By Nicole Montesano • Staff Writer • 

Proclamation language draws impassioned testimony

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Comments

gregtompkins

Recall !! This guy campaigned that he was apolitical and I saw him being gracious toward Starrett and now that he’s in extremely confrontational and mean spirited. I don’t think the people of this county are ready for us to be Multnomah County.

Motherof3

As a mother of 3 children and someone who is absolutely supportive of mothers deciding to abort or not, I am dismayed that not only does it appear that Kulla brought a "mob" of people to the hearing but also that he, Kulla was unusually disrespectful to Commissioner Starrett and Chair Olsen had to ask him to state that for the record. Per legal definition, pre-born or unborn children are not considered a human being until birth. Why remove pre-born or unborn when this is a service we provide whether it's prenatal care or abortions? It's not considered a "people" yet.

Mike

Second to last paragraph confuses me. "pre-born" was removed from the statement and then approved? When Kulla suggested removing it, lead to loud protests from the audience. So it was very unpopular with the audience? Yet most of the article gives examples of statements which seem to support Kulla's suggestion.

Mudstump

Mike - I'm very confused by the article too. Can't make heads or tails of it.

gregtompkins

My only qualms were with the illegals and abortion.

1- illegal immigration is just that , ILLEGAL! And yes you should be able to discriminate against them in hiring, giving housing, etc because they are here illegally ! I am just waiting for the feds to shut down all these asinine sanctuaries. Come in legally and invited just like Canada does.

2- The strong push to force us to be ok with abortion. I liked him until that spectacle yesterday. It was shameful how he was disrespectful toward Starrett. With just that he lost me!

I’m in agreement with all points except those two.

Nicole Montesano

Apologies, if my writing was unclear: The audience members were not objecting to removing the word "pre-born;" these were the people who wanted it removed. They were objecting to leaving the rest of Ms. Starrett's list in, on the grounds that they thought it was redundant. The proclamation was approved, but with the word "pre-born" stricken.

Joel

Mr Kulla, At future meetings would you please be so kind as to not bring your extreme left friends to work with you? We taxpayers are paying you a lot of money to solve county problems. Cut the weird politically correct crap and get to work.

ja74

Don't go to far Stan, it seems Kulla may be a one term candidate. I have noticed discrepancies in things he said before the election, and his comments lately.

gregtompkins

We have to wait for the six month mark to begin the recall. Mr Kulla’s behavior yesterday was reprehensible.

Sponge

Talk of recall is premature. The guy's been in office for all of three weeks. He will need to offend a lot more people, on a variety of actions, to warrant consideration of recall. Six months from now, this week's performance will be small potatos.

Trafik

Feigning offense / shock when any controversial item on a list incites offense / outrage is either disingenuous or stupid. If the former, listmakers might consider adding only non-controversial items to their lists or expect legitimate pushback when adding debatable items. If the latter, they might consider keeping their lists out of unrelated public business forums and introducing them at appropriate private venues like, say, community protest marches.

treefarmer


gregtompkins – your comment indicates that you attended the meeting in question. I was not there and wonder if you could be more specific re the behavior that you found reprehensible?

gregtompkins

treefarmer - it was the one in Newberg at the Cultural Center. Night and day what I saw there versus that show yesterday that was recorded on KLYC. That one I was not at in person. Just to clarify.

Rotwang

What feel-good nonsense with which to waste the time of county government. They should already express the spirit of Kulla's verbiage; if not, we are free to elect others who will. By the way, Nicole - a link to the text would have been helpful for those of us without the time to drill down through the county website to find it.

Mudstump

"Audience members said all those classes were covered by the phrase “all people.”

I agree.


treefarmer

gregtompkins - whether you were present, or formed your opinion from a recording or recounting of the proceedings, I was inquiring about the nature of Mr. Kulla's behavior that you judged "reprehensible." Would you be inclined to provide some context for your comment? In your first post you did state that you thought he was "extremely confrontational and mean-spirited." I am sincerely interested to know what he said or did to give you that impression?

tagup

I have to agree with you Rot......what a colossal waste of time.....

