Herald and News June 2, 2009 letter by Frank Goodson, Third Vice Chairman, Klamath County Republican Central Committee

The ‘only’ Basin water plan is not a good one Klamath Falls Herald and News Letter to the Editor June 2, 2009 In a recent letter Patsy Gasser touted the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement as the only plan in the works and a good one.

She also expressed dismay that state Sen. Doug Whitsett, Rep. Bill Garrard and the Klamath County Republican Central Committee supported efforts to block the KBRA. Why would they?

Through office calls, emails, etc., Whitsett and Garrard knew the people of Klamath County strongly opposed the plan because, while it might benefit its makers (tribe, environmentalists, on-project water users), it is paid for by its detractors (general public and off-project water users). They also knew their office data was not statistically adequate so they commissioned the “Whitsett/Garrard-Poll.”

Results of the “poll” make it easy to see the KBRA plan is not a good one. A good plan would have strong voter support throughout Klamath County but here is how registered voters (all parties) decided:

n 97633 Zip Code, Merrill area (homeland of the Klamath Basin Project Water Users): 67 percent oppose dam removal; 67 percent oppose public funding of new reservation lands; 83 percent oppose the closed-door negotiation policy.

n 97624 Zip Code, Chiloquin area (Klamath Tribe headquarters and residence of most tribal members): 70 percent oppose dam removal; 70 percent oppose public funding of new reservation lands; 80 percent oppose the closed-door negotiation policy.

n 976--, all Klamath County. Zip Codes combined: 65 percent oppose dam removal; 68 percent oppose public funding of new reservation lands; 73 percent oppose the closed-door negotiation policy.

And because of the poll results I, too, support the “opposition” positions to the KBRA as encouraged by the Klamath County Republican Central Committee; Whitsett, Garrard, and Rep. George Gillman.

I also encourage all other community leaders to follow their lead. A strong majority opinion of all registered voters, all parties, deserves the support of all elected officials.

Frank Goodson
Third Vice Chairman
Klamath County Republican Central Committee