Print Version
Email this story
Comment
Charter commission candidates
Voters will decide on potential representatives
By MEGAN DOYLE
H&N Staff Writer
Klamath County voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to change their structure of county government from a three-person board of commissioners to a home rule charter with five commissioners representing specific districts.
Under the current structure, three commissioners are elected as at-large positions, meaning they can live anywhere in the county. Under the proposal, candidates must live within one of the five districts, and voters will vote for the best candidate within their district.
Following is information about candidates for each of the five districts as well as their top three priorities if they were elected to office.
District No. 1 (Crescent south to Keno; includes Running Chiloquin and Fort Klamath)
Candidate: William “Bill” Scally, 62, Crescent
Occupation: Safety director, Central Petroleum Transport
Political experience: Safety commissioner, city of Lakewood, Calif.; planning commissioner, city of Lakewood, Calif.; chairman political action committee Levy for Sheriff’s Office, Klamath County; president, Crescent Sanitary District; president, Crescent Water Association; former business owner; served as Klamath County Sheriff Office reserve marine and resident deputy.
Why are you running?
A: “To give the people of District No. 1 a voice in our county government and to lend my experience in management and business to continue to plan and grow the county for the next generation.”
What are the top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “The charter represents a change in county government; my priorities have to coincide with the smooth transition and implantation of this form of government. This includes the hiring of an administrator and working with the other four commissioners on policies relating to this new position. The next priority is to establish an advisory committee in my district to keep me informed on matters of county concern.”
District No. 2 (includes Bonanza, Malin, Merrill, Henley area, Bly and Beatty)
Candidate: Dennis Ensor, 65, Merrill
Occupation: Semi-retired land surveying consultant.
Political experience: South Suburban Sanitary District board of directors for 17 years, Wiard Park Memorial District for nine years, president of South Central Chapter of Land Surveyors.
Why are you running?
A: Ensor said he wasn’t actively involved in the charter group. But, if it passes, he believes he has enough experience with budgets from working on the sanitary district board and working up to sole ownership of his business to be a helpful addition to the commission.
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: 1. “A selection of a manager after a thorough screening process. Truthfulness is No. 1. As long as he’s truthful, everything else can work its way out.”
2. “Maintaining the road reserves, road funds. Don’t spend on things not authorized by law.”
3. “Assist the sustainable industry, which is logging and farming.”
Candidate: Charlotte Rodgers, 55, Klamath Falls
Occupation: self-employed, co-owner of Shady Pine Ranch.
Political experience: Oregon State Workforce Investment Board, 2002-04, an executive appointment to the Governor’s Advisory Board representing Region 11. Regional Workforce Investment Board representing Region 11, 2004-07.
Why are you running?
A: “I love Klamath County and the quality of life we enjoy here. I believe strongly that it is time for a change in our county government. I believe we need a fresh new look at the issues facing us and I want to be involved in the process of leading. I would like to be a part of encouraging the people of Klamath County to get involved in their local government.
“I am retired from the construction industry and, after years of hard work, our agriculture interests are structured to start giving back to us, freeing me up to take a position that does not need to sustain me financially. I do not believe these positions should be for career politicians. I want to identify a group of people in the county who will advise and assist me, and ultimately, I would like to see one of them step up in the future and consider becoming the leader.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “Our first order of business is to do some crisis management regarding the loss of federal timber money to our county. We have a reprieve from the federal bailout program, but it is essential that we all put our heads together and come up with new sources of revenue. This should happen through new growth, and not by levying new taxes.
“We then need to implement a long-term strategic plan that will identify our goals as a county. The public needs to be involved in the plan and the process of building a strong economic foundation.”
She believes more residents should become involved in the issues of the county.
“One of my priorities will be to spend time with the people of Klamath County and do my best to empower them and involve them in the process. Increasing the commissioners to five will bring broader representation, but even five commissioners cannot efficiently run the government without the dedication of county employees, professional department heads and the involvement of the public. County government needs to be responsible and responsive to the people’s needs.”
Candidate: Ruth Ann Patton, 72, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Retired rancher and educator, professional artist/photographer.
