City Administrator now that Chad is leaving or left.
I can't remember if there are any requirements about needing a degree in Public Admin or the like but who knows what his angle is...If the rumor is at all true.
Let's see if he calls himself the CITY ADMINISTRATOR or the CITY MANAGER.....or if he draws a salary.
It seems like a conflict of interest as well but who knows.
PUT YOUR FEELERS OUT AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN CONFIRM IT.
THANKS,,,
THE SHOESHINE BOY

Note to all from Bill.   The Shoe Shine Boy is a member of the Navy IRR (Individual Ready Reserve).  He has recently received his physical, and is in the process of being called to active duty.  He has his orders in hand and will soon be leaving for a location somewhere in the Middle East (My guess Baltimore).  His comments and his contributions to this web page will be missed.   We wish him a safe voyage, and a safe return.

From Doc Harry 6/6/07
Dear Mr. ShineBoy,  What is your take on the City Administrator's
resignation in Rainier and his transfer to ST. Helens City. Any
Hanky panky here? Doc Harry

Dear Doc Harry,,
So nice to hear from you again. I hear the resignation was in lieu of certain dismissal. It did cost the city a pretty penny to get a resignation. There is no real Hanky Panky on the part of the St. Helens City Council just bad timing and stupidity. A source in the Rainier Fire District tells me that Mayor Randy spent more time at Rainier City Hall than he did at St. Helens (1-2 Hrs a week ) so that's probably where the connect was made. The citizens of Rainier had put together several petition attempts over the years to get the council to oust the administrator but none had been effective till recently. While I read that he has promised St. Helens that he is only a six month temp. Look for that promise to be retracted at some point. The City fathers will rue the day they made this decision but that's what you get with Mayor Randy.....The Shoeshine Boy

From Ma Parker 6/5/07
Shoeshine Boy,
With all this attention on Betsy Johnson and her real estate deal,
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