Bowers makes commish pitch
From our weekly issue dated May 05, 2010
Grants Pass resident Ed Bowers, one of 11 persons seeking election to Josephine County Commissioner Position 1, addressed members of the Josephine County Chapter of Americans for Prosperity Thursday evening, April 29.
Approximately 40 people attended the meeting in a Grants Pass restaurant.
Bowers discussed how he ran a construction business in Alaska with his brothers and father. The firm built schools, water and treatment plants and a shipyard, Bowers stated.
“Over the years, the company became quite successful,“ Bowers continued. “I“ve run a business and I know how they work.“
If elected to the commissioner seat currently held by Illinois Valley resident Dave Toler, Bowers said that he would institute performance audits to determine the efficiency of county government programs. He said that he also would look into privatizing some county functions, but cautioned that such actions be taken in a “realistic manner.“
Bowers referred to the county“s 2006 decision to privatize its mental health services. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees successfully challenged that decision in court. Subsequently, the county has been ordered to rehire the affected workers and pay their union dues, retirement benefits and other related costs.
“We don“t want to privatize like that,“ Bowers said.
Many municipalities throughout the nation have consolidated their police forces, Bowers said, and have saved money by doing so. He added that Josephine County might consider the same.
“I“m not suggesting that“s what we should do here,“ Bowers said. “But we should look at it.“
Bowers, who has lived in the county for around 10 years, said that he is “not optimistic“ about the chances of receiving further federal funding. The county shouldn“t be too aggressive when pursuing those dollars, he cautioned.
“They“ve got a lot more U.S. marshals than we have,“ Bowers said.
Because so many in the county receive public assistance, Bowers said that relying on them to solve the county“s revenue problem might prove problematic.
“There“s no way we can support any kind of tax increase in this county,“ he observed.
Private property rights is a “hell of an issue down here,“ Bowers said, and is the main reason he became involved in local politics.
Bowers recalled that around five years ago, the city of Grants Pass decided to build a pathway that went right in front of his house.
“It took two years, but we beat them,“ Bowers said. “It was the first time anyone ever had.“
The county also should think about selling some of its surplus properties and returning them to the tax rolls, Bowers said, including the former hospital site on Dimmick Street in Grants Pass.
Among other qualifications, Bowers cited his stints on various county and city boards, and on that of the Seattle Zoo Society.
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