To the Editor:

Once again, John Day City Councilor Dave Holland has empowered his wife to speak for him. In last week’s Eagle (“Council President Unfairly Attacked,” July 5, 2023) she thinks he is being picked on by the new members on the council and the new mayor. I, too, think he should be removed as council president as well as a council member.

Mayor Rookstool was plainly put in charge and has set a new, more responsible direction for the city. Some nefarious actions include spoiled public employees in their attack on the mayor’s interim manager, who responded by resigning. I believe he did not want to deal with adults acting like middle school kids. This was brought on in their quest to involve the former manager (Green) in future planning.

Let’s just mention the failures that Councilor Holland voted “yes” on. These failures were brought about by the former manager. Start with the greenhouse. Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent and still paying off the original debt. The razing of the historic Gleason Pool and throwing a little under $400,000 away by attempting to leverage the citizens to vote “yes” on a $4 million pool bond. This debt had to be straightened out by the Rookstool administration this FY. It was a debt left over from the last administration/council.

The URA program obtained a $2 million-plus loan from Business Oregon. Also, in this loan, money was specifically allotted to “pay the debt service” on it. Police funding was defunded. (Usually a top priority.) At the end of December 2022, the total debt for the approximately 1,200 taxpayers in the city was $5.9 million. To continue down this road is insane and leads to more debt.

While Mrs. Holland has every right to complain, I feel it is more emotional and surely bias is shown. I have presented facts. So now who is picking on whom? Mayor Rookstool was elected because a majority of the people wanted a more responsible government in John Day. The holdover councilors and city servants need to back off and give her a chance. “The Enemy Within” comes to my mind.

Bob Pereira

John Day