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| Dan, Bateham, Photo taken from is face book page. |
By, Peter Ripley, Publisher
Like the Phoenix raising out of the ashes, Dan Bateham steps out from the curtain of the back stage of the local political theater to rejoin the election for City Council Position 7. Clearly readers this particular election for one seat on the city council has become something that playwrights would write about on Broadway, and made for clever headlines at least for this publication!
This whole thing would be entertaining and humorist if the situation the city finds it's self in weren't so serious, we have forced medication of our water system, by over zealous dentist, and out of control spending, hiring these consultants to do these costly endless studies, and paying more each year to continue these studies that go no where! We have a dreary local economy, with ever increasing property taxes, and utility rates, and now issues with aggressive panhandlers, I could go on.
This whole drama started when Bateham withdrew from the race, just two months away from the general election coming next month. As you recall the follow was his statement back in the early part of September:
Dan Bateham: This is official notification of my withdrawal of my candidacy for city council, position number 7, for the City of Port Angeles. I extend a sincere thank you to those that have shown me support over the last several weeks. Good luck and best wishes to all of my fellow candidates. There will be no further public comment on this subject.
From then on he was known as the Phantom Candidate, a title yours truly gave because he didn't say; Even though I may get more votes, I won't serve." No, instead he turned around the next day and said, "If elected I will serve to the best of my ability' Readers, that to me sure fit the definition of a phantom candidate. Then the Peninsula Daily News reported later on the reason he gave was a family emergency and health issues. Well that would pose the question what was the family emergency that would force him to step back into the back stage? Was it his own health? Or was it a family member?
If it was his health, will he be able to serve a full term? Matter in fact, if he is elected will he serve a full term? He still not answering those questions which I am sure the local mainstream media is asking.
Now, jump forward to this week, just two week's away from the election he announced his intentions to re-enter the race against Cherie Kidd, who at this point of the election pretty much wrote him off. I wonder though, could this be a reason why Kidd chose to travel to the Tri-Cities area to get information about the policies of panhandlers, which could have easily have been found on the internet, or a phone call? Hey! Maybe, she thought she had this election in the bag, and went ahead and went on her little trip. I emailed Kidd and asked her about her reasoning for making this trip, but she did not answer. However she did respond to my inquiries about Bateham re-entering the race the following email was submitted:
" I am continuing to run a positive campaign to represent the people of Port Angeles. Mr. Bateham's actions have been confusing to the voters as I have been declared as "unopposed" in the PDN Voter's Guide and "opposed" in the State Voter's Guide.
I am campaigning for the position because I have the experience, the knowledge, good health and passion for public service. I am not running a campaign against Mr Bateham - I am running FOR the people of Port Angeles! None of my ads mention him and his on and off candidacy.
I will not change my positive momentum or positive direction. I am committed to serve the people of Port Angeles. '' ---Cherie Kidd
Her statement on her campaign thus far. I wrote to all of the Candidates about their campaigns gave them all the opportunity to have their final say, Kidd was the only one that answered to email I sent:
I love Port Angeles and have a record of service to our community. It has been an honor to have served as a member of the Port Angeles City Council as well as Mayor. My community service is a labor of love and pride in our community and the special people who make our town the place we all want to live. Experience, knowledge and someone you know and trust. Thank you for all the support and I look forward to moving ahead together - making good things happen in P.A.! ---Cherie Kidd
However Dan Bateham did release the following statement about is campaign:
This is Dan Bateham, candidate for Port Angeles City Council. Thanks for providing a place to talk about real issues here in Port Angeles.
LET'S BRING BACK A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
I would like to see a discussion about what more we can do, how we can get involved together to make downtown Port Angeles a fun, safe, and vital place to be. We need a stronger sense of community to bring this together.
SOME HAVE STARTED, LET'S ALL GET INVOLVED
We have the EDC, recently under new management and doing some good work.
We have Revitalize getting some good projects started. Looking good you guys and gals.
We have PACan diligently working to solve some of the toughest self-medication or addiction issues among some of are neighbors.
We have SPN (Shelter Providers Network) working to solve issues for the most down and out in our community.
We have PAPA bringing us LOCAL public access television. Stayed tuned, it's coming in January!
We have our local Theater group, the Port Angeles Community Players, with world class talent. If you haven't seen one of their shows in a while ... well, I can hardly wait for their next production.
And we have a few businesses downtown that are really working hard at making a visible difference and to bring in people, providing a fun, safe, and vital place to gather, and just “be” in the best way. If you don't know who they are, get downtown again, and take a look. Really.
Not an all inclusive list, sorry, but you get the point ... We have good people working to make Port Angeles a better place for all. But we all need to get involved.
Let's get back the sense of community we used to have here.
Remember the block parties? Remember the parades downtown that families always made a point to go see? Remember when you could go into town, find what you needed, and meet up with a few friends while you were there? Let's bring back what we love about our beautiful home, Port Angeles.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
We have the advantage of being a small town ... we know our neighbors, many of us grew up here, and many others of us chose to come here and make this our home for ourselves and our families.
