To the Editor:

I joined in on the John Day City Council Jan. 10 meeting through Facebook and was a bit taken back by the reactions of the new council members and that of Mayor Rookstool to the public’s request to vote Shannon Adair to the council.

As I listened to the citizens in the audience and had knowledge of public support through letters and comments to the council, it became extremely clear to me that along with “change,” as the mayor consistently pointed out, that there is a very large portion of the citizens of John Day who also want an experienced person on the council … and they were clearly stating that that person be Shannon Adair.

Several times I heard Mayor Rookstool and the other new members of the council dismiss the voice of the citizens that they serve. It seems to me that appointing Shannon Adair will serve as a balance between the “change” that the mayor so many times quoted and the “experience” that many citizens feel is necessary to carry the council forward in successfully handling the challenges that are forthcoming.

I urge the new city council members and Mayor Rookstool to listen to the “other half” of their citizen base who are calling for that needed balance.

Elaine M. Mezzo

John Day