RSSThere's no denying recall effort is politically driven
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This editorial appears in the Aug. 28, 2009, Yakima Herald-Republic.
Put us down as among those collectively rolling our eyes at the claim by two Yakima-area Democratic activists that their new effort to boot Yakima City Council member Rick Ensey from office isn't both politically motivated and designed to influence the fall council elections.
Charlotte Jones and Gene Rupel on Wednesday accused Ensey of violating the state open-meetings law five months ago when Ensey and fellow council member Kathy Coffey used e-mail to work outside the public eye with Yakima Valley Business Times publisher Bruce Smith to engineer a vote to change how the city prepares its budget. Voting in favor of the change with Ensey and Coffey were council members Bill Lover and Micah Cawley.
The accusation was part of a legal filing with the county Auditor's Office that, if successful, would lead to a recall election for Ensey, a first-term member of the council who is not up for re-election this fall.
Rupel and Jones, who are both Democratic precinct committee officers, denied they were targeting Ensey, an unabashed Republican, even though they aren't seeking a recall of Coffey.
Right.
Next they'll tell us that going after Ensey and trying to turn the spotlight on the e-mail controversy just after a strong showing by right-leaning candidates in the City County primary election is just a coincidence.
It's not that Ensey doesn't deserve grief for being among the chief organizers of the effort to secretly line up votes for the change in budgeting procedures. Ensey has been largely unapologetic about his role in both the e-mail fiasco and in the anonymous blogging carried out by his wife against incumbent Ron Bonlender during Ensey's council run in 2007.
If Jones and Rupel wanted the public to believe their recall efforts were based in a sincere desire that justice is carried out, why didn't they pursue a recall five months ago -- or after the November election? And why is only Ensey's ouster being sought? They claim it's because Ensey was the "leader of the bunch" and that Coffey had apologized for her role in the scandal.
We hope the Yakima Superior Court judge assigned to this politically motivated recall either quickly gives it the boot if he or she finds no merit to the challenge, or delays action on it until after the Nov. 3 election.
* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.
Of course it's political but this is politics and having a political motivation is fair enough. But don't lie about it.
And don't think the timing of this isn't planned to transform into a detriment for Bill Lover and Micah Cawley's campaigns, either.
Politically motivated ? Hey, we see blame going to Rupel and Jones for the shananigan against the republicans. As I can see it, Ron Bonlender just found a couple people to do his dirty work for him. Bonlender would like to get back into politics someday and does not want to soil his name. I would just suggest to these democrats to start wearing on diapers for the way they are acting !! Maybe they should be sent some pacifiers too!
Report ViolationYou know it's pretty bad when even the liberal YHR editors can see this for what it is.
Report ViolationPoor Micah! No wonder he has lost favor with Daddy Dave! He voted with Ensey, Coffey and Lover! Typical response from the DEMS. If you aren't with them, you are against them.
Report Violation"Typical response from the DEMS. If you aren't with them, you are against them."
And that is unique to the Democrats... right.
Interesting how some interpret this editorial to mean that the recall is ONLY politically motivated - funny, that. It may be politically motivated, but that does not translate into without merit. A judge will decide the merit of the petition. I'm sure that if the judge orders it thrown out, they will clearly be a good and smart republican - if not, clearly a democrat in the shirt pocket of Mr. Bonlendar. I'm not saying that this town is not full of "insiders" with their "important" agendas and righteousness - because it is. And it's not limited to just one side of the political spectrum, or politics at all for that matter. A bunch of BIG fish in a little pond, clinging to their inflated view on the power they possess. Wow - that was harsh.
This could get really interesting if the judge rules that the recall petition has to be expanded to include Ms. Coffey as well.
I think the judge will throw this out of court. However, part of me hopes the recall vote is allowed just so I can see Bonlender's reaction when the voters once again side with Ensey and reject the liberals.
Report Violationsjuan - I too would like to see Bonlender run again and get the boot. Seems he may be the only one liking himself except for a few radical democrats ! Isn't Paul George a backer of Bonlender ??
Report Violation(This comment has been removed by a Yakima Herald-Republic moderator)
lets keep the republicans in office, they have done such a great job with the City of Yakima thus far.
Report ViolationHmmm.................
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.30.130
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.30.120
There were other, immediate options available to the initiators of the recall. Instead, these were bypassed and total recall is being sought.
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