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June 18, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 30, 2004 Swales decision reeks of old boy games People attending the Ashland City Council meeting Tuesday evening were treated to a blatant display of small town, good-ol' boy politics when Mayor Alan Deboer steadfastly refused to renew Colin Swales' position on the Ashland Planning Commission. So just what was Colin's unpardonable sin? Could it be his vigorous opposition to the massive Sid DeBoer memorial-home and his revelations concerning the details of the process leading to that structure's approval by the Planning Commission? The mayor's disturbing claim that "activists" serving on commissions are a liability to the city was found totally unacceptable by council members Hartzell, Jackson and Morrison who, in an action apparently not seen since 1975, refused to ratify the mayor's new choices for the commission in question. It came as no surprise that council members Laws, Amarotico and Hearn - in what is becoming an habitual lock-step reaction - found nothing inappropriate in the mayor's decision and voted in support of his choices. The appointment process is now stalled and will resume at a later date. It is indeed ironic that the evening evolved into a tribute to Colin Swales and his public service record. Hundreds of citizens came to his defense by signing petitions, submitting written accolades and giving public testimonies. Particularly noteworthy was the uncompromising endorsement of fellow Planning Commissioner Briggs and the results of an enquiry undertaken by John Morrison, which revealed that even those commissioners who found Swales challenging at times held him in high esteem and acknowledged the value and importance of having him serve. Rather than being a liability, it became evident that Swales is considered by a wide spectrum of residents and colleagues to be an outstanding asset. In a community experiencing an ever-widening split on the subject of development and in dire need of an atmosphere of consensus, the mayor demonstrated that his type of leadership leaves little room for dissent. More ominously, one has the uncomfortable feeling that his actions may in fact be feeding this growing polarization and that not far below the "let's talk" demeanor is a man whose policies actually favor hardball politics rather than genuine dialogue. Please, Mr. Mayor, prove me wrong! A credible first step would be the re-appointment of Colin Swales. Darwin Thusius Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams