Fortuna Mayor John Campbell made his first city council appearance Monday since the FPPC announced it would investigate him for a possible conflict of interest.
Strange accolades were offered the mayor, first by a former Lockeed Martin worker now serving on the Fortuna Planning Commission who said he has “full confidence” in Campbell, and added that Eureka’s Balloon Track could become “a beautiful shopping center.”
City Councilmember Dean Glaser then accused the Times-Standard of a “vicious attack” for their strongly worded editorial calling on Campbell to recuse himself from any issue involving his PALCO sugar daddy. Glaser said he is canceling his subscription to the T-S and encouraged others to do the same.
Glaser then eagerly shared his discovery that floods happen elsewhere in the world for which Pacific Lumber is not responsible.
Well, that settles it! Campbell is innocent! Radical environmentalists be damned!
Councilmember Doug Strehl, who subbed for Campbell at a meeting of the Humboldt Council of Governments (HCAOG), announced Campbell has been named HCAOG Chairman.
For his part, Campbell spoke favorably of his recent medical treatment, apparently proving that all is well with the US health care system.
See there? All you have to do is team up with a Texas junk bond king and adequate health care will be yours!
December 17, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Pick a fight with a newspaper. Gooooood.
How a person responds to criticism implies a lot about oneself. Those guys aren’t doing themselves any favors when they open their mouths.
December 18, 2007 at 6:44 am
Fortuna seems to have a different definition of “conflict of interest” from the rest of us. Google the term. Maybe the Humboldt Council of Governments could have a workshop about the importance of disclosing situations that create conflicts of interest, such as when an official could stand to gain or lose financially by the result of a given vote.
Oh, yeah. John is the head of HCOG. I guess that could make this workshop particularly cutting-edge…
December 18, 2007 at 7:42 am
Where was the times-standard on the Dunk scandal in McKinleyville? Seem like changing the policies so you can get a free piece of land rises to the occasion of conflict?
December 18, 2007 at 7:43 am
I think it’s HCAOG, “heraldo” – Humboldt County Association of Governments.
December 18, 2007 at 7:48 am
I am confused. Is it balloon tract or balloon track?
December 18, 2007 at 8:03 am
Thanks, I fixed it.
December 18, 2007 at 8:10 am
INBRED HILL BILLIES RULE (and the outback ones too!)
December 18, 2007 at 8:18 am
Some serious ignorance going on in the friendly city-
What do you expect?
December 18, 2007 at 9:19 am
Watching Fortuna City Council meetings is painful to the informed or trained eye. I would compare it to watching little Labrador puppies being bludgeoned to death. They really have no idea what they are doing down there. Glad somebody has the stomach to watch it.
December 18, 2007 at 9:47 am
I’m waiting for form an opinion until after tad has weighed in on the issue.
December 18, 2007 at 10:03 am
Was watching Fortuna City Council meeting yesterday. Dean Glaser made me happy — and it wasn’t just his lengthy ad hominem speech. Did the rest of you see — he is well on his way to achieving his 37 pieces of flair! I especially liked what appeared to be a little deputy sheriff’s star badge.
December 18, 2007 at 10:04 am
“I would compare it to watching little Labrador puppies being bludgeoned to death.”
Thanks – I just spit my tea onto my keyboard, and people are moving slowly away from the snorting sounds emanating from my cube. Such a vivid description…
December 18, 2007 at 10:18 am
Dean’s bling was a source of inspiration some months ago.
December 18, 2007 at 10:33 am
Peace be with you 9:47
My weighty insight: I don’t do TV. I don’t get involved in Fortuna City politics (yet). I don’t care much for Campbell, due to his selling out the county during MAXXAM deal. And I think Dean Glaser is a wanna-be good-o’-boy who you just pull his string and his tie lights up and he recites party bullshit.
Hope that helps.
love eternal
tad
December 18, 2007 at 11:04 am
You pretty much nailed it Tad
December 18, 2007 at 11:40 am
It is like watching an old western as they circle the wagons.
December 18, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Is it a requirement that you must be a Pacific Lumber tool before running for office in Fortuna?