Lulu

Much like mission statements, proclamations mean nothing--just a bunch of vague verbiage on a plaque. And please, commissioners, don't assume you're speaking for me or my values.
Mary Starrett, once again, acts the self-righteous airhead, the annoying mosquito buzzing around your campground tent.

actionjax

So pre-born is covered under "all people," but LGBTQXYZ is not? Why is it there are special inclusions for that list of people, but not for the pre-born, senior citizens, tax payers, caucasian male heterosexual Christians,etc.? Do only the people our new and esteemed liberal commissioners decide get special mention in addition to "All people?" The attempt to include the term "pre-born" is a political statement about abortion. Brilliant! No kidding. I present the question then, is making special inclusions for the people who's beliefs and lifestyles are a central focus of the progressive movement NOT a political statement??? Views on the LGBTQ community are just that: views. They are expressed opinions, and must be taken in the same light as any other opinion about any other population of persons. I personally believe that only veterans deserve special separation from other people, as they are the only population among us who have proven that they are literally willing to die for what our country stands for, whereas the only "sacrifice" made by the LGBTQ community is that they are willing to do things openly that are contrary to human biology.

actionjax

And as far as thinktank Rick Olson is concerned, why would it matter that abortion was legal? Being gay or transsexual is legal, but I guess that population is able to decide for themselves whether or not they can physically eists within a given time and space, as opposed to a baby who's t the mercy of the person that is supposed to grow, give birth to, and nurture it as to whether or not it gets the same privilege. So yeah, good call Rick, it is legal.

Mudstump

Starrett is practicing the art of dog whistle politics here....nothing more.

Trafik

To pretend Commissioner Starrett is the only commissioner practicing “dog whistle politics” is either ignorant or blind in one eye. She is, but so is Commissioner Kulla.

An official who introduces a list having nothing to do with county business — a list which affirms controversial items — then acts surprised when someone pushes back on the controversial items in similar fashion is dishonest or a moron.

We sure know how to elect ‘em, don’t we?

Lulu

Please: knock off the touchy-feely, I'm-so-sensitive-I-can-hardly-walk grandstanding and stick with practical matters--the ones for which you are being paid handsomely.

Sponge

Well said, Lulu.

Tuvey

Mudstump I agree. All people is all people and we don't need to itemize our list.

Trafik

I love selective logic.

If “all people” is all people, then why include any line items at all? This might include legal immigrants, illegal immigrants, LGBTQfolk, Martians, unborn, undead, even po-dunk county commissioners who prefer grandstanding and posturing to conducting actual county business.

“I think I’ll just apply the logic when it suits my worldview — when it doesn’t, who needs logic?”

Lulu

Maybe we could add mountains and rivers and rocks and trees (and skies and seas) to the list. How about the "undead"? parakeets? fossils? Kodiak bears? gerbils? architecture?

Trafik

While our earnest and thoughtful commissioners are crafting important lists of those we’d like to welcome — then bickering over who’s worthy of this weighty welcome — why not add Lulu to the list? And Trafik? It’s not like they have any legitimate county business to address, is it? And it’d sure make me feel special if they’d list me by name.

With a pair of ideologues who apparently find it difficult to suspend their ideologies when they come to work, perhaps it’s time to lower the swollen salaries of Kulla and Starrett, offering Olson a babysitting bonus if he can keep the boobsy twins in line.

If they keep this up, at least we’ll be entertained. Nothing will get done but we’ll have a free comedy show to distract us. Well, not exactly free. It’s all very Blazing Saddles (“...to extend a laurel and hearty handshake...”) and makes me proud to live here.

Trafik

I’m sorry, I’ll shut up after this post but the situation really disappoints me.

I had high hopes for Casey Kulla, his reputation as intelligent, thoughtful and deliberate foretelling a potential public servant of high caliber. But in one stroke — his first stroke, no less — Kulla revealed himself to be cut from precisely the same cloth as the commission’s other proud ideologue. Kulla introduced a list unrelated to true county business, a list featuring multiple controversial line items, then rallied a busload of supporters to the commission meeting because he knew his list would incite a reaction. Seriously? This is the type of person we want conducting our business?

