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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 12, 2005 AuCoin drops forestry board nomination bid Wire and staff reports SALEM — Former Congressman Les AuCoin withdrew his nomination to the State Board of Forestry on Friday, after it became clear that his appointment by Gov. Ted Kulongoski would not be approved by the state Senate. AuCoin, in a letter to Kulongoski, said a contentious Senate hearing and a subsequent e-mail he wrote in which he alleged two senators had lied caused him to withdraw from the nomination. "It seems clear that the vitriolic confirmation process — and intemperate words I wrote in frustrated response — have caused divisions within the party," the former Democratic U.S. House member and Southern Oregon University professor wrote. Kulongoski said Friday he was disappointed the Senate didn’t confirm AuCoin. The "intemperate words" apparently referred to the e-mail that AuCoin sent to more than 20 supporters after a Senate committee hearing Tuesday in which he was sharply criticized by foresters for some of his newspaper and radio commentaries. Advertisement In the e-mail, AuCoin wrote "The only hope I see to win this thing is for environmental organizations to make it clear to Schraeder (sic) and Prozanski ... that if they break their word and vote with timber, they will take appropriate action in 2006." The e-mail, which alleges Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, and Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, lied about whether they would vote for AuCoin, was obtained by The Associated Press after it had circulated Thursday among Democratic senators. Prozanski and Schrader said they have no idea what AuCoin was talking about, and were upset their credibility had been called into question. Prozanski said was not planning on voting for AuCoin three weeks ago because he was a "lightning rod, not a consensus builder," and didn’t represent his district or the state. Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, was among the first lawmakers to get the e-mail. "I was outraged," Walker said. "I was stunned that someone would write something like that about my colleagues." Walker said she passed the e-mail along to other senators, and she said it was clear by Thursday afternoon that AuCoin did not have the 16 votes necessary to be confirmed. AuCoin’s nomination had drawn harsh criticism from Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, and timber groups. They objected that AuCoin, an environmentalist who has criticized timber operators, would take the board seat held by Chris Heffernan, an Eastern Oregon rancher and small woodland owner. "Replacing Chris Heffernan with Les AuCoin is a slap in the face to rural Oregon," Greg Addington of the Oregon Farm Bureau said during the hearing. Kulongoski had said the nomination was to bring balance to the Board of Forestry, which some argue is dominated by members with close ties to the timber industry. "This is the guy that was supposed to bring balance to the Board of Forestry," Ferrioli said. But "he demonstrated that the confirmation process works like it’s supposed to." Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, however, said she was "embarassed and ashamed" of what happened during the hearing and what AuCoin wrote afterwards. Ferrioli said he’s holding out hope that AuCoin’s withdrawal improves chances of Heffernan being nominated for another term on the board. But Kulongoski has no plans to reappoint Heffernan at this point, said spokeswoman Anna Richter Taylor. She said it’s "unfortunate that the Senate couldn’t confirm Les AuCoin. The governor is committed to creating balance to that board, and Les is a candidate that could fill that needed role." Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s