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Shady Cove voters must decide on 2nd recall attempt By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune SHADY COVE - Time is running out to cast votes in this city's second recall election in as many months. Recall ballots targeting council members Fred Wendt and Allison Curtis, and Mayor Tom Anderson were mailed to Shady Cove residents Dec. 21. Ballots are must be turned in by 8 p.m. Tuesday. The special election is part of a campaign led by Citizens for Affordable Government to recall the entire City Council. A December attempt to recall two other council members failed. Claims against Anderson, Wendt and Curtis include allegations that the council does not follow legal procedures, especially regarding city water issues and the spending of public funds. Jim Collier, a retired teacher and former mayor of Shady Cove, has been involved in the recall efforts. "I am in favor of the recall because it's the only way we could get them to listen to us," said Collier, who was recalled once as mayor and once as a councilman. "People tend to stay with the status quo unless they have some impetus to change," he said. "You've got to get people stirred up." Collier claims the city has not followed proper procedures in setting up things such as the collection of sewer fees and system development charges. He said it's important for the council to address these issues. Anderson, who's in his sixth year as mayor, said the council has checked with the Oregon Department of Revenue, the League of Oregon Cities, the city attorney, the city auditor, and the city accountant concerning the allegations. "We have followed the law in every single case," he said. He said he has only one concern about the recall. "My concern is that it's so bizarre (the residents) are not even going to bother to vote," he said. Wendt, who's been on the council for three years, said he doesn't think the recall efforts will be successful. "I got a lot of faith in the citizens of this city here," he said. Wendt said the staff and citizens have really pulled together since Anderson took office. "I can't say enough about that man's leadership," he said, adding that the residents must recognize it, too, because they've elected him to a third term. "This city has advanced so far in the last five-plus years." Curtis agreed that the city is in good financial standing because of actions of the current mayor and council. For example, she said the city is able to do things like resurface the streets now. "In the past," she said, "there were (residents) filling the potholes themselves because the city couldn't afford it." Curtis said that, as a councilwoman, she has not been doing anything illegal or violating any procedures. "I don't lie," she said. "What you see is what you get with me." Instead of a recall election, she'd rather see that energy put toward something constructive. She said she hopes Shady Cove residents can work together to solve some of their problems. Efforts to recall council members Lois Holland and Jack Henson were unsuccessful in a special mail-in election held Dec. 18. Collier said the recall was originally set up to have three elections, so that if it were successful, the city would not be left without a functioning council. "The idea was that they would always have at least three people to continue operating," he said. But with each election costing around $1,600, the second and third elections were squeezed into one. Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Jackson County Elections Office, 10 S. Oakdale, Medford, and they can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Shady Cove Branch Library, 22477 Highway 62. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.