaster and driving the roadmaster's county owned vehicle home, to work and all the other unauthorized places he does? FYI Commissioners are not authorized county owned vehicles for travel unless otherwise specific for out of the area conferences etc.

Will I vote for Ms. Whittey who is too busy following suit and would rather suck down another cancer stick as opposed to making intelligible statements let alone one intelligible decision?

I won't say if I will or not, but I will say that when the time comes, there will be an empty box next to each of their names an my ballots. Six years to go and we will be rid of them all.

Most people won't be able to read this do to The World removing it from the Most Commented section of this site. I didn't want to belive the possible censorship claims against the World but they have proven it themselfs. Thanks for the good reporting.

Who cares.......

So is Bob Main the only other person who has filed to run against Mr. Griffith? If so, that should help as there won't be a 3rd party to splinter off any votes. I hope Mr. Griffith is sharpening his pencils in case he has to return to being a newspaper reporter again.

Those upset with the decision (the step to cut county jobs) are in the minority? “The minority are making themselves look bigger by making a lot of noise.” Well, as I see it, when "Noise" is made, it's to bring attention to questionable decisions being made. I would like Griffith to clarify some current decisions on spending. Forty thousand dollars to the fair, a bike path within a city limits. How is that beneficial to the county in a time of crises? If “For every two (employees) you lay off, you’d have to lay off a third to pay for unemployment on all of them” is the current situation we are in, then please explain.

The censorship of these comments is as egregious as the censorship on another site: www.city-data.com. Try to say anything truthful on that forum about Coos County and the moderators censor it immediately. I really thought The World would do better. Why have forums if opinions can't be voiced?

It is time to get new blood into our local government and this is as good a place to start as any.

I have left numerous, unoffensive comments (10-12) on multiple (4) stories. None remain, and I expect this one to be censored as well. Nice facist operation, World.
THE WORLD CENSORS!!!!!!!!

Get rid of Griffith once and for all! We OBVIOUSLY need some NEW blood in that office! I worked for the county for awhile, and they definately need new opinions. There is alot of things being blown up skirts and people are believing it hook,line and sinker. We should not re-elect ANY of the commissioners. We need someone who has been here and seen it all. If the county is in such a serious financial bind, then let the commissioners take a pay cut instead of another pay raise!

I'd rather vote for someone who had no clue what they were doing.

CCC is right. Why hasn't there been any follow up on the wasted money for the original natural gas pipeline that only serves 600 people and the related litigation that may cost the county millions more? I wish the World would ask Griffith for a list of his accomplishments during his eight years. Griffith's "outsider's trying to make the economy worse" schtick is really growing old. It's the same old blame game without having to produce anything on his part. No planning. No ability to work with others. Just more excuses and finger-pointing followed by more cuts.

Every time I read an article in the World about any of the Coos County Commissioners you folks cite the run in with Main-Commissioners. Aren't there any other issues? It appears rather prejudiced to Mr. Main and doesn't address the issue of the County saving the $ for what - increased administrator salaries. Many regular employees/deputies etc. were laid off to "cut" the budget. If Congress is appropriating these funds shouldn't they be used to serve the people of Coos County? I'm tired of the double-speak political "stuff" we are always force fed! Aren't you? How about some true investigative reporting?

When I logged in earlier there were 12 to 14 comments. It appears they have all been taken off. Is there a reason for this apparent censorship? I saw no offensive language. If one had been posted later, wouldn't you only take off the ofending message?

To say that being a logger and outdoors writer prepares you to run government agencies is like saying that having an MBA qualifies you to be a logger. Isn't it about time we elect someone who has an education and a proven record on how to balance budgets and manage personnel? Being a great talker over a few beers has proven to not be a great way to pave roads or fund law enforcement. We need to elect someone who can find new revenue streams and work with others; to treat people fairly, not bust unions; find solutions, not make a political career out of blaming everone else. The politics of paralysis and blame has failed us for 8 years. vote Main!

CC, Honestly, what has Griffith accomplished in 8 years? He's saddled us with millions in debt (and possible lawsuits) for a natural gas pipeline that serves 600 customers. He slashes departments he doesn't like and funds his friends at 100%. He blames "outsiders" and doesn't even try to find solutions. It's everyone's fault but his. What has he really done?

Good old dirty politics.

Well, I admire John Griffith for standing up for what he believes. Whether you like it or not he has been able to get things accomplished.

Interesting that Johnny says he knows how politics are supposed to work and why it doesn't. Orwellian at its best. It doesn't work locally because of people exactly like Johnny. He claims to be a "fact finder" and "people don't like their opinions tested". How ironic. He's the one who shut out the public from testimony about the proposed LNG facility. He and his minions on the Board are the ones who subverted the normal process of public hearings and fact-finding by local bodies and inserted a hearings officer paid for by the LNG developers. He's the one who then signed off on ignoring her FACT findings when they contradicted his personal wishes. He's the one who a day later acquiesced to his planning dept who magically claimed that the "hearings officer didn't understand local issues", and gave away our community. A professional who was paid by the developer thru the Board and, when presented with actual facts, didn't bow to his pre-determined position. So who is it "that doesn’t like that because they’re used to getting their way without having their opinions tested.”??? His arrogance, his disdain of the law, his paternal attitudes, his lack of patriotism (he wants to make us even more dependent on energy supplies from countries like Russia and Iran), and his condescending demeanor towards the people of Coos County is despicable. If we vote him back in, be prepared to continue to be the laughing stock of the state. I can't wait to vote against him since he refuses to hear us in his personal little fiefdom in Coquille.

Bob Main will at least listen to you.

I also agree, Coos Bay Citizen.

Right on, these guys think they can do whatever they're paid to do. One way or another. Decisions made behind closed doors are done so for a reason.

The public should be asking the Coos County Employees about why they don't have contracts yet. And why is it that one commissioner wants to be a "Road Master" and is never at any of the hearings to sign the orders?

Coos Bay Citizen
I agree

what short memories you all have.

Interesting that Johnny says he knows how politics are supposed to work and why it doesn't. Orwellian at its best. It doesn't work locally because of people exactly like Johnny. He claims to be a "fact finder" and "people don't like their opinions tested". How ironic. He's the one who shut out the public from testimony about the proposed LNG facility. He and his minions on the Board are the ones who subverted the normal process of public hearings and fact-finding by local bodies and inserted a hearings officer paid for by the LNG developers. He's the one who then signed off on ignoring her FACT findings when they contradicted his personal wishes. He's the one who a day later acquiesced to his planning dept who magically claimed that the "hearings officer didn't understand local issues", and gave away our community. A professional who was paid by the developer thru the Board and, when presented with actual facts, didn't bow to his pre-determined position. So who is it "that doesn’t like that because they’re used to getting their way without having their opinions tested.”??? His arrogance, his disdain of the law, his paternal attitudes, his lack of patriotism (he wants to make us even more dependent on energy supplies from countries like Russia and Iran), and his condescending demeanor towards the people of Coos County is despicable. If we vote him back in, be prepared to continue to be the laughing stock of the state. I can't wait to vote against him since he refuses to hear us in his personal little fiefdom in Coquille.

VOTE FOR BOB MAIN

Maybe he can clean up the parole dept.