Political experience: Family Law Advisory Committee of Klamath County 1999-2003, state president of the Oregon Retired Educators Association (an affiliate of the National Retired Teachers Association) 2003-06, representative for the secondary teachers from the Klamath County School District as negotiator with Klamath Medical Service Bureau for health insurance.
Why are you running?
A: “I have the experience and knowledge to help set up and improve our present form of governance in Klamath County under the proposed Klamath County charter. Experience as a past co-owner and manager of a large ranch in Montana gives me insight into the farming and ranching industry.”
She said that 24 years of teaching experience at Henley High School and being a 38-year resident of Klamath County has allowed her to learn about the county’s issues.
“I was one of seven retired educators chosen throughout the United States to serve on the National Retired Teachers Association Committee in Washington, D.C., establishing guidelines for AARP and NRTA’S With Our Youth program, a contributor to Colin Powell’s America’s Promise, a nationwide volunteer program for youth.
“With the experience in all of these fields, I can help facilitate the improvement in our governance.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: 1. To see that a long-term strategic plan is written and implemented.
2. To keep all the services necessary to improve and make Klamath County prosper and grow without raising taxes and the importance to preserve the citizen’s right.
3. To see better and more complete representation for all of Klamath County by commissioners from all five districts working together toward this goal.
District No. 3 (South suburbs north of OC&E trail and east of Washburn Way, including Moyina Heights, Skyline, North Hills and Shield Crest areas)
Candidate: Ronald L. Campbell, 62, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Retired human resources management executive; manager, director and vice president of human resources.
Political experience: No prior political experience. “(I) will bring a fresh business-oriented approach to county government,” he said.
Why are you running?
A: “The basic reason I am running is that I want to serve the citizens of Klamath County. I am not doing this for a career, but for the opportunity to improve our county. I believe the current form of county government has not met the needs of all of its citizens. We need better leadership, long-range strategic planning, and we need professional management of our county departments under an experienced county administrator. I also feel we need greater efforts to bring more business into the county that will provide higher-paying jobs. The focus of the county commissioners should be to provide the leadership and vision to grow our county in a responsible manner and improve the lives of our citizens. Oversight of the county departments should be the responsibility of an experienced county administrator, who will work under the direction of the commissioners. Our county should be run more like a business. The charter will provide this form of government.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “All the charter commissioners will have a top priority of making a smooth transition of government and hiring a qualified county administrator. The first few months will be spent doing that, and developing a strong working relationship with the county departments.”
1. Work on how we will handle the renewed timber payments, develop a plan to best use the funds, and plan for how we will operate without the funds in the future.
2. Since the charter will have districts, a goal will be to improve my accessibility and communications with my district constituents. I would like to see some form of regular meetings with my district so I can hear what people are thinking and their ideas for improvements to our county.
3. The area of economic development is critical to the success of our county. Attracting businesses with high paying jobs, making sure current businesses can survive, attracting professionals like doctors to the area, are critical to our county.
Candidate: Michael Angeli, 41, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Owner of The Ledge, The Yeti’s Lair and the Golden West Motel; retired senior deputy sheriff of Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Political experience: Past lieutenant governor and club president of Kiwanis.
Why are you running?
A: “The current government system is functional at best. It does not represent the whole population the county and is governed by partisan politics, which detracts from the issues. The charter allows for a better representation of the population base and puts the commissioners acutely in touch with countywide issues.
“Under the current system, commissioners can be career politicians simply for the money and benefits and need not be attentive to the populace. The charter provides little in the way of compensation. It would attract those who choose to lead for the betterment of their community instead of attracting those looking for a means of healthy compensation.
“I spend an inordinate amount of time in community functions and relate to local citizens and businesses daily. I believe that I am in touch with the pulse of the community and would be a good advocate for their needs.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “Creating a smooth transition in government from existing to new.”
This can be done by establishing working relationships with the county employee base as well as with businesses and citizens.
“It is important to identify who you are and what the goals will be so work can be accomplished in a timely manner.”
He also wants to stabilize expenses and fund sources.
