It’s Mike Wilson in the third and Richard Marks in the Fourth – my picks exactly, but I guess in local politics terms a split ticket.
Obviously I don’t disagree with the endorsements, but it dawns on me that I can’t recall an election where the TS didn’t seem to be deliberately splitting its endorsements among slates. It’s like they’re determined to sit on the fence.
….
Over at the Arcata Eye, Kevin Hoover posted a very good discussion of the Third District race. Does anybody besides me really miss Kevin’s Nohum Reports on KMUD Monday mornings?
Kevin is endorsing Wilson by the way, and the trail – but not some of his progressive support (including Heraldo).
22 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 2, 2009 at 6:06 am
anon
yeah it was nice to hear kevin hoover on monday mornings but when the new guys took over they kept interrupting kevin’s rap and he didn’t like that and got out of it…
November 2, 2009 at 7:25 am
Zeno
Eric, I respectfully disagree with your endorsement of Marks. I have no doubt that he is a good man, and he may well best fit the dominant political views of the division he would represent. I also respect his union background.
My disagreement is that electing Marks substantially increases the likelihood of a continuation of 3-2 votes on backward-looking port development ideas. There is a reason why the old conservative political machine is lining up behind Marks. In my opinion the Harbor Commission needs to take a whole new direction in its economic development. Higgins and Wilson have started this process, but it won’t go anywhere as long as there are 3 votes for policies whose economic relevance died 40+ years ago.
I expect that either Ash or Penn would be far more likely to work collaboratively with Higgins and Wilson to focus on realistic and balanced harbor development.
November 2, 2009 at 7:36 am
anon
i wish kevin had just said, “look guys let me do my rap, THEN ask questions at the end.” but he was too cool to come off so “demanding” so he just up and left…then again i could be wrong…
November 2, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Eric Kirk
Maybe I’m being naive, and I hope not, but I suspect they’re lining up behind him because they’re figuring that a swing vote is better than a straight progressive slate vote. And I think we need a swing vote who will realize that the deep port/rail road concept is an outdated pipe dream, but also keep the jobjs issue at the forefront of consideration. The interests you describe know they’re fighting a rearguard battle when they’re endorsing a union activist. They don’t have any choice.
That being said, I have no problems with either Ash or Penn other than the possibility that, like the Bay Area, we will lose a vital working class culture which is actually essential to a vibrant alternative culture as ironic as it seems. The well to do who would move in to telecommute or retire will turn Humboldt County into a less populated Sonoma County and for my part that’s not a good thing for Humboldt County.
I don’t know Marks very well, but I’m hopeful he will maintain his soul through the ravages of elected official politics, no matter who donates to his campaign and no matter whom he is friends with.
Maybe I’m being naive, and I hope not, but I suspect they’re lining up behind him because they’re figuring that a swing vote is better than a straight progressive slate vote. And I think we need a swing vote who will realize that the deep port/rail road concept is an outdated pipe dream, but also keep the jobjs issue at the forefront of consideration. The interests you describe know they’re fighting a rearguard battle when they’re endorsing a union activist. They don’t have any choice.
That being said, I have no problems with either Ash or Penn other than the possibility that, like the Bay Area, we will lose a vital working class culture which is actually essential to a vibrant alternative culture as ironic as it seems. The well to do who would move in to telecommute or retire will turn Humboldt County into a less populated Sonoma County and for my part that’s not a good thing for Humboldt County.
I don’t know Marks very well, but I’m hopeful he will maintain his soul through the ravages of elected official politics, no matter who donates to his campaign and no matter whom he is friends with.
0
November 2, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Eric Kirk
I don’t know what happened there, but I’m sorry he’s no longer on.
November 2, 2009 at 12:28 pm
grouchy mama
Too bad Richard says he endorses the idea of a railroad. I have read his blog for years and feel some connection with him….but give me a break. The railroad is an expensive and not-going-to-happen idea.
I would love to give Marks my vote, especially since he challenged Bonnie……BUT…. I like what Susan has to say…
November 2, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Dave Kirby
Has any of the candidates taken a position on the Richardson Grove realignment? It would seem that they would be supportive of the project. As reopening of the railroad through the Eel River canyon is a pipe dream in search of pork, having more efficient freight service to the bay would seem an important issue.
