Ellis again in middle of bickering colleagues
From our weekly issue dated November 04, 2009
Commissioner Dwight Ellis (IVN file photo)
As chairman of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, Dwight Ellis assumes many duties, roles and responsibilities. But none has become more important lately than that of peacemaker.
Since he took office in 2005, Ellis often has ended up in the middle, as his fellow commissioners hash out their differences in public meetings. And he’s the first to admit that it can be difficult, especially for someone who prides himself on taking a level-headed approach.
“I’m not a person who handles yelling and screaming very well,” Ellis said. “I’m more of a quiet individual and a listener rather than someone who’s confrontational.”
Ellis was first elected in 2004, with Jim Raffenburg. Those two joined Jim Riddle on the board, and Ellis said that the first few months were relatively harmonious.
“I think the honeymoon lasted three months or so,” he said. “It just kind of worsened after that.”
Illinois Valley resident Dave Toler was elected to the board in 2006 and assumed office in 2007, the same year Raffenburg served as chairman.
Before too long, Toler and Raffenburg were at odds with each other, which put Ellis back in an uncomfortable and unenviable position.
“I didn’t think I would be in that role again, but the election worked out that way,” he said.
Toler and Raffenburg were very different politically, Ellis said, and both had “really strong personalities,” which contributed to their mutual public animosity.
Raffenburg declined to seek a second term in 2008, which left his seat open. Sandi Cassanelli beat Grants Pass resident Harry Mackin in the general election to replace Raffenburg, and Ellis was re-elected to his position.
Ellis assumed the chairmanship in January. The year started quietly enough, but the philosophical chasm between Cassanelli and Toler has become much more obvious in recent months.
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Part of the problem could be the structure of the board of commissioners, which Ellis said can sometimes act as a “three-headed monster.”
“Three is a bad number, especially when you can’t talk to each other, unless it’s in a public session,” Ellis said. “This type of situation, always begs confrontation. It’s made a fight already before anyone even talks.”
Further complicating the situation, said Ellis, is that citizens often use commission meetings to try and score political points, sometimes at the expense of board members. Persons in the audience occasionally even bicker among themselves, which presents another challenge to Ellis as chairman.
“One thing I don’t want to do is stifle free speech,” he said, adding that he tries to maintain an atmosphere of civility and respect.
Toler announced on Wednesday, Oct. 21 that he intends to run for re-election next year. As such, Ellis said that he expects to see Toler’s supporters and detractors take plenty of shots at the commissioner and each other throughout the next several months.
“I don’t see any light at the end of this tunnel,” he predicted.
In local political circles, Ellis often is characterized as the swing vote on the board. For the chairman, that entails trying to see both sides of every issue in his deliberations, even if it means getting caught in the crossfire every once in a while.
“You just gotta’ do the best you can,” said Ellis.
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