Innuendo, lies, fear

To the editor,

Those campaigning for the recall of Gearhart Mayor Dianne Widdop have resorted to innuendo, lies and fear, mixed in with a lot of sweet talk. Retaliation for signing the petition? Free speech rights being violated? Come on.

I have heard the allegations. They have been answered to my satisfaction by Mayor Widdop (“The Gearhart recall decision,” The Daily Astorian, March 3). And yet this little group continues to ignore facts and simply repeat their allegations. They sound like a broken record.

It appears to me that this group studied at the “Sarah Palin school of political activism.” Just make up your own facts and couch them in sugary, cute phrases. Mix with a big dose of patriotic rhetoric citing the Constitution, free speech, diversity, honesty and kindness. And there you have it: the campaign to recall Mayor Widdop.

If anyone is being pushy with the recall efforts, it is the group seeking to oust Mayor Widdop. In the space of a 24-hour period, the doorbell rang three times at my full-time Gearhart residence.

The third time a petitioner rang the bell, (it was one of the same women who rang our doorbell earlier), she was somewhat rude and pushy when I pointed out that we had already stated we were not interested in signing the petition. I asked that our name and address be taken off of their list of houses to canvass. I got the “big stink eye” at my request.

One last thought: Who is going to pay for this recall election that will cost around $7,000? Not Clatsop County. The costs will be passed on to Gearhart taxpayers. Perhaps the recall group could cover that bill. In their vendetta to oust the mayor, they are the ones creating a divisive community. Restore trust? I don’t think so.

Randy Wiltgen

Gearhart