We live here because we choose too, and that for good reasons. Just a couple of the obvious are, of course ...
The beautiful natural resources we have here. I challenge anyone to find a more beautiful area to live than Port Angeles and the North Olympic Peninsula.
And, more importantly, we have (we are) some of the nicest people you could want to meet anywhere. Port Angeles has a reputation of good people pulling together for each other, especially when times have been tough. We are not like the big cities where people don't know their next door neighbors, and don't care.
So, again, I say let's get back our sense of community. We need it. By pulling together we can solve some real issues that have been getting worse for quite some time now. I'm not going to list what all of these are, everyone already knows; but I want to put forth a short list with a few ideas to get the conversation going ...
SOME IDEAS
Our Young People need a safe place to go and they need cause for hope. I challenge people to get together and bring in something like “The Boiler Room” in Port Townsend. It's not rocket science, it's working in P.T. and it can work here. Our neighborhood parks ... let's clean them up and find creative ways to make them family friendly and kid friendly again. Lincoln Park, as just one example, could use help and the kids on the west side of town might enjoy a safe place to go play. ... Oh, and please, let's give a little love to our schools.
Our Improved Waterfront, let's expand on what's happening there. It's a good start, but let's do something with it. How about putting something in for the kids there? Or, remember the old “block parties”? We can do better than a couple of tired festivals in the summer. Local artists ... you have imagination, get with Revitalize. I'm sure you can make something fun happen.
Business in PA ... I'd like to see a closer relationship between the Chamber of Commerce, EDC, PABA, and the Port, in bringing in key industries to Port Angeles. And I'd like to see cooperation between the City Managers office, the City Council, and these others listed above to ease the red tape and obstacles to small business owners. Come on guys, we're a close community. Let's work this out and make it possible for small businesses to thrive. Our small businesses provide most of the jobs here, in turn providing support for families and quality of life.
Cooperation, Working Together, sometimes thinking outside of the box, is making a difference. I'm excited to know that the Skills Center will be partnering with PAPA to train local talent with real world skills while providing a valuable service to the community. PC is working with local business and providing excellent training for our local workforce. Let's keep the momentum going is good direction.
THERE IS HOPE
Port Angeles has been hurting for while. High unemployment. Business failing. Out of control debt. Despair among both our young people and our not so young people. Homelessness. Drugs.
We can, we must, turn things around for Port Angeles. We will, but only if we work together. We have smart people with real talent. We have neighbors that care. Let's all get involved. Failure is not an option.
Please, don't sit on the sidelines. Get informed. Get involved. Make a difference. Together we can, we will, bring hope, prosperity, safety, and a “sense of community” back to Port Angeles.
VOTE
Election season is here again. You should have received your ballets in the mail a few days ago.
I am a candidate for Port Angeles City Council.
One of the big issues we all face and that I have not yet mentioned here is there is a serious disconnect between local government (city council) and local citizens (you). I believe we need to have a city council that will listen to and serve the people of Port Angeles. Not a city council that often shuts down people that show up at their council meeting to express their concerns, runs up staggering debt, ignores the most vulnerable of our community, tramples on our rights, and then tells us we should be grateful for what they give us.
It is time for new leadership on the city council. I ask for your vote. I will listen to your wishes and serve you.
I have a history of service.
I served our country for 20 years in the U.S. Army. I have proven leadership experience, working with people from all walks of life and diverse cultures, to solve serious issues.
I have for years actively served our community as an advocate for veterans issues, and as a housing specialist with the Shelter Providers Network, NW Veterans Resource Center, Voices for Veterans, and the Clallam County Homelessness Task Force, among others. I have successfully worked with networks of organizations and interested people where, together, we got motivated, got smart, and got real life issues resolved.
I believe we can work together to make a positive difference, bring a “sense of community” back to Port Angeles, and make this city where we all can thrive. I believe failure is not an option.
Vote for me, Dan Bateham, for Port Angeles City Council, position no. 7. And together, we will make a difference for our community.
from his press release issued off his Facebook page...
Has you can see readers, no mention in this statement about his departing the race, other than what he all ready stated, or what was the family emergency was all about. If it was a server illness, or death that would be understandable, I think the voters would even understand the reasoning if that was the case, but we don't know at this point.
HOLD THE PRESSES! I Checked my email just after posting this story here is his responds to my question on if he intends to serve out an entire term:
HOLD THE PRESSES! I Checked my email just after posting this story here is his responds to my question on if he intends to serve out an entire term:
The reasons I withdrew were personal. We all have issues in life or an unexpected crises at times, that must be dealt with. These are not always appropriate for airing in public. But, life happens and we move forward.
As for your question, if elected will I serve the full term? Yes.