Apparently so because we keep electing them.

Pre-stocking the commission chamber with activists reveals this stunt for what it was — I can recall no clearer example of local grandstanding and posturing in recent memory. Since only a moron would feign ignorance of the Kulla list’s contentious nature, I must view Kulla’s antics as a profound display of dishonesty. I suppose I should’ve heeded the first clue I encountered during the election: when I visited the Kulla farm’s website back in October, all references to marijuana farming had been scrubbed. At the time, I assumed this was a (debatable) attempt to appeal to the greatest number of voters so I overlooked it. Now, it takes a different meaning.

You’re a piece of work, Mr. Kulla. Just what Yamhill County needed.

yamhillbilly2

Trafik you seem to be experiencing a serious loss of memory or you just don’t care. Think back to one of Mary Starrett’s first actions as a commissioner, A ‘stunt’ of packing the room with a bunch of ‘supporters’, with the help of her brother, even bringing in people who had to drive four hours to get here, so she could pass a totally worthless resolution about guns. Please don’t act so upset when someone else uses a similar tactic.

Trafik

It seems, yamhillbilly2, you missed my point. I am upset that any of us tolerate this behavior from any commissioner, of any political leaning. I thought I made that clear.

Jeb Bladine

Trafik,

You might be over-venting about Commissioner Kulla's alleged political grandstanding. Based on some extra investigation, the process appears to have evolved in ways not fully reported.

I believe Kulla's original "inclusivity" proclamation was identical to one previously approved by Dayton City Council, and likely extremely similar to one approved by Carlton City Council. It's passage as submitted likely would have generated limited controversy.

When Commissioner Starratt added controversial language to the proposal, including efforts to turn the issue into an abortion debate, people started taking sides and expressing strong opinions.

There's controversy without reference to "the unborn," since much of the impetus to this movement comes from the nationwide and state debate on immigration. There is plenty of room for disagreement about the overall inclusivity movement, but this began as just another example of a proposal approved by many Oregon cities/counties.

Trafik

Dang. And I was on such a roll. :-)

Well, it’s good to know this wasn’t a set-up. Grandstanding is loathsome — save it for campaign rallies and protest marches. Self-serving posturing has no place anywhere near the people’s business.

Perhaps it’s time to reconsider line-item lists on these all-the-rage inclusivity statements. By interpreting “all people” as all people and extending all people our welcome, we eliminate singling out specific classes and turning what’s supposed to be an exercise in inclusivity into one of division. Just saying.

Thanks, Jeb, and sorry for ranting.

treefarmer

Jeb Bladine

Appreciate your post. I have been unpleasantly taken aback by some of the assertions in this thread. (I inquired about particularly harsh comments posted above but the author has not yet shared what specifically inspired the negativity.) I did watch some video from a meeting where this topic was discussed and I remain unable to understand the reaction to Mr. Kulla’s participation. He seemed perfectly professional to me, and nothing written here has caused me to question my support for him.

Thanks for the voice of reason, I look forward to learning more about additional investigation, and information not yet fully reported.

Jeb Bladine

McMinnville, approved in January 2017:

“Inclusion and integration of all residents is a vital concern for the general welfare of the City in all respects, and discrimination based on the race, color, national origin, immigration or refugee status, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, mental, emotional, and physical ability, age or economic status of any person is against the public policy of the city.”

Many online comments focused on immigration issues.

Dayton, in April 2017:
“The use of City services or benefits shall not be conditioned upon a resident’s race, color, national origin, immigration or refugee status, religion, age, economic status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental, emotional or physical ability.”

Carlton, in September 2017:
“ … an inclusive city for all persons, regardless of race, color, national origin or perceived national origin, immigration or refugee status, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, mental, emotional and physical ability, age, veteran status, or socioeconomic status.”