“Long- and short-term goals and planning in the form of a document/strategic plan needs to be developed. This will allow us to have a framework to work from instead of relying on what comes at us year to year and we merely cope with the issues. We need more than a ‘Band-Aid fix.’ ”
The first experience that I had upon moving to Klamath after being hired was a severe threat of annual budget cuts. This presents a very negative view of Klamath and does not bode well in recruiting needed professionals into our area. There are many ways to seek additional funding, outside of taxation.”
Increased representation and communication with all areas of the county is another goal, he said.
“Many are minimally represented. There are many resources (citizens) in outlying areas of our region who simply aren’t heard. They have valuable ideas waiting to be heard but simply can’t because of geography and transportation costs. Our involvement more directly in the community will aid in relaying the communications.”
District 4 (Downtown area of Klamath Falls, including Pacific Terrace, Nob Hill, Pelican City and Running Y neighborhoods)
Candidate: Craig J. Rovzar, 71, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Semi-retired, but works a part-time position with the United States Department of Personnel Management as test administrator; holds an active real estate broker’s license with the state of Oregon; has active community and political clients within his own consulting firm, Rovzar & Associates, LLC.
Political experience: No elected political position experience, but extensive successful political experience either as a government official, selected or hired representative or consultant in promoting, lobbying or testifying on behalf of local, state, federal, national associations, industry groups and foreign governments including, but not limited to, the city of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, the Klamath Tribes, city of Dorris, the Ore-Cal RC&D and the Klamath County Natural Resources Advisory Group/Council.
He has received several non-political appointments, including presidential to political advisory positions.
Why are you running?
A: “I have had over 25 years experience as a government executive and/or administrator, including in charter forms of government. I have had over 15 years of experience as an executive or administrator in private non-profit, local, statewide, and national or international organizations representing their political efforts and agendas. I have had over 15 years of successful experience in private, for-profit enterprise, including my own. If this county elects to adopt a new, charter form of government, I feel obligated to offer all my experience to assist in making it the very best that we can.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: 1. “To create and demand long-term coordinated strategic planning, clear-cut policies and goals, as reflected and requested by the community, for development and implementation by the county administrator and his/her departments with a mandate of coordination and implementation with all communities within the county.”
Under the current structure, three commissioners are elected as at-large positions, meaning they can live anywhere in the county. Under the proposal, candidates must live within one of the five districts, and voters will vote for the best candidate within their district.
Following is information about candidates for each of the five districts as well as their top three priorities if they were elected to office.
District No. 1 (Crescent south to Keno; includes Running Chiloquin and Fort Klamath)
Candidate: William “Bill” Scally, 62, Crescent
Occupation: Safety director, Central Petroleum Transport
Political experience: Safety commissioner, city of Lakewood, Calif.; planning commissioner, city of Lakewood, Calif.; chairman political action committee Levy for Sheriff’s Office, Klamath County; president, Crescent Sanitary District; president, Crescent Water Association; former business owner; served as Klamath County Sheriff Office reserve marine and resident deputy.
Why are you running?
A: “To give the people of District No. 1 a voice in our county government and to lend my experience in management and business to continue to plan and grow the county for the next generation.”
What are the top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “The charter represents a change in county government; my priorities have to coincide with the smooth transition and implantation of this form of government. This includes the hiring of an administrator and working with the other four commissioners on policies relating to this new position. The next priority is to establish an advisory committee in my district to keep me informed on matters of county concern.”
District No. 2 (includes Bonanza, Malin, Merrill, Henley area, Bly and Beatty)
Candidate: Dennis Ensor, 65, Merrill
Occupation: Semi-retired land surveying consultant.
Political experience: South Suburban Sanitary District board of directors for 17 years, Wiard Park Memorial District for nine years, president of South Central Chapter of Land Surveyors.
Why are you running?
A: Ensor said he wasn’t actively involved in the charter group. But, if it passes, he believes he has enough experience with budgets from working on the sanitary district board and working up to sole ownership of his business to be a helpful addition to the commission.
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: 1. “A selection of a manager after a thorough screening process. Truthfulness is No. 1. As long as he’s truthful, everything else can work its way out.”
2. “Maintaining the road reserves, road funds. Don’t spend on things not authorized by law.”
