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of Southwest Washington

County Commissioners and Vancouver City Councilors on FVRL library board appointments

Why did Clark County Commissioners Morris, Pridemore, and Stanton quietly re-appoint Merle Koplan as a Ft. Vancouver(FVRL) library trustee in September when her term doesn’t end until Dec 31 2004? These commissioners have never made regular library board appointments before the November election, and often make them in January or later, when the new 7-year library board term begins. At the Oct. 19 commissioner meeting, Pridemore gave the bogus excuse that the early appointment was to allow time to circulate to Skamania and Klickitat Counties. However, public records show it took only about 3 weeks to circulate, which is the time it usually takes.

Commissioners also pointed to the unusual agreement they made with Vancouver in 1999. For years Vancouver made appointments, in violation of state law. Senator Don Benton notified the county of the need to comply with State law(RCW 27.12.190) "In intercounty rural library districts (like FVRL) a board of either five or seven trustees shall be appointed by the joint action of the boards of county commissioners of each of the counties included in a district…" The county responded with a unique inter-local agreement to allow Vancouver to recommend 2 of the 7 library trustees. Commissioners in one county are not obligated to rubberstamp recommendations from other counties, but may affirm or reject them. Recommendations by cities or citizens are not binding either. The appointment process seems to vary from year to year.

Applications from the public were not sought for the September 2004 re-appointment of Koplan, or the 1998 Skamania County re-appointment of county employee Marilyn Butler. According to an e-mail from Clark County, in 2001 commissioners conducted public and non-public interviews for library trustees and discussed applications openly and in "executive session", out of the public view. This contradicts statements reported in the Oct. 17 Reflector article, Citizens pan library board appointments: "Morris said citizens may attend candidate interviews which are open to the public and announced on commissioner work calendars. ‘I don’t know how we can be any more open,’ said Morris.

Vancouver City Councilors Jeanne Harris and Pat Jollata also conducted non-public interviews when Vancouver last recommended Jack Burkman in Feb. 2003 for a term that began in 2003. Harris recently stated that she strongly supports adult access to pornography in public libraries as a "first amendment right" at an Oct. 14 commissioner candidate forum.

In contrast, when trustees wanted to serve again in Thurston and Mason Counties, the counties gave public notice of the opening and interviewed several candidates in open public meetings before making an informed decision. Lewis County also follows that open public process.

Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat County Commissioners have consistently appointed FVRL library trustees who oppose widely accepted community standards. Since 1998, public records of library complaints have included obscene screens, printouts, and behaviors as well as sex offenders and illegal materials. Thousands of citizens have supported filtering out Internet porn and prohibiting distribution to minors like other library systems (Tacoma, Wenatchee, Puyallup, Camas). Citizens packed public hearings and board meetings, sent letters, and circulated petitions, but were largely ignored.

When library trustees voted to keep unfiltered access for all ages in 1998, Trustee Jerry King wrote, "In fact, the conclusion that pornography is often harmful to kids does not seem to be supported by much evidence, especially when some other factors are considered." Commissioners unanimously re-appointed King to a second term starting 2002. In August 2002, King voted against filtering porn for children again. A narrow majority (4-3) voted to filter porn for children 12 and under, but that decision wasn’t implemented until August 2003. The Children’s Internet Protection Act finally moved FVRL to filter Internet pornography for minors 16 and under in April 2004. Unfiltered access continues for those 17 and up, and hardcopy is still distributed to minors.

State Representatives Mielke (8 years), Boldt (10 years), Dunn (6 years) and Senators Benton (10 years-2 as Representative) and Zarelli (8 years) have consistently sponsored legislation to block illegal Internet porn, prohibit distribution to minors in libraries, and to elect library boards. If elected as county commissioners, Mielke and Boldt support public interviews for trustees who will better reflect our community and public safety.

State imposed limits on personal speech by appointed board, Human Rights Commission

Jim Moeller was chairman of The Community Coordinating Committee for a Human
Rights Commission, which proposed the creation of a local human rights
commission. His committee supported creating a bureaucracy that advocated
punishing certain kinds of speech that an appointed board deemed offensive.
The following was used as an example of speech that should not be allowed.
It was a quote made by someone who was asked about their view of churches
who welcome practicing gays and lesbians as members.

"It's a false church. They've compromised their beliefs, they've
compromised the bible, and they've compromised the word of god. They've
pretty much caved into worldly pressures. They have no backbone. True
believers are smart enough to stay away from those churches."

