Posted: Saturday, October 4, 2003 12:00 am
Editor's note: This weekend, Philomath voters should receive ballots to consider the recall of City Council members Eric Karbowski and Ken Schaudt. On Friday, the Gazette-Times featured the views of Schaudt and Councilman Rick Matson, the chief petitioner for the recall of Schaudt. Those stories are available online at www.gazettetimes.com, under the "Community" heading. Today's edition focuses on the views of Karbowski and Connie Garman, chief petitioner to have him recalled.
Questions about ethics, decisions
By KYLE ODEGARD
Gazette-Times reporter
PHILOMATH - Connie Garman wants everyone to forget about the couplet for a moment, as hard as that may be.
Instead, she suggests, think about a City Council member who has made some questionable decisions, both ethically and politically.
Of course, Garman believes supporting the couplet is one of the shaky decisions Eric Karbowski made. But it isn't the main reason for seeking his recall, she said.
"So many questions in such a short time," Garman said. "Someone else could do the job a little more straightforward and trustworthy."
Karbowski has been cleared of lying on the 2002 Voters' Pamphlet, after an apparent misunderstanding led him to say publicly that he didn't own Myrtlewood Mystique Gallery, which he did, and reaffirmed shortly afterward.
He's now possibly going to be investigated by Oregon's political watchdog agency for an alleged inappropriate conflict of interest with the couplet and Lakeside Industrial Park.
Even if he's cleared by the agency, the perception of misdeeds and wrongdoing will remain, Garman said.
After all, the Elections Division had serious concerns with Karbowski's Voters' Pamphlet statements, though it could not prove the council member lied.
And Garman said she thinks it's likely the Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission could make the same sort of ruling.
"For them to say we still question what was going on here, or we have our doubts, doesn't mean he didn't do it," Garman said. "Even if Eric is cleared, people here have heard statements."
Though Karbowski recused himself from voting on an $850,000 loan for Lakeside Industrial Park in September, Garman pointed out that the council member made the motion to let the city manager proceed with the loan application.
"He brought that forward," Garman said.
"Given one of these things, you could say, 'Oh, he's made a mistake.' Given all of them, I think you say, 'This speaks poorly for Philomath.' "
Garman works at Denny's Chevron, whose owner, the mayor's father, is a staunch opponent of the couplet. That didn't shape her views, though, she said.
She became chief petitioner for Karbowski's recall rather accidentally, after an impromptu discussion with locals at work, probably because of a newspaper someone had picked up there, Garman said.
"I sort of like to talk about things that aren't right. … I actually had said to a group of people that I had questions about what he was doing, and that he should be recalled," Garman said.
That started the ball rolling, and she ended up volunteering to lead the recall effort.
Karbowski reaffirms vision
By KYLE ODEGARD
Gazette-Times reporter
Eric Karbowski says he's going to be cleared of any political misconduct - just like before.
"I haven't done anything wrong," the first-term Philomath City Council member said.
Even if he hasn't, he'll still face recall in an Oct. 21 special election.
Being found innocent again might not change things anyway.
Though his opponents have targeted ethical questions, Karbowski believes the recalls of himself and fellow council member Ken Schaudt are based primarily on their support of the couplet.
The ethics attacks on him, he said previously, were retaliation for voting in favor of the traffic project, which would move eastbound traffic off Main Street and onto Applegate.
"All they really have is to attack my credibility and reputation," Karbowski said.
Voting against the recalls, Karbowski said, "will send a clear message to the entire community that we want to move forward."
The highway improvements are about safety and better mobility, Karbowski said, defending his couplet vote.
The recalls are wrong and a waste of money, he added, the product of a few people scared that they would lose business.
"They're not thinking of the whole community. They are thinking of themselves," he said.
"Philomath is at a crossroads, and there are a few people resistant to change."
After deflecting criticism, Karbowski pointed to what he believes got him elected - his desire to boost Philomath's economy.
"I'm trying to bring high-paying jobs to Philomath. We used to be a blue-collar town.
"A lot of people in this town want to see economic development and recovery like we had 20 years ago. A lot of people want to see better opportunities."
The Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission will decide whether to investigate Karbowski or absolve him for alleged inappropriate conflicts of interest on Oct. 10.
The first accusation revolves around a conversation with Lakeside Industrial Park developer Dan Desler, before Karbowski became a council member. Karbowski has always dreamed of owning a hardwood mill, and Desler said he would help to finance such a mill at the industrial park.
Karbowski points to the mill and the industrial park as chances to bring jobs and business to town.
The second allegation of conflict of interest is that Karbowski, part owner of Myrtlewood Mystique Gallery, shouldn't have voted on the couplet because of a conflict of interest. The gallery lies on the couplet route.
Though most business people believe the couplet will hurt business in town - including Karbowski's family, he said - the council member voted in favor of the road plan.
Though the agency could exonerate Karbowski, its decision will be nearly a week after voters have had recall ballots in their possession.
Karbowski was cleared of lying on the 2002 Voters' Pamphlet this summer. Apparently, because of a misunderstanding, Karbowski said he did not own Myrtlewood Mystique Gallery in a newspaper correction he sought in June. Karbowski said he owned the business in the Voters' Pamphlet, and a complaint to the Oregon Elections Division quickly was filed.
Despite the ruling, the agency had concerns about Karbowski's statement.
Karbowski will host an open house at 7 p.m. Sunday at City Hall to talk about the recall.