3. “Assist the sustainable industry, which is logging and farming.”
Candidate: Charlotte Rodgers, 55, Klamath Falls
Occupation: self-employed, co-owner of Shady Pine Ranch.
Political experience: Oregon State Workforce Investment Board, 2002-04, an executive appointment to the Governor’s Advisory Board representing Region 11. Regional Workforce Investment Board representing Region 11, 2004-07.
Why are you running?
A: “I love Klamath County and the quality of life we enjoy here. I believe strongly that it is time for a change in our county government. I believe we need a fresh new look at the issues facing us and I want to be involved in the process of leading. I would like to be a part of encouraging the people of Klamath County to get involved in their local government.
“I am retired from the construction industry and, after years of hard work, our agriculture interests are structured to start giving back to us, freeing me up to take a position that does not need to sustain me financially. I do not believe these positions should be for career politicians. I want to identify a group of people in the county who will advise and assist me, and ultimately, I would like to see one of them step up in the future and consider becoming the leader.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “Our first order of business is to do some crisis management regarding the loss of federal timber money to our county. We have a reprieve from the federal bailout program, but it is essential that we all put our heads together and come up with new sources of revenue. This should happen through new growth, and not by levying new taxes.
“We then need to implement a long-term strategic plan that will identify our goals as a county. The public needs to be involved in the plan and the process of building a strong economic foundation.”
She believes more residents should become involved in the issues of the county.
“One of my priorities will be to spend time with the people of Klamath County and do my best to empower them and involve them in the process. Increasing the commissioners to five will bring broader representation, but even five commissioners cannot efficiently run the government without the dedication of county employees, professional department heads and the involvement of the public. County government needs to be responsible and responsive to the people’s needs.”
Candidate: Ruth Ann Patton, 72, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Retired rancher and educator, professional artist/photographer.
Political experience: Family Law Advisory Committee of Klamath County 1999-2003, state president of the Oregon Retired Educators Association (an affiliate of the National Retired Teachers Association) 2003-06, representative for the secondary teachers from the Klamath County School District as negotiator with Klamath Medical Service Bureau for health insurance.
Why are you running?
A: “I have the experience and knowledge to help set up and improve our present form of governance in Klamath County under the proposed Klamath County charter. Experience as a past co-owner and manager of a large ranch in Montana gives me insight into the farming and ranching industry.”
She said that 24 years of teaching experience at Henley High School and being a 38-year resident of Klamath County has allowed her to learn about the county’s issues.
“I was one of seven retired educators chosen throughout the United States to serve on the National Retired Teachers Association Committee in Washington, D.C., establishing guidelines for AARP and NRTA’S With Our Youth program, a contributor to Colin Powell’s America’s Promise, a nationwide volunteer program for youth.
“With the experience in all of these fields, I can help facilitate the improvement in our governance.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: 1. To see that a long-term strategic plan is written and implemented.
2. To keep all the services necessary to improve and make Klamath County prosper and grow without raising taxes and the importance to preserve the citizen’s right.
3. To see better and more complete representation for all of Klamath County by commissioners from all five districts working together toward this goal.
District No. 3 (South suburbs north of OC&E trail and east of Washburn Way, including Moyina Heights, Skyline, North Hills and Shield Crest areas)
Candidate: Ronald L. Campbell, 62, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Retired human resources management executive; manager, director and vice president of human resources.
Political experience: No prior political experience. “(I) will bring a fresh business-oriented approach to county government,” he said.
Why are you running?
A: “The basic reason I am running is that I want to serve the citizens of Klamath County. I am not doing this for a career, but for the opportunity to improve our county. I believe the current form of county government has not met the needs of all of its citizens. We need better leadership, long-range strategic planning, and we need professional management of our county departments under an experienced county administrator. I also feel we need greater efforts to bring more business into the county that will provide higher-paying jobs. The focus of the county commissioners should be to provide the leadership and vision to grow our county in a responsible manner and improve the lives of our citizens. Oversight of the county departments should be the responsibility of an experienced county administrator, who will work under the direction of the commissioners. Our county should be run more like a business. The charter will provide this form of government.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “All the charter commissioners will have a top priority of making a smooth transition of government and hiring a qualified county administrator. The first few months will be spent doing that, and developing a strong working relationship with the county departments.”
