Macrae-Smith – Lamptons’ Airport Flip Flop Coincides with Donations
Posted by CW Moderator on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Under: CW Port Issues
In August, Port Commissioner candidates Lampton and Smith were accused of “flip flopping” as they changed their minds about supporting Grove Field and instead, publicly announced opposition to the Grove Airport improvements and the proposed FAA funding project. Information supplied from a group of concerned citizens who audited the candidates, surfaced donors and dates that coincides with this “flip flop”. Donations to Smith of $500 from Lynn Johnston, $500 twice (total of $1,000) from Steve Carol. Donations to Lampton of $500 from Lynn Johnston and $250 from Steve Carroll occurred between July 17th and August 3rd. Coincidence? - Gershon
In a letter to the Editor of the Post Record….which went unpublished:
“Last week John Raynor, campaign manager for Port Candidate Bill Macrae-Smith, wrote a very misleading and factually incorrect letter to the editor of the Post Record opposing the proposed safety improvements for Grove Field. Mr. Raynor is certainly entitled to his opinion, but to represent that opinion as fact, as well as hide his conflict of interest is a disservice to the public and intentionally misleading. Raynor and Macrae-Smith are both local realtors and members of CCIA, a supposed public advocacy group.
Additionally Macrae-Smith’s campaign is single handedly being funded by CCIA members Lynn Johnston and Steve Carroll who are heirs to the 350+ acre Johnston dairy land just west of Grove Field, along the north-shore of Lacamas Lake. To date these two have contributed 97% of Macrae-Smith’s campaign contributions. Add Johnston’s and Carroll’s recent opposition letter and op-ed pieces to the mix and you get a pretty clear picture of why Raynor and Macrae-Smith are opposed to the airport proposal? As the old saying goes, “Follow the money”! See for yourself at www.pdc.wa.gov.
Two years ago the City of Camas rushed to annex the north-shore land including Johnston’s dairy land. That act put the local taxpayer’s on the hook for $200 million in infrastructure improvements, which will significantly increase the value of Johnston’s land. Did Raynor and Macrae-Smith stand up and condemn the enormous cost? No! Did they condemn the rushed annexation, which conveniently stopped the judicial review of Johnston’s proposed land use change? No. We find that rather hypocritical and self-serving, don't you? So much for being saviors of the taxpayers’ dollars! The bottom line is these four individuals have no problem saddling you with an enormous tax burden if it benefits them, but suggesting that the Port accept a grant from the FAA to improve a community asset, well that’s blasphemy! If that double standard isn’t bad enough, in 2004 Raynor was more than happy to be a paid consultant for the Port, assisting in and advocating the rezoning of the Port property around Grove Field. We guess he had a lapse of memory.
Raynor, Macrae-Smith, Johnston, Carroll and their friends at CCIA want to control the Port and its assets. Macrae-Smith along with fellow CCIA member and Port Candidate Mark Lampton are nothing more than the mouthpieces for CCIA. Raynor alluded to this in his letter. Consider what Mr. Raynor wrote last week, “Come November 3 we hopefully will have 3 new commissioners who are not committed to spending that kind of money..." That statement is very telling. Current Port Commissioner Bill Ward was a founding member of CCIA and has remained very close to the organization. Even though he has not publicly stated his position on the airport proposal, Raynor and CCIA are confident as to how Mr. Ward will vote. How can that be? You draw your own conclusion.
A democracy only works if the public makes informed decisions. If Raynor and the CCIA have their way, our Port Commission will be controlled by a handful of individuals who are beholden to CCIA's development plans. We need to stand up and protect our community assets by electing Commissioners who are independent, fair-minded public servants who will not allow themselves to be bought and paid for. That is why we are voting for Alan Hargrave and Gary Perman for Port Commission. They can be trusted to protect the public interest for ALL OF US!”