Best regards,
Dan Bateham
Dan Bateham
Bateham will now have to convince the voters he is up to the task, and smooth over any ruffled features that may have been ruffled because of his departure the first time around. I know the local media mainstream media isn't to impressed, you can tell by the stories they have been posting:
Media reaction to Bateham's return...not to favorable...
Port Angeles man revives his candidacy for City Council
You cant quit and then unquit, said Kidd, a former mayor. What is that? Bateham, who will be 58 as of Election Day, said Tuesday he had dropped out of the race because of health and family issues.---Peninsula Daily News dated 10/21/15
* Yes folks, that's the entire posting from the Port O Call. As you can see they aren't too impressed.
It's On Again - Bateham vs. Kidd
Port Angeles – A race for the Port Angeles City Council has a “re-activated” candidate back in the race, as Dan Bateham has opted not to withdraw from the election.---KONP RADIO
So this poses the question will Bateham attend, and participate in the remaining debates? Will he avail himself to a clearly moody local media!? More importantly, will the voters be in the mood to vote for him?
In other local news of note...
Candidates for Port of Port Angeles part ways on marina rates, commissioner-staff management
" Beauvais, who will be 64 as of Election Day, said it was a little disingenuous of the port to eliminate marinas such as those in Shelton and Pleasant Harbor in Brinnon when it compared marina rates while reviewing if the port's rates should be increased. We need to take a step back, she said. Beauvais said the port's marinas should be marketed better and that a separate rate should be established for county residents." ---Peninsula Daily News
Clallam commissioners contemplate salary committee for elected officials
Clallam County commissioners will form an advisory committee that will make salary recommendations for eight elected officials, but they won't do it today.---Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County commissioners seek legal review on possible property tax reduction
" Commissioners Jim McEntire and Bill Peach voted Tuesday to direct Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols to determine whether the county can separate personal property from real property and eliminate the countys portion of the personal property tax levy."---Peninsula Daily News
Pros and cons of water fluoridation to be argued at Thursday forum in Port Angeles; rally to precede debate
" Council members will use the results when deciding whether to continue fluoridating city water pumped from the Elwha River."---Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles to get new passenger airline service to Sea-Tac starting March 1 with SeaPort
PORT ANGELES Scheduled air passenger service will resume March 1 between William R. Fairchild International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. SeaPort Airlines of Portland, Ore., announced Tuesday it will begin service with five 40-minute flights most days on single-engine, nine-passenger Cessna Caravan turboprop aircraft similar to those flown by Kenmore Air.---Peninsula Daily News
Clallam commissioner: Marbled murrelet conservation debated by state
The state Board of Natural Resources, including Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire, is considering long-term conservation strategies for the threatened marbled murrelet.---Peninsula Daily News
Fluoride debate: Last chance for choice
The periodic table’s most chemically reactive element, fluoride adversely affects all life forms that it physically contacts. A protoplasmic toxin, fluoride interferes with enzyme action all through the body---PORT O CALL
Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center
SARC to close its doors Oct. 30
" Certainly one of the toughest decisions of my life," SARC board chairman Frank Pickering said. "It's a community asset. Unfortunately, it has not had the entire support of the voting community."---SEQUIM GAZETTE
Spartan Stadium and Field Replacement
The Spartan Stadium and Field Replacement Project is a priority of the Quillayute Valley School District. The Quillayute Valley School District Board has earmarked $1 Million dollars of undesignated and unreserved funds for the replacement project.---FORK FORUM
Physician 'satisfaction' becomes a campaign issue
Is it true that 33 percent of physicians at Jefferson Healthcare would not recommend working there?----PT LEADER
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
Premier issues order to save emails after blistering report
Premier Christy Clark ordered her cabinet ministers and all political staff Friday to save their emails after a stinging report criticized the government's access to information practices. ---TIMES COLONIST/ VICTORIA BC
Les Leyne: Denham report vindicates whistleblower
Tim Duncan arrived in Victoria last spring, did a brief stint with the B.C. Liberal government as a political aide that didn’t work out and then moved back to Calgary and pondered his West Coast experience. --TIMES COLONIST/VICTORIA BC
Waking up the homeless part of daily grind---VICTORIA NEWS/ VICTORIA BC
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK
CLALLAM COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: 2a Agreement with Iron Mountain Properties, LLC for purchase of an easement for the Carlsborg Sewer project.
Agenda details: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf
Port Commission has not issued their agenda for Tuesday as of yet, but when they do it will be posted here.
SEQUIM CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic
Provide health care services to infirm and low-income individuals within the city limits and to increase
the number of low-income persons who have access to the Clinic's services
CITY OF FORKS AGENDA: http://www.forkswashington.org/pdf/agenda102615.pdf
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Jesus Is Joined to Salvation - Part 1
We have already seen that God has joined Himself to this universe, that God is the creator of all things. We have seen that God has joined Himself to the Bible, that God is the author of this book, and the evidences are overwhelming to show that this is the case. ---TRUTH FOR THE WORLD
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