Commissioner Kulla proposed a county resolution identical to Dayton's. Then Commissioner Starrett proposed to add:
“ … embraces and celebrates the collective contributions to the prosperity of our county of all persons, including but not limited to the pre-born, seniors, property owners, taxpayers, business owners, farmers, recovering addicts, those who suffer from addictions, the incarcerated and those reintegrating into the community, people of faith and those with developmental disabilities.”

Debate focused on "pre-born."

Kulla wanted to remove the added language. Starrett asked him to read aloud the people he thus would exclude. Instead, he moved only to remove “pre-born."

Jim

As far as I’m concerned there is absolutely no reason for a city,county or state to waste their time on these grandstanding moves. Why can’t we just all get along and keep our heads in our own dugouts. Let’s worry about our kids and our family’s welfare and not waste time on this garbage. There’s way bigger fish to fry than this trivial proclamation. We are one giant country with many races and beliefs that live overall better than anyone in the world.

Trafik

I offer apologies to Mr. Kulla — I read the initial report as a planned set-up by Kulla and a group of rabble-rousers. So much intentional baiting exists across the political spectrum that I saw intrigue where none existed. My hope that Kulla will be a reasonable and intelligent leader is restored. :-)

But I am troubled by the increasing popularity of inclusivity declarations with ever-growing line-item lists of groups specifically targeted for welcome. I totally get that the listed groups are typically marginalized communities and these declarations are attempts to avoid the sins of the past where entire classes and races of people were excluded and persecuted. While the larger goal of inclusion is noble, a number of notable groups popular on these inclusivity lists are controversial for reasons other than simple hate. To pretend those who object are straightforward bigots is dishonest and, frankly, intolerant.

If we must adopt inclusivity declarations, I would prefer a broad welcome to all people without singling any group or class out for special mention. I, myself, appreciate a broad spectrum of people — especially those with whom I disagree. But I worry legitimate debate is being stifled when we automatically and unfairly label people with opinions different than ours bigots and haters just because it’s the easy thing to do.

treefarmer

Jeb Bladine

Thanks for providing the additional perspective, I hope it has cleared things up and prevented any further rush to judgement. You illustrate just one more way the N/R is an invaluable resource for Yamhill County. (And since it doesn't appear that our comments are archived with the articles, I hope you will leave this story and commentary in the "Most commented" list for at least a few more days for reference?)

In my opinion Casey Kulla is a person of integrity and deserves to be evaluated fairly as he begins his service to our community. He probably knew he would need thick skin when he decided to run for office, and will, no doubt, face many challenges as time goes on, (can’t please all of the people all of the time) but he deserves at least a level playing field along the way.

And to Trafik I say: KUDOS! I don’t always agree with you, but I do respect your candor and open mind.

Jeb Bladine

Thanks, treefarmer.

FYI, comments are not archived in the long-range "permanent archive" available online. However, they stay with stories that are live on the website ... and those remain for a few years.

One issue is that a live-website search will only produce the most recent 100 articles matching the search, so searching for "council" only takes you back to October 2018, while searching for "council Dayton" goes back to 2015 with limited articles matching.

Also, we had a 10-day setting for articles to appear in the "Most Commented" list. I changed that to 12 when I first posted, anticipating a few more to come. At your request, I just raised that to 14 days, so this will remain on the list for a few more days in case people want to comment more on the general issue of local governments considering "inclusivity resolutions."

treefarmer


Back atcha Jeb Bladine

Really appreciate the additional info about access to articles with the commentary included, as well as the extension to a 14 day setting for “Most commented” stories. I was not aware that the search bar vs archive search would return a different result. Good to know!

The additional facts you posted above seem to have tempered speculation, and reinforced that old adage my wise old mother used to quote: “Look before you leap!” A pertinent version of that sage advice might be: “Research before you opine?”

I truly value the N/R and the forum y’all provide for readers to air our thoughts. I am always interested to learn more about how my fellow Yamhill citizens are reacting to current events, even when I disagree - or more often especially when I disagree. We can become aware of perspectives here that are not otherwise accessible from the confines of our own circles.

Thanks again.



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