There are two words that really stand out in the race for the parks board between incumbent Scott Wallace and newcomer Justin Gottlieb: goose poop. The fecal matter paving the paths and covering the lawns of our public parks is near the top (or perhaps at the top) of Gottlieb’s agenda. He wants to hire a special “Goose Poop/Goose Population Manager” and cites the fact that Wallace sat on the parks board while more than 100 geese were euthanized last summer as a reason for the public to make a change on the board.
Wallace didn’t spend much time discussing goose droppings during our meeting with him earlier this month, opting rather to hit on some of his key interests. One of his focuses is indoor recreation opportunities in the district, an area in which he feels the community is underserved. A youth baseball coach and an avid ice hockey player who organizes the local Steelheaders club team, Wallace recognizes that the current budgetary situation in the district doesn’t provide many expansion opportunities. However, he would like to see the community get more mileage out of its existing facilities.
“Juniper [Swim and Fitness Center] is loved to death, but there’s an unmet need for more space,” he told our editorial board.
We hit on a few other items with Wallace, a Bend-based geologist who has sat on the board since 2007, including his thoughts on the future of Mirror Pond. He’s in favor of dredging – something that we’ve been opposed to in favor of a mix of restoration and enhancements. But we’ll cut the goose crap and get to the point – we see no reason that Wallace should be unseated from his position on the park board, which is why we lend him our endorsement.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2011.
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I have an elevated concern about the election for the Bend Parks and Recreation District. I have regularly attended their board meetings and Scott Wallace is doing an outstanding job. The district is well run and they watch their budget. I say vote for Scott Wallace!!! His opponent, Justin Gottlieb, is a young, recent Portland import and (this ain’t Portland)!!! He proclaims our problem is; goose-poop, youth participation, and fiscal responsibility. NOW THAT IS A MISGUIDED PLATFORM!!! Foster Fell is acting like a “dead goose” candidate and is running as a “spoiler”. Since George Thayer is not running for re-election, (Thanks for your great srevice George!!), Dan Fishkin and Dallas Brown are running for the position. Please vote for Dan Fishkin. He has been on the district’s budget committee and is more familiar with park district operations. Dallas would have a learning curve and Dan would “hit the ground running”. By all means find your ballot and VOTE !!!
I am voting for Justin Gottlieb and I agree with the above statement that everyone should find your ballot and vote!