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To the Editor:

I am writing to express my support for the recall of John Day City Council members Eric Bush, Sherrie Rininger, and Ron Phillips. Their tenure has been marked by a lack of transparency, accountability, and effective governance, which has left our community at risk.

These councilors claim they inherited a “mess” and are “fixing everything,” yet they have failed to make any positive progress. Calling the past administration a mess might have gotten them elected (or appointed in Eric’s case). But that doesn’t make them better leaders.

Here are three examples.

Antidemocratic actions: Despite asserting that community input is vital, these councilors consistently ignore questions and concerns from residents. They have repeatedly dismissed the need for a community advisory committee and rejected Councilor Labhart’s proposal to update the city charter to expedite the transition from appointed to elected officials. This resistance to change raises questions about their commitment to democratic principles.

Financial mismanagement: They approved a city manager with a $130,000 salary plus incentives, are hiring a Finance and Human Resources director for $90,000 a year, and still rely heavily on attorneys and external consultants. Compare that to the $84,000 a year the former city manager earned, or the $80,000 a year the city of Hines is currently offering their new city manager. Why is this council paying 2x as much for administration as they were two years ago and other similar-sized cities are paying today? Their financial mismanagement is unsustainable for our struggling community.

Lack of transparency: Council meetings are frequently short or canceled, suggesting either covert decision-making or inaction on critical issues that need public discussion. This behavior shows their incompetence and disregard for the community’s needs.

Our community cannot afford to wait until 2026 to see if these councilors improve. Their continued failures, even after the mayor’s recall, demonstrate a lack of willingness to enact meaningful change. The urgency of the situation demands that we hold them accountable now.

Vote “yes” on the recall to pave the way for a brighter, more transparent, and accountable future for John Day.

Shannon Adair

John Day