The proposal, explicitly used this quote as an example of discrimination
that should be punished. The mission statement of the commission was in part
to create a culturally competent community. Who defines culturally
competent? The appointed Human Rights Commission.

Original proposal for the Local Human Rights Commission, Nov. 20, 2000:
“Human rights ordinances adopted by the County and City will ensure that
consequences are present should an offender fail to comply with the
administrative decisions of the HRC or its hearing examiner(s). Remedies
will include civil penalties and/or criminal penalties in cases that do not
attain resolution through mediation.”
Ordinance M-3557 to establish the commission was adopted by the Vancouver
City Council (6-1) in July 2001, despite strong citizen opposition. Clark
County Commissioners (Pridemore, Stanton and Morris) then unanimously approved forming a County/City Human
Rights Commission of nine non-elected appointees, dubbed the “thought
cops”. The commission was to provide mediation, education and referrals for
approximately $200,000 taxpayer dollars every two years. These services were
a duplication of similar services offered by the state.
Their duties would've included proposing additional anti-discrimination
laws, subject to only one public hearing and city council vote. Citizens
were concerned about private speech regulated by a non-elected body. In
addition, early drafts included penalties for non-compliant speech as
determined by the “thought cops”. Framers of the commission were all
enthusiastic supporters.

September 2004 - Had an interesting chat with Mr. Pridemore when he was doorbelling in my neighborhood yesterday. When I asked him about his stand on abortion, instead of running off, he engaged my questions for at least 5 minutes. He called himself pro-choice, but admitted that he opposed 9th month abortions, PBA, and convenience abortions. He asked for my stand on capital punishment and providing help for pregnant women and said at least I was consistent. But he said bottom line, he didn't want the government making the decision that moral women should make. Then he listened to me explain that wife-abuse, murder of pregnant women, and child abuse have all exploded since 1973. That women regret abortions they were forced into, with boyfriends and husbands pressuring them. So I asked him if he would prefer that the government or moral husbands decide whether or not to beat their wives, moral men to decide whether to rape boys, and moral parents decide whether to beat children. What's the difference? He said we don't know when life begins. I said I do, I am a scientist, and all scientists know life begins at conception, only the Supreme Court created a new social definition of life. I said when you use violence to solve social problems, you create more violence. Then I asked him why he didn't fill out a Lifepac survey. He said he didn't want to mislead anyone with his doubts, that he would vote pro-abortion when it came down to it. So I confirmed that he would indeed be guilty of murder, and that I would pray for him. With that he went on to the next house.

October 5, 2004 - Clark County Commissioners (Craig Pridemore, Betty Sue Morris and Judie Stanton) unanimously approved forming a County/City Human Rights Commission of nine non-elected appointees, dubbed the "thought cops". The commission was to provide mediation, education and referrals for approximately $200,000 taxpayer dollars every two years. These services were a duplication of similar services offered by the state. Their duties would've included proposing additional anti-discrimination laws, subject to only one public hearing and city council vote. Citizens were concerned about private speech regulated by a non-elected body. In addition, early drafts included penalties for non-compliant speech as determined by the "thought cops". Framers of the commission were all enthusiastic supporters.

Voters reject "thought cops". Ordinance M-3557 to establish the commission was adopted by the Vancouver City Council (6-1) in July 2001, despite strong citizen opposition. Over 5,000 Vancouver residents responded and signed the first successful referendum petition ever, to put the commission to a vote. There is no power of referendum in the county. Later, the Clark County commissioners unanimously approved the commission, in spite of the petition drive and citizen objections. Vancouver citizens voted soundly against the "thought cops" commission in November 2001, and it was rescinded by both the city and county.

County commissioners displayed arrogant disregard for the legitimate concerns of thousands of citizens by voting in favor of the commission. Since county residents do not have the power of referendum and initiative, it is even more important to vote for freedom loving representatives, not those who seek to regulate citizen freedoms from the county throne.

Background Info. Original proposal for the Local Human Rights Commission, Nov. 20, 2000: "Human rights ordinances adopted by the County and City will ensure that consequences are present should an offender fail to comply with the administrative decisions of the HRC or its hearing examiner(s). Remedies will include civil penalties and/or criminal penalties in cases that do not attain resolution through mediation."

Kelly Adams, Columbian Staff Writer, wrote Mar. 12, 2001: "Also removed from the (original) proposal is the request for an anti-discrimination ordinance. Once the commission is formed, those on the board would be charged with determining if a specific law is needed, then drafting such an ordinance and bringing it before the city council."

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