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Show THE ZEPHYR OCTOBER 1992 have to know the ropes, they have to know what's happening. You bring in a new cat and he doesn't understand the deal, whether it be states' rights or whatever. is a very serious issu, and having quality elected officials is serious. And having some method of checks and balance seemed to support it. RIGHT NOW, COMMISSIONERS ARE PAID $800 PER MONTH, WITH THE CHAIRPERSON RECEIVING $1,200. COMMISSIONERS ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR INSURANCE. THE NEW BENEFITS, INCLUDING RETIREMENT AND COUNTY-PAIPLAN WOULD LOWER THE SALARIES ACROSS THE BOARD TO $500 PER MONTH, AND ELIMINATE BENEFITS. AND IT SAYS IF COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE TO INCREASE COMPENSATION, THE PAY RAISE DOES NOT GO INTO EFFECT FOR THOSE MEMBERS UNTIL AFTER THEY GO THROUGH ANOTHER GENERAL ELECTION. UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM MOST CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSION ARE CHOSEN THROUGH CONVENTIONS OR PRIMARY ELECTIONS. THE NEW PLAN WOULD HAVE ALL CANDIDATES LISTED AS NONPARTISAN, AFTER GATHERING SIGNATURES ON NOMINATING PETITIONS. BY POLITICAL PARTIES, D ' ay . work. You can sit down and say, all we're going to pay these guys is $50Q, and we're not going to pay any benefits, and we know that's not cast in concrete either. First thing you know, those boys are going to vote themselves a raise and give benefits. You have only one term before they can do that No matter who it is, it'll happen that way. Ihe fact is, it'll happen, maybe not in the first term, but the next. We're not going to stop that, it's human nature. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE AGAINST THE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT PLAN? RAY: It's not a question of voting against. I'm still in support of the one we have. It's a good system, and in an area with the population that we have, it still works. You're not going to find anything better. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE PLAN? NORM: It will sound like a broken record, but I would say the plan was aimed to provide better representation, and greater efficiency and a more effective system for the society we live in today. THERE IS NOW NO METHOD, OUTSIDE OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, TO REMOVE A COMMISSIONER FROM OFFICE. THE PROPOSED PLAN SAYS THAT IF 15 PERCENT OF THE COUNTY VOTERS SIGN PETITIONS, A RECALL ELECTION WILL BE HELD. WHY DO PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH YOU, AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM? NORM: I haw to listen to how they start their sentences. Are they saying, "I think this is better for the community," or arc they saying, "I don't like this because of a personal issue. I won't have as much power, my organization loses control." A lot of the negative comments I hear are not community based, it's a special interest that feels threatened. That's honest, they are defending their turf, but I don't hear them saying the community will suffer because of this plan, but that an individual or group will suffer. Democratic party members have said to me, "I like everthing in the plan, but it's nonpartisan, and I can't support nonpartisan because it takes away Democratic Party power." And I say, "That's a community interest?" WHY DO PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH YOU, AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM? RAY: The support for the plan comes from the Travel Council decision, and how it was handled. I think the commissioners were right, but I agree they handled it wrong. There's where the whole thing comes from. But that doesn't justify a change in government. And there were other things, they should have held the opening of the bids on the courthouse here. But that still doesn't call for a change. Everytime these people get mad, they're going to try to change the government, there's no end to it. I don't want to say they're wrong because of the way they think, but remember it's a costly change, and it isn't going to solve anything. WHAT'S WRONG WITH A RECALL PROVISION? RAY: Number one, because there are ways of getting rid of someone if they're not doing the job. I've seen it happen. You bring enough heat to bear on anybody, and they're going to resign. recall t And number two, every time somebody gets unhappy about something, they'll want to you. A lot of this is happening in Grand Junction now. The best check and balance is still the voting bloc And people hear footsteps, when you don't do something right, you hear from the public and if you don't conform, you're off next time. And you still have the other two people, there's still a good check and balance. I'm just afraid that the public, when they see they have the right to recall, everytime they are unhappy they're going to be trying to file some kind of action to recall, and that gets to be a real nuisance, and it gets very costly. ' Just the harrassment of it constantly happening becomes very annoying, and sometimes it can bring county government to a screeching halt So you might not have a recall, but it becomes a strong pressure. I've been in government and I get put out by elected officials like everybody else. I'm going through real turmoil right now, with dty government as well as county. There are times when Dave and Manuel make me really aggravated. But it doesn't call for a change in government WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT A RECALL PROVISION? NORM: We thought it was mostly a check to keep people honest knowing there was a way to remove them from office, so they had to be And to give the people a way, if something got really out of hand, that they could voice their opinion. If you've ever been involved in an initiative effort It takes a tremendous amount of energy to get even 15 percent of the population involved. I don't think it will be used lightly or indiscriminately. I think you really have to give the people of this county the credit for the responsibility they would take in using it And if they go through the referendum process, it still has to go to the ballot And if the majority still favors that candidate, they are not out This i f LEM INDIAN TRADING CO. Moabs Finest Selection & Quality of Authentic Native American Indian Art . 860 South Main 259-594- 2 Moab, Utah 60 North Main NAVAJO, ZCINI & HOPI JEWELRY KACHINAS ZGNI FETISHES NAVAJO RUGS ALABASTER CARVINGS SAND AINTINGS ACOMA & JEMEZ POTTERY PAPAGO BASKETS NAVAJO BASKETS t ; WHY NONPARTISAN? NORM: The belief seemed to be that partisan politics were a hindrance at the local leveL You had people who are definitely motivated to run, but the party system was like the ultimate primary, a very small number of people would decide whether you were nominated as Republican or Democrat And because of the strength of the parties in national politics, independents were discounted. Now, anyone who wants to run can get a certain number of signatures, and everyone's on an even footing. Now, when you get to the election, people are going to have to be educated, they'll have to know the issues each person brings up, they can just walk in and say "I'm tills party nationally, therefore this person is going to best represent me." WHY IS PARTISAN BETTER THAN NONPARTISAN? RAY: I don't know that it is. But I have a preference. Because the party has a system, a group of local people who are very interested or they wouldn't belong to one party or the other. And they are a sounding board for the candidates, in either party, and that's very important They find out what the candidate's background is, a test area before they really run. If they're not in keeping with what the party thinks, then maybe they shouldn't run. But then they still have the right to run independent. I think it's good to go through a sounding board. WHY SUPPORT THE PAY CUT? NORM: I think the issue of why people get into public service has been lost. It is public service, it is not a job or profession. We looked at counties around the country, and the range was fantastic Some counties pay $100 per month. Some, it's unpaid. Some, it's $1,200 or $2,000, some it's a full time position. It seemed the tone in this community was they wanted public servants, not professional politicians. And it does take time, so some compensation is reasonable. But it is also arbitrary. I'm not sure you get a better commissioner if you pay $800 or $1,200 than you do at $500. Looking at the quality of people on all the various volunteer boards I sit on I don't think in many cases paying someone absolutely nothing means you get inferior work. WHAT'S WRONG WITH CUTTING THE PAY? RAY: I don't think they will really be reduced, though at first look it may seem like it Unless we have a full time commissioner, the pay scales shouldn't be as high as they are now. The pay scale shoud be like 5, or 6, or even $800 per month. Maybe it's time for Grand County to have a full-tiadministrator, not with a lot of authority, but the job of carrying out the day-to-d- PAGE 21 259-505- 5 |