1. Work on how we will handle the renewed timber payments, develop a plan to best use the funds, and plan for how we will operate without the funds in the future.
2. Since the charter will have districts, a goal will be to improve my accessibility and communications with my district constituents. I would like to see some form of regular meetings with my district so I can hear what people are thinking and their ideas for improvements to our county.
3. The area of economic development is critical to the success of our county. Attracting businesses with high paying jobs, making sure current businesses can survive, attracting professionals like doctors to the area, are critical to our county.
Candidate: Michael Angeli, 41, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Owner of The Ledge, The Yeti’s Lair and the Golden West Motel; retired senior deputy sheriff of Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Political experience: Past lieutenant governor and club president of Kiwanis.
Why are you running?
A: “The current government system is functional at best. It does not represent the whole population the county and is governed by partisan politics, which detracts from the issues. The charter allows for a better representation of the population base and puts the commissioners acutely in touch with countywide issues.
“Under the current system, commissioners can be career politicians simply for the money and benefits and need not be attentive to the populace. The charter provides little in the way of compensation. It would attract those who choose to lead for the betterment of their community instead of attracting those looking for a means of healthy compensation.
“I spend an inordinate amount of time in community functions and relate to local citizens and businesses daily. I believe that I am in touch with the pulse of the community and would be a good advocate for their needs.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: “Creating a smooth transition in government from existing to new.”
This can be done by establishing working relationships with the county employee base as well as with businesses and citizens.
“It is important to identify who you are and what the goals will be so work can be accomplished in a timely manner.”
He also wants to stabilize expenses and fund sources.
“Long- and short-term goals and planning in the form of a document/strategic plan needs to be developed. This will allow us to have a framework to work from instead of relying on what comes at us year to year and we merely cope with the issues. We need more than a ‘Band-Aid fix.’ ”
The first experience that I had upon moving to Klamath after being hired was a severe threat of annual budget cuts. This presents a very negative view of Klamath and does not bode well in recruiting needed professionals into our area. There are many ways to seek additional funding, outside of taxation.”
Increased representation and communication with all areas of the county is another goal, he said.
“Many are minimally represented. There are many resources (citizens) in outlying areas of our region who simply aren’t heard. They have valuable ideas waiting to be heard but simply can’t because of geography and transportation costs. Our involvement more directly in the community will aid in relaying the communications.”
District 4 (Downtown area of Klamath Falls, including Pacific Terrace, Nob Hill, Pelican City and Running Y neighborhoods)
Candidate: Craig J. Rovzar, 71, Klamath Falls
Occupation: Semi-retired, but works a part-time position with the United States Department of Personnel Management as test administrator; holds an active real estate broker’s license with the state of Oregon; has active community and political clients within his own consulting firm, Rovzar & Associates, LLC.
Political experience: No elected political position experience, but extensive successful political experience either as a government official, selected or hired representative or consultant in promoting, lobbying or testifying on behalf of local, state, federal, national associations, industry groups and foreign governments including, but not limited to, the city of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, the Klamath Tribes, city of Dorris, the Ore-Cal RC&D and the Klamath County Natural Resources Advisory Group/Council.
He has received several non-political appointments, including presidential to political advisory positions.
Why are you running?
A: “I have had over 25 years experience as a government executive and/or administrator, including in charter forms of government. I have had over 15 years of experience as an executive or administrator in private non-profit, local, statewide, and national or international organizations representing their political efforts and agendas. I have had over 15 years of successful experience in private, for-profit enterprise, including my own. If this county elects to adopt a new, charter form of government, I feel obligated to offer all my experience to assist in making it the very best that we can.”
What are your top three priorities as they relate to the position?
A: 1. “To create and demand long-term coordinated strategic planning, clear-cut policies and goals, as reflected and requested by the community, for development and implementation by the county administrator and his/her departments with a mandate of coordination and implementation with all communities within the county.”
 |
||
| Regional voters to decide taxes, school races |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
RSS