does this adversely affect other politicians in Columbia County who
owe their position to her?

Dear Ma Parker..
I would typically say yes but there will be a sorting out period first. Johnson will try to buy off all those at the newspapers and keep pushing her other accomplishments as a legislator. (Goldschmidt had a glowing record to but it made no difference in the end.)

Most of those who are beholden to Betsy will write letters of support to the papers and extol her virtues. It will slowly become apparent to them that they too could be investigated. They will quiet down and hope to be ignored while they examine what they have done and live in fear for a bit. Some will turn states evidence to save themselves at her expense. Others will indeed be investigated at some point and panic when they realize they are being asked about. The more prominent ones like Bernhard may think she is too personally powerful to not get covered up for and will eventually hit the front page. The guy from the Willamette Week is the one who won a prize for getting to the bottom of the Neil Goldschmidt ordeal and should catch on but he may take his time rooting out the local accomplices.....So don't expect it all top be out in a week or two....The Shoeshine BOY

From B. Pilgrim 6/1/07
Dear Shoe Shine Boy.
I am not sure how tuned in you are to State Politics, but I recently read a Willamette Week where they printed some critical things about our Senator.
Why are people getting so upset about this?   Has she done something wrong? 
Do you think that it is just politics, or do they have something real against her?

Dear B. Pilgrim,
One doesn't need to be tuned into State Politics to pick up on the constant rumors swirling around our area about the good State Senator. I for one have never been enamored by anyone who buys their way into elected office and in this case picked little old Columbia County and Scappoose as a springboard to higher goals and profit. A very big fish in a very small pond. It was a simple and strategic place for someone with more money than God to buy off everyone of any importance. It has also been obvious that anyone who didn't get on the Senators band wagon became a target for abuse. A quick look to the Port of St. Helens recently and it doesn't take a rocket scientist (Don Fell) to see that several of the board members cleared Williamson out of the Senators way so she could manipulate all the property around the airport for her own good or to help out her best buddy and former legislator Gamblin Bruce. Despite the recent articles which may have ruined the Senators bid to run for Governor. Expect her to pull out the magic foundation wallet and buy off any and all obstacles in her way. This will blow over and she will get away with murder similar to what happens in our Justice system every day.
In this world if you have more money than ethics you can buy your way out of anything. What eludes the Shoeshine Boy is what part of her DNA would make her want to seek power and dominance when she could be sitting on the beach. Or better yet own the beach at Waikiki....The Shoeshine Boy

From  J. Wondering   5/21/07
I was just wondering if Teeven Brothers was getting charged the rock tax like some other surface miners in this County? Seems like when you fallow the trail of campaign contributions to some of the County Commissioners in our County there is a direct correlation between enforcement and collections.

Dear J. Wondering,

That's more of a statement than a question. Since you are pointing at some verifiable information. I will let our readers go find out for themselves at the County Clerks elections desk where that information is obtainable.

Campaign contributions are generally of two types.
One is a donation by someone who really believes the particular candidate will help straighten out the political mess we are in at whatever level.
The other is insurance that the candidate will think about a particular special interest before they cast their votes on any related matter.

Contributions from special interests have ruined not only Oregon but our Nations entire political process. In our area elected officials are for the most part operated by special interests. While your assessment is a shotgun approach it is for the most part accurate. There are as always exceptions to any rule......... The Shoeshine Boy

From Hoping to keep my job  5/19/07   
Shoeshine Boy,
What do you think the county will do if they do not receive Timber
money? I heard that they will be cutting several employees I wonder
if the commissioners will take a pay reduction also or will the
brunt of the budget shortfall, be placed on the rank and file of the
employees. I have always read that when there is trouble the
GENERALS take the heat for their men; will the commissioners take
responsibility and share the burden of budget cuts?

Dear;  Hoping to keep my job.
Most of the info I have read on the issue is in the Oregonian since there isn't much actual believable news in the local fishwraps. In fact I listen to Portland Radio more than Columbia County Coverage these days. With that in mind, There are several counties in Oregon