Sincerely,
Neil Cahoon, Camas
Mark Paras, Former C-W Port Commissioner, Camas
Liz Pike, Camas
Charlie B. Hopkins, Washougal
Jim Metzger, Washougal
Kirsten Toedter, Camas
Kyle B. Hook, Portland, OR
Sally Luse, Camas
James P. Landgraf, Camas
Wilbur Mehrer, Canby, OR
Jim Matthews, Battle Ground, WA
In a letter to the Editor of the Post Record….which went unpublished:
“Last week John Raynor, campaign manager for Port Candidate Bill Macrae-Smith, wrote a very misleading and factually incorrect letter to the editor of the Post Record opposing the proposed safety improvements for Grove Field. Mr. Raynor is certainly entitled to his opinion, but to represent that opinion as fact, as well as hide his conflict of interest is a disservice to the public and intentionally misleading. Raynor and Macrae-Smith are both local realtors and members of CCIA, a supposed public advocacy group.
Additionally Macrae-Smith’s campaign is single handedly being funded by CCIA members Lynn Johnston and Steve Carroll who are heirs to the 350+ acre Johnston dairy land just west of Grove Field, along the north-shore of Lacamas Lake. To date these two have contributed 97% of Macrae-Smith’s campaign contributions. Add Johnston’s and Carroll’s recent opposition letter and op-ed pieces to the mix and you get a pretty clear picture of why Raynor and Macrae-Smith are opposed to the airport proposal? As the old saying goes, “Follow the money”! See for yourself at www.pdc.wa.gov.
Two years ago the City of Camas rushed to annex the north-shore land including Johnston’s dairy land. That act put the local taxpayer’s on the hook for $200 million in infrastructure improvements, which will significantly increase the value of Johnston’s land. Did Raynor and Macrae-Smith stand up and condemn the enormous cost? No! Did they condemn the rushed annexation, which conveniently stopped the judicial review of Johnston’s proposed land use change? No. We find that rather hypocritical and self-serving, don't you? So much for being saviors of the taxpayers’ dollars! The bottom line is these four individuals have no problem saddling you with an enormous tax burden if it benefits them, but suggesting that the Port accept a grant from the FAA to improve a community asset, well that’s blasphemy! If that double standard isn’t bad enough, in 2004 Raynor was more than happy to be a paid consultant for the Port, assisting in and advocating the rezoning of the Port property around Grove Field. We guess he had a lapse of memory.
Raynor, Macrae-Smith, Johnston, Carroll and their friends at CCIA want to control the Port and its assets. Macrae-Smith along with fellow CCIA member and Port Candidate Mark Lampton are nothing more than the mouthpieces for CCIA. Raynor alluded to this in his letter. Consider what Mr. Raynor wrote last week, “Come November 3 we hopefully will have 3 new commissioners who are not committed to spending that kind of money..." That statement is very telling. Current Port Commissioner Bill Ward was a founding member of CCIA and has remained very close to the organization. Even though he has not publicly stated his position on the airport proposal, Raynor and CCIA are confident as to how Mr. Ward will vote. How can that be? You draw your own conclusion.
A democracy only works if the public makes informed decisions. If Raynor and the CCIA have their way, our Port Commission will be controlled by a handful of individuals who are beholden to CCIA's development plans. We need to stand up and protect our community assets by electing Commissioners who are independent, fair-minded public servants who will not allow themselves to be bought and paid for. That is why we are voting for Alan Hargrave and Gary Perman for Port Commission. They can be trusted to protect the public interest for ALL OF US!”
Sincerely,
Neil Cahoon, Camas
Mark Paras, Former C-W Port Commissioner, Camas
Liz Pike, Camas
Charlie B. Hopkins, Washougal
Jim Metzger, Washougal
Kirsten Toedter, Camas
Kyle B. Hook, Portland, OR
Sally Luse, Camas
James P. Landgraf, Camas
Wilbur Mehrer, Canby, OR
Jim Matthews, Battle Ground, WA
In : CW Port Issues
Tags: "port commission" "camas" "washougal"
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