Commissioners choose to skip Cassanelli as board chairman
From our weekly issue dated January 13, 2010
Josephine County Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli (center) defends her qualification to serve as chairman of the board as fellow commissioners Dwight Ellis (left) and Dave Toler look on. (Photo by Michelle Binker, I V News)
Josephine County Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli thought that she might spend 2010 serving as chairman of the county board, as she was vice chairman last year, and insists that tradition dictates her advancing to the top spot.
But Cassanelli was unable to convince Dwight Ellis and Dave Toler “ her two fellow commissioners “ of that during the board“s Wednesday morning, Jan. 6 weekly business session at the Anne G. Basker Auditorium adjacent to the courthouse in Grants Pass.
Approximately 60 people were present for the meeting, including television news crews and most of the county“s elected officials and department heads. Additionally, a deputy from Josephine County Sheriff“s Office stood by in the auditorium foyer.
Ellis, current board chairman, called for nominations for the chairman and vice chairman positions. Toler, an Illinois Valley resident, moved to nominate Ellis as chairman and Cassanelli as vice chairman.
Ellis asked for a second on the motion, and Cassanelli declined. In response, Ellis provided the second.
Cassanelli asked her fellow commissioners for an explanation. She held up a list of all the county board“s chairmen and vice chairmen since 1962, noting that the “history has been for decades“ that the vice chairman take over as chairman.
“That“s the logical rotation,“ she said.
The only time the vice chairman didn“t become chairman was because of recall or resignation, Cassanelli said.
She pointed out that Ellis and Toler served as chairmen after one year in office. She added that she received more votes than Ellis in the November 2008 general election, and more than Toler received in 2006.
“I think is an egregious procedure,“ Cassanelli said. “If it goes the other way, I am determined to fight this.“
Ellis stated that he thought about this issue “long and hard for months,“ and provided some of the rationale for his decision.
“I have some problems with her experience,“ he said.
Ellis cited his own experience as president of the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce, and Toler“s as a former longtime member of the Three Rivers School District Board of Education.
“We know how to run a meeting,“ Ellis said. He added that he thinks Cassanelli has a hard time making motions; is inexperienced in land-use hearings; has had ex-parte contact with a land-use applicant; and has a problem handling county employees in public.
“That“s not a sign of a manager or a leader,“ Ellis told the audience.
He stated that he would “reluctantly accept the chairmanship if elected.“ Toler“s motion passed 2-1, with Cassanelli dissenting.
The meeting was then opened to requests from citizens. Grants Pass resident Dale Matthews took to the podium and presented Toler a “crock of fudge“ award, and implied that the commissioner would not be re-elected to his office.
“By far, this belongs to Dave Toler,“ Matthews said. “It“s well-deserved.“
Selma resident Bill Waggoner stated that he has regularly attended public meetings since moving to the area in 1972, and that he“s seen all the rotations of the chairmanship positions.
“This is the first time I“ve seen it altered,“ Waggoner said.
Margaret Goodwin said that the motion sends a “very bad message.“ She decried the fact that the only woman on the board was denied her chance to be chairman.
Selma resident Mark Seligman, who has stated his interest in challenging Toler in the March 18 primary election, also criticized Ellis and Toler for the move.
Seligman read from a prepared statement, and characterized the vote by Toler and Ellis as a “gross miscarriage of justice.“ He accused Ellis of “playing politics.“
“This is not right,“ Seligman said. “Do the right thing. Rescind your decision.“
Cassanelli stated that if she were chairman, she would make more of an effort to allow citizens to speak up during meetings.
“We are paid to listen to the people of Josephine County,“ she said, claiming that Ellis has a history of shutting down public comment.
Seligman, still at the podium, asked Toler to elaborate on his motion.
“Why didn“t you do the fair thing““ Seligman asked. “I think the public would like to know.“
Toler did not respond, at which point Seligman stated that voters should throw Toler out of office. That prompted applause from the audience.
Ellis restated a previous warning to the crowd about clapping and outbursts.
“It looks like you can“t control the meeting, Dwight,“ Cassanelli said.
Her comment sparked laughter and further applause from crowd members. Ellis then abruptly adjourned the meeting.
Many angry audience members converged outside of the auditorium afterward. Some began discussing possible recall efforts against Ellis.
Later that evening, Grants Pass attorney Jack Swift sent an e-mail to Ellis, stating his opposition to the move and suggesting that legal action may follow.
“I was outraged by the board“s action this morning in abandoning past practices because you and Toler have judged commissioner Cassanelli to be an inferior commissioner,“ Swift wrote.
“I told (County Legal Counsel) Steve Rich that I would be pursuing federal action against you and the board to redress what I perceive as a denial of Constitutional rights provided the voters of this County,“ Swift wrote.
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