December 18, 2007 at 3:28 pm
We attended yesterday morning’s Times Standard’s, Coffee the Editor and Publisher in The Friendly City. I am working on a blog post about it for our blog and will post it soon.
We were a few minutes late after taking Little Missy to school. We met Rich S. in the parking lot. He was late, too, as he couldn’t find Hot Brew. He thanked me for my smile.
December 18, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Carol Conners of the Humboldt Democratic Central Committee, is Fortuna really “The Friendly City?” Try telling someone who isn’t WHITE that Fortuna is “The Friendly City.” They would laugh in your wealthy WHITE face.
December 18, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Sorry to burst your bubble, anon, but I haven’t been on the HCDCC since 2006. The City of Fortuna calls itself The Friendly City. However, your question is valid.
Wealthy? I didn’t know I was rich. Actually, I am not white, but an example of the “melting pot” of the United States. My ancestors are from all over the world. I would like to define myself as from the Human Race, thank you!
December 18, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Wealthy? What are we doing working so hard?
Carol was on HCDCC for less than a year. I took her place for several months. We are currently associate members.
Fortuna’s population is about 11,000. Forty-five percent of the last presidential vote in Fortuna went to John Kerry, a number which astonishes local conservatives.
There are some great people in Fortuna. Dave at the Shell station is the real deal, and there are nice people like him all over town. I don’t defend the bad stuff (becoming a charter city just to pay lower wages??) but Fortuna is generally okay.
December 18, 2007 at 4:33 pm
BTW, Fortuna is rapidly diversifying. In addition to a fairly large Native American population, the area has added a recent influx of hispanics. It’s less white than Eureka was in the sixties.
December 18, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Greg, dear, It is Dave’s 76 now. It use to be Dave’s Shell.
I have either lived and/or worked in Fortuna since 1982. It is a changing town.
December 18, 2007 at 4:52 pm
(In 2006) The racial makeup of the city was 88.39% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 2.91% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 3.95% from other races, and 3.16% from two or more races. 10.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
December 18, 2007 at 4:59 pm
The Mexican nationals and the American Blacks who voluntarily live in Fortuna seem as happy as anybody else who lives there. But I still don’t think it’s any more friendly than any other city, unless you were raised there.
December 18, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Wikipedia also says 25% of the elementary school students in Fortuna speak Spanish as their first language. If you had not looked at Fortuna for several years, this would be an astonishing statistic.
December 18, 2007 at 7:28 pm
And Fortuna High’s Marching Band kicks Arcata High’s marching band’s ass!
Just saying……
December 18, 2007 at 7:30 pm
If the Arkleys don’t acknowledge Arcata’s existence, does it really exist? Just asking….
December 18, 2007 at 9:04 pm
And Fortuna means something good in Spanish, whereas Arcata means… uh… what does it mean, again?
December 18, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Ouch, 9:04. You win, Fortuna is better than Arcata. lol
December 18, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Arkley grew up in Arcata. They go out to eat in Arcata. They exercise in Arcata. Who says they hate Arcata?
December 18, 2007 at 9:15 pm
See the thread about the Eureka Reporter calendar, 9:10.
December 18, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I did. So much of it is inaccurate heresay.
December 18, 2007 at 9:30 pm
So you are claiming that the Eureka Reporter didn’t leave events in Arcata out of its calendar?
December 18, 2007 at 10:03 pm
only the part about the reason being that Arkleys hate Arcata. I have no idea why the ER left over the Arcata information.
December 18, 2007 at 10:03 pm
left “out”
December 19, 2007 at 11:50 am
Carol & Greg, there’s video of Monday’s Coffee with the Editor & Publisher on Rich’s blog, Newstradamus.
December 19, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Thanks for the link, She. That was the first time I ever heard the idea that, if enough officials have conflicts on a given item that it could halt any action, they should vote on the item anyway so action can be taken.
That doesn’t seem right to me, but it came from a city official. It’s a good discussion and I hope it continues.
May 14, 2008 at 5:39 am
The city of Fortuna reminds me of Germany in the 30s Tail wagging the dog—-people should wake up and git rid of the Hitler