Pubdate: Sun, 29 Nov 2015
Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR)
Copyright: 2015 The Mail Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mailtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642
Note: Only prints LTEs from within it's circulation area, 200 word count limit
Author: Chris Corcoran
Note: Chris Corcoran is vice-president of the Medford City Council. 
The views expressed in this piece are the individual's and do not 
necessarily represent the opinions or positions of the City Council.

 From the Council

ATTACKS CAUSE COUNCILOR TO RECONSIDER SERVICE

"Kiss my a--!" That was the phrase directed towards me at a City 
Council meeting on Nov. 20 by a pro-marijuana grow supporter. 
Normally I would try to be like a duck and just let the water run off 
my back. But that sentiment and those expressed by the majority of 
pro-grow supporters has left me searching for answers.

I had always lived by the motto that I could be part of the problem 
and sit on the sidelines or I could attempt to be a part of the 
solution by being a part of the process. I thought that I knew what I 
was getting into when I first ran for election nearly seven years 
ago. Never did I think I would have the aforementioned phrase thrown 
at me as a volunteer, unpaid city councilor.

As you can read, I'm really struggling with the concept of public 
service. I signed up for it. I ran in the election. I should simply 
shut my mouth and put up with it. However, ladies and gentlemen, I'm 
not known for giving up. Nor for quitting before, in this case, my 
term ends. It's no wonder we have so much difficulty getting good 
people to run for public office.

In my opinion, we have become a society governed by extremes. When I 
was first seated as a city councilor, I noticed with great interest 
as a former journalist a scene that played out at and after a public 
hearing. Six people testified in favor of a proposal, two were 
against. The vote of the City Council was 6-2 in favor. Three local 
TV stations were in attendance as well as a Mail Tribune reporter. I 
watched all three TV reports on the 11 o'clock news and read the 
following morning's newspaper. The only people any of the reporters 
talked to were those against the proposal. All two of them. What kind 
of perception do you imagine that created for those who were not in 
attendance at the public hearing?

Now, fast forward to the meeting of Nov. 20. We had a chamber full of 
people who testified in three-minute increments for just over two 
hours, all in favor of marijuana grows. If you were present, there 
was little doubt these folks wanted their marijuana grows indoors and 
outdoors. And there wouldn't be any compromises. It is their 
entitlement following the statewide passage of Measure 91. Do you 
think for a second I thought that represented the opinion of the 
majority of Medford residents?

The challenge is most people simply don't care anymore. Whether it is 
marijuana, land use, police or fire stations, the majority has simply 
stayed too quiet for too long. In essence, we have become immune to 
the process and indifferent. As a result, the extremes manipulate the 
press. Extremes sell ratings and newspapers.

Now, I find myself becoming one of the disenfranchised. I have a 
full-time job and a family to support. I truly thought that I could 
make a difference. But when an issue like marijuana becomes such a 
hot-button topic of governance, maybe my time has passed.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom