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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATED: The storm door is open: More rain on the way in Southern Oregon ... SOU supporters will gather to watch national championship ... Father has no clothes or toys for his kids ... UPDATED: The storm door is open: More rain on the way in Southern Oregon ... SOU supporters will gather to watch national championship ... Father has no clothes or toys for his kids ... OUR VIEW Our View: Josephine commissioner has more explaining to do Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Josephine County Commissioner Simon Hare apparently thinks he has said enough regarding his recent arrest for driving under the influence. He should think again. Hare was arrested last Thursday night in Eugene after a police officer narrowly avoided hitting him after Hare pulled out of the driveway of a strip club. The ensuing traffic stop for reckless driving quickly became a DUII investigation and Hare spent several hours in the Lane County Jail before being released. Hare released a statement Monday reporting his arrest. The statement said, "I recognize the use of aocohol causes me to make poor decisions. I am therefore entering an outpatient treatment/diversion program for the better part of a year." He thanked his "family, friends and community in advance" for their support while he deals with what he called "this very personal issue." Hare's statement then declared the incident does not affect his ability to do his job as a commissioner, and declared he would not grant any further interviews on the topic. If this was Hare's first incident involving alcohol, we might be inclined to say he should be allowed to wrestle with his demons in relative privacy. But it wasn't. A year ago, Hare picked up a cellphone in a bar that he thought belonged to a friend, and sent suggestive text messages as a prank; the phone belonged to a woman he did not know, and the messages went to her 18-year-old daughter and 21-year-old niece. The woman's husband said Hare was visibly intoxicated and became belligerent when confronted. In 2013, Hare reported his vehicle stolen overnight in Grants Pass after he had been drinking. A Medford police officer who investigated concluded Hare had filed a false report, but did not have enough evidence to file charges. Hare apparently expects the public to take his word that his drinking doesn't affect his ability to do his job. If he told a private sector employer he had a substance abuse problem and asked for help, the employer would be obligated to offer him assistance, but would not be required to let Hare decide whether his drinking affected his work. As an elected official, Hare's employer is the public he represents. The voters of Josephine County deserve more than his thanks in advance for their support and his assurance that he's still fit for duty. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501