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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 25, 2007 Gold Hill Councilwoman must resign or face recall Resident spearheading recall effort says Price puts police's interests first By sanne specht Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — Recall petition signatures collected against Councilwoman Kathleen Price have been verified at the County Elections Office, said Donna Connor, elections deputy. Friday's verification means Price has five days to resign or submit a statement of justification that she should remain in office and face a recall election. The elections office can take up to 35 days to place the matter on a ballot, Connor said. Gold Hill resident Deborah Davis is spearheading the recall effort, alleging Price's advocacy for the city's embattled police department has caused her to interfere in a city audit, file false reports with state agencies, harass public employees and toss out public meetings rules. "This recall effort is not just about the police," said Davis. "This is about a councilwoman who breaks the rules, changes the rules and disregards common decency and ethical behavior to get her way." Price said she is being singled out for recall because she has been vocal in her support of the police — Police Chief Dean Muchow in particular. Advertisement "Dean has done nothing wrong and the police department has done only good," Price said. Muchow was placed on paid administrative leave in a special council meeting on Oct. 24 while allegations of fraud and harassment and other claims were investigated. Davis said Price disrupted the investigation by personally contacting an independent auditor, ultimately causing him to resign and question the openness of the city's leadership. In January, Price suspended public meetings rules so she could place Muchow back on duty. At March's City Council meeting, Price championed Muchow's budget request for an additional $6,000, taking the money from the public works department — instead of demanding accountibility from the chief, Davis added. "Muchow doesn't have to answer where his money is going?" said Davis. "That's not answering to the citizens of Gold Hill. She has said she isn't interested in any police option that doesn't keep Dean Muchow employed. She represents Dean Muchow's interest. Not the city of Gold Hill." Price says the city's police budget was hurt by increased gas costs and other unanticipated expenses. And placing Muchow on paid leave for three months forced the city to pay Gold Hill Sgt. Hank Hobart, "double to do Dean's shift," Price said. "Chief Dean Muchow has done nothing wrong," said Price. "It's our job to find the money to protect the city. Dean should not be blamed for mishandling funds when he wasn't given enough money to begin with." Price said she did not interfere in the city's audit. She contacted the independent auditor "for clarification and for information only," Price said. And she suspended public meetings rules in January because City Attorney Steve Rich told her that was the only way she could bring a vote to reinstate Muchow. Davis says Price's actions demonstrate the extremes she will go to protect the police department. Gold Hill needs to maintain local police protection, Price said. Homeowners and businesses have suffered from recent burglaries and warmer weather will bring an influx of transients to the town, Price said. "We need visual control to maintain the transients," said Price. "We need these undesirables to know that we have a police force that cares about the citizens of Gold Hill." Davis said Price exaggerates dangers in Gold Hill. "I don't know what she's talking about," said Davis. "Tons of transients invading Gold Hill? That's just crazy." The city's liability insurance company has increased Gold Hill's deductible and placed the town on probation because of ongoing disputes about the police department, Davis said. After decades of dysfunction, city leaders should admit the town cannot successfully operate its own police force and contract with the Jackson County Sheriffs Department, she said. Price said contracting with the sheriffs department may be less expensive, but won't give Gold Hill the control it needs to effectively police the town. 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