By Anne Scheck

SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY, DEC 21
This coming Tuesday, the Independence City Council will hold a specially scheduled session to meet with the two search firms vying for the city’s contract in seeking a new city manager. It will be a public meeting at 6:30 pm at the Independence Civic Center.
 
Additionally, the city council is expected to approve the hiring, by contract, of Marshall Guthrie, as grants coordinator for the city. He recently served as director of the student enrichment program at Western Oregon University. The two-year contract is for slightly under $100,000 per year. More details on this position will be provided in the next Linking Letter.
 
 
EDITORIAL BY KELIE McWILLIAMS AT REQUEST OF TRAMMART NEWS
After a report in the Linking Letter on the decision by the city council this past Tuesday, in a 3-to-2 vote, to decline applicant Kelie McWilliams from a potential seat on the Independence Planning Commission, Trammart News received inquiries as to why a comment from McWilliams was not included in the brief article about it. McWilliams was contacted, informed of this, and wrote the editorial below.
 
On Tuesday, Dec. 14th, the Independence City Council voted on whether to accept my application for a place on the city planning commission. Ultimately, they rejected it, but the reasons for that rejection were startling and concerning.

First, a councilor stated that they thought I was “too busy” for the commitment. This comment was made without any communication with me about my commitments and without disclosing that they had been my opponent in the November 2020 city council election. Then, another councilor made several comments about a complaint I made to the Secretary of State regarding campaign finance violations by a local political action committee that may have broken state laws, and made characterizations about the complaint, my character, my values, and my work that were, I felt, misleading and malicious. 

I could delve into an argument of self-defense, but instead, I have two things to say about this:

First, all of us, as residents and voters in the State of Oregon, have a constitutional right to know that our elections are carried out fairly, which includes mandatory and timely reporting of campaign finance transactions. Candidates should always enter these races knowing the requirements for accurate reporting and strive to adhere to them. If they can’t do that, they are not suitable candidates for public office. If our candidates and elected leaders willfully violate campaign finance laws, what other laws will they ignore? 

Second, it is not enough to vote. Regardless of ideology, all of us should be concerned about the needs of our small communities. After I lost my bid for city council, I found other ways to stay involved, and now lead the Rural Engagement Project, which focuses on nonpartisan issues that affect all of us no matter who we vote for or how much we participate. Clean air and water, fast internet access, and safe transportation routes don’t care about your party affiliation, and neither do I. 
 
The power to make changes that better the lives of our families and neighbors starts at home, with the work we do to serve our families, schools, businesses and communities. Monmouth, Independence, and other local municipalities have applications for positions on commissions and boards, and there are sometimes appointments available for city councils and other positions. These positions work to develop local policy and ensure the safety, beauty, and resilience of our communities. They are the most direct way for you to actively participate in democracy. If there is an issue that is dear to your heart, there are ways to get involved. 

While I won’t be serving on the Independence Planning Commission, I am still actively engaged in serving rural Oregon and all of you. I invite you to get involved in local government, in your preferred party, or an organization that supports people. Even small efforts can change lives. 
--Best Regards, Kelie McWilliams