November 2, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Eric Kirk
I don’t know that it’s come up. All three candidates in the second district Supervisor’s race endorsed it as you well know. I’m not sure it would come up in a Harbor District race in the northern part of the county unless somebody specifically asked.
November 2, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Fred Mangels
The Richardson Grove realignment doesn’t, and shouldn’t, come within the purview of the Harbor Commission.
November 2, 2009 at 4:54 pm
anonymous
Eric, you are naive, and blind, to support Richard Marks. Think about the votes, total votes needed to get things done in the commission. Richard Marks will be a status quo of all things in the past. Vote for Penn, and move things forward in to the next century.
November 2, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Eric Kirk
Even the “conservative” commissioners are losing faith in the whole deep port/rail road thing. The writing’s on the wall. I don’t think it’ll be an issue in a year or two, unless diehard Hauser is elected. I think common sense will guide Marks’ votes.
In any case, it all comes together tomorrow.
November 2, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Richard Marks
Just for the record, Mike Wilson and Pat Higgins solicited me to run for this position. Ask them both. Dennis Hunter did not and has not endorsed me. Assuming my positions before I have even been elected is kind of short sighted. I will take all information and react accordingly. Just as I have on the other boards I have been on. I do have a track record. Thanks for the endorsement Eric. Sorry you have taken some heat.
Susan and John also have good intentions for the commissioner seat. They are both well qualified. So vote as you will. I wish all well.
November 3, 2009 at 9:05 am
Eric Kirk
No sweat Richard. If the heat ever really got to me, I wouldn’t be blogging. Good luck today.
November 3, 2009 at 3:44 pm
arcatawitch
I also miss Kevin on KMUD.
November 4, 2009 at 9:42 am
Kevin Hoover
“yeah it was nice to hear kevin hoover on monday mornings but when the new guys took over they kept interrupting kevin’s rap and he didn’t like that and got out of it…”
Thanks to those who said nice things about the old NoHum Blab segment.
I miss doing that show. While I like radio work, I find that I’m just not simpatico with the exigencies of the medium. Two years ago I was doing segments/shows on KMUD, KHSU, KHUM and one in a while, JPR. Now it’s down to the occasional Friday Focus segment on JPR.
When Michael and Joan left, Dennis seemed to want a more disciplined, newsy Monday morn segment from me. It was not terribly pleasant delivering that, as what I had been doing for years was more stream-of-consciousness commentary. The reckless spewage was what people seemed to like, too.
Also, at the time I left we were downsizing the newspaper, and I was taking on additional duties I had previously farmed out to others, so the idea was to focus on the main mission. I wasn’t sure how much extracurricular stuff I’d be able to handle.
There were a couple of other less-pleasant factors, too. Suffice to say that I was beginning to feel out of sync with the station. My friend Tony Magee of Lagunitas Brewery was recently asked by the Zappa Family Trust to do another in his series of Frank-branded beers – a huge privilege – and declined.
He said something very wise at the time, which has stuck with me. To paraphrase, all good things come to an end, and sometimes, knowing when to end it is what ensures that it was and will forever be something good. or something like that; he said it better.
November 4, 2009 at 10:23 am
Anonymous
Yeah, the good old days, when Kevin Hoover would slam and slime local figures, who would then call up the Michael and Joan show to respond and get hung up on.
KMUD has changed. For the better.
November 4, 2009 at 10:56 am
Kevin Hoover
I offered what I thought were frank opinions on sometimes-controversial local issues, and I did so in full public view, without anonymity, just as I do with the newspaper.
I recall that on numerous occasions people called in with contrary views, we discussed the disagreements, and often they had good points.
November 4, 2009 at 11:53 am
Carol
I tried to post a comment, but it disappeared, so if it shows up and is a repeat of this comment, then the reader will no what happened.
I was a fan of the old KMUD Monday Morning show with Joan and Michael. I use to listen every Monday morning, and especially enjoyed the Mattole Patrol with Rondall Snodgrass and The NoHum Report. I like Dennis fine, but I prefer the relaxed delivery of Michael on Mondays and his discussions about birds, wildlife and gardening.
Congratulations to Richard and Mike!
November 4, 2009 at 11:59 am
Kevin Hoover
I loved Rondall’s meditative ruminations on nature.
November 4, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Carol
Rondall lives in Arcata now, right?
November 4, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Kevin Hoover
Not sure. I do see him around here a lot.
November 15, 2009 at 10:45 am
Jeff Muskrat
Why not?