Opinion: Waldport City Council Recall Effort Defends the Democratic Process

Tony Thimakis, chief petitioner of the effort to recall six Waldport city councilmembers

Efforts to Recall Waldport’s six city councilors are underway so that we can establish a city
government that serves and represents its community, and to restore respect from neighboring
communities, as well as county, state, and federal entities. Waldport City needs a city council
that includes and collaborates with them, while offering transparency in what, how, and why
decisions are being made.

Doing what is right when no one is watching is the very definition of integrity. This is what we
need in Waldport’s city government. Yet, what we currently have are six city councilors who
strategize to work around the rules to accomplish their desires, whether or not it aligns with
the laws of the United States, the Oregon Constitution, or the City Charter.

Our democracy is at risk. These six elected officials chose to ignore the Oregon Constitution,
(Article II, Section 18(6)) the City Charter, and the City Council Rules, when they fired the
mayor, an elected official, for doing her duty as prescribed by those rules (Council Rule 8.4). In
addition, they have excused the city manager’s excessive delinquency in the state’s required
audits, allowed for languishing on various city projects, and directed and participated in the city
manager’s written and verbal aggression toward citizens, business owners, government officials
and a sovereign nation.

The Waldport City Charter states that the laws of the United States and the State of Oregon will
prevail in all cases (Chapter II, Sections 4 & 5). Each councilor took an oath of office that they
would uphold the laws of the United States and the State of Oregon. (Chapter VI, Section 27).
The charter clearly states how to create a vacancy in the council. In this section there is no
removal from office except by Recall (Chapter VII, Section 29)—a Civil Right provided to every
citizen. When asked why the councilors followed a rule they knew was incorrect and
unconstitutional, the response given is that other city charters haven’t been updated.

The city council stated the mayor overstepped by directing city staff, citing a Charter rule in the
City Manager section of the Charter (chapter V, 21g), when she requested them to forward
formal grievances against the city manager to the city council. Yet, in the model charter, the
National Civil League states, “The prohibition against interference with administration does not
prevent council members from making inquiries of department heads or employees for the purpose of obtaining information needed by them in the discharge of their duties including response to constituent requests.” (Section 2.05, Commentary b & c).

After a judge reinstated the mayor, the city council revoked their decision because, as they say,
it would be too costly to continue, but continue to claim they were right and the council refuses
to cooperate with mayors attempts to work together. They have never taken accountability for
their error in judgement on this matter.

The citizens ask why the city’s audits are not completed, and the councilors excuses are there
are no penalties and other cities are behind in their audits as well. The city manager not only
replies that other cities in Oregon are delinquent on their audits, but accuses the CPA firm
the city was using of “Extortion.” By that definition of extortion, the citizens of Waldport are
being “extorted” every time they are over budget.

Intimidation, blaming others, evading the questions posed by members of the community,
defending mismanagement by using other cities bad management as examples is Waldport’s
current standard of city government. We’ve watched the city manager attempt to desecrate
the reputation of a community volunteer, insult the Confederated Tribe of the Siletz Indians,
and try to convince the Lincoln County Sheriff and the Lincoln County District Attorney to
charge and prosecute crimes that did not exist then threaten the contract the city
of Waldport has with them. Except for Mayor Lambert, the city council states
the city manager has been directed by the council to perform his duties as described above.

If you, as Waldport voters, want integrity back in government, if you want transparency in
decisions, if you want your voice to be heard without enduring public ridicule and retaliation,
sign the recall petitions. Protect your democracy, protect your voice, protect your vote, protect
your community.