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Josephine County commissioners say Hare deserves 'forgiveness' Sunday Jan 8, 2017 at 12:01 AM By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier GRANTS PASS — Simon Hare was elected chairman of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Thursday with the support of new colleagues Lily Morgan and Dan DeYoung, who said it's time to forgive Hare's mistakes and recognize his talents. Just over a year ago, Hare was arrested in Eugene for drunken driving. He's off probation for that offense as of last Monday, and he said he's the stronger for the experience. Morgan and DeYoung were elected to the Board of Commissioners in November and took their seats for the first time Thursday during a business session at the Basker Auditorium. Both took note of Hare's misdeeds, but didn't name them specifically. "It's a time to move forward," Morgan said, in nominating Hare, 38, for chairman. "It's a time for forgiveness." She said there was much to learn from Hare, a native of the Illinois Valley who is in the middle of his second four-year term on the three-member board and enjoys a reputation for attention to policy details, especially regarding forestry issues. DeYoung, who like Morgan is a former member of the Grants Pass City Council, said he has worked with Hare in the past. "I've watched him demonstrate a real sense of leadership," DeYoung said. "He's a good listener." The two new commissioners replace Keith Heck and Cherryl Walker. DeYoung defeated incumbent Heck, while Morgan defeated Bill Hunker of Merlin in the race for the other seat, after Walker declined to seek a second term. DeYoung took note of what he called Hare's "personal challenges," but said he respects the man. "I applaud his strength and his commitment to the county," DeYoung said. With Hare in agreement, the board voted 3-0 to appoint him to the post. DeYoung nominated Morgan for the vice chairman spot, with that vote also 3-0. "I find her to be very open-minded," DeYoung said. In a later interview in his office, Hare discussed the past year, agreeing with DeYoung that it was challenging, but he also said it turned out to be positive for him. Hare said he underwent three evaluations and that his use of alcohol rose to the level of abuse, but "wasn't necessarily an addiction." And, he viewed the abuse as a result of stress from his job, with its responsibilities and pressures. He said he takes those responsibilities very seriously. "I think I've learned a lot through these challenges," he said. "I think I've grown. It's not necessarily been a negative." Hare said the DUII incident and its aftermath was incredibly public and painful, but that it probably did him good in the long run. He said he now works out, has lost more than 20 pounds and has a "great group of friends" supporting him. "I'm very remorseful," he said. "We already had enough to deal with. We didn't need this." In other matters taken up by commissioners on Thursday: Morgan said she'd like to form an advisory committee on marijuana. Mark Seligman of Selma voiced his opposition to proposed land-use regulations affecting the marijuana industry, including rules regarding a ban on new commercial cannabis grows in some residential areas. Seligman, who has run unsuccessfully for a seat on the Board of Commissioners five times, also said he is opposed to a provision for a code enforcement officer with the power to issue citations for violations. The board is due to review the proposals on Jan. 23. Reach reporter Shaun Hall at 541-474-3722 or [email protected].