As reported in the Yakima Herald, paperwork was presented to the Yakima County Auditor to begin the process of a recall petition of Yakima City Council member, Rick Ensey. Kudos to the two citizens – Charlotte Jones and Gene Rupel for taking this step. Ensey has made preposterous statements regarding his flagrant violations of the open meetings act. He says he did nothing wrong and even went to great lengths to make sure that not even a hint of the open meetings act was abused. He thinks he was exonerated by the taxpayers paying attorney, Tim Schoenrock $2500 to avoid a court decision. Looks like he’ll have his day in court after all.
It will be interesting to see how Bruce Smith spins all the facts in this situation for his minion; Ensey. It will also be interesting to see how Ensey’s closest Council ally; Bill Lover, comes to his defense. Let’s just speculate a little here. I’ll bet the defense will be to attack me and cloud the issue as much as they can, while ignoring the actual case being presented. Kinda like the other issues they have distorted, like the EMS Levy and you can be sure they will distort the County’s power play to lower building standards so more profit can go to their home builder supporters at the expense of the residents of Yakima.
This is what we can come to expect with total republican control. Gear up Bruce Smith apologists and let your lame comments fly!
I’m sorry if you think my comment is lame, but honestly, are you going to deny having any knowledge of this before it happened?
You were involved, up to your neck, and this reveals something that I’m sure you dread. (or maybe not, maybe the whole BS fetish is out of jealousy) You, Mr. Bonlender, are the BS of the left. The similarities are interesting… Both white, old, own businesses in Yakima, and both of you love to lie and mislead others.
I for one would be happy if you both put a sock in it.
My first guess is that Ron is behind this recall effort? Im sure it will all come out in the wash. Then he may got over being voted out of office..
BTW was it Grandmier and Corri that filed the paper work
Your first guess?
What does the paper say Paint Stick?
“Charlotte Jones and Gene Rupel”
Petitioners Charlotte Jones and Gene Rupel filed recall paperwork Wednesday with the Yakima County Auditor’s Office accusing Ensey of violating the state open-meetings law.
Looks like the cons are going to go down in history as the party that hates a democracy of “We the people”, and were more than willing to throw away their ethics to push that agenda.
Drew, when you quote from “The Little Woodchuck’s Socialist Democrat Manifesto Guidebook”, it’s proper to acknowledge it in a footnote at the bottom of the page.
Accusing Bonlender that he had a role in the recall is totally irrelevant but is an effective tool to take the focus from the reall issue; Did Ensey and his group break the Open Meetings law?
I, for one, welcome a court hearing on this issue, and I want thank Rupel and Jones for their willingness to take on this issue. I hope someone announces the court hearing because I would like to attend.
What say you all come too. Perhaps we all can learn something.
WHY IS MY TAX DOLLARS going to pay for Ensey court costs. Sound to me like a big waste of my money. Why is not the four members on the city council all chip in and pay to bail out their fellow member Ensey? I am glad at least two city council members voted NO. If Ensey did nothing wrong he should be able to represent himself that will save everybody money. I got another idea why does he not get a public defender that is appointed to him if he can not afford one on his own. The drama thickens…
Yes, it is strange how the fiscal cons want US to pay for THEIR legal defense. To the folks who said a lifesaving fire/medic program wasn’t affordable, how can they justify this expense? When election time rolls around, the voters need to be reminded of just how much a fiscal conservative like Ensey has cost them.
Wake up Yakima!
First, we dish out $2,500 from the City’s treasurey. Now we give Ensey a blank check!
The Council members who voted to pay for Ensey’s legal fees themselves should be recalled.
This has got to be one of the most arrogant, self serving motions approved by the Yakima City Council with total disregard for the taxpayers of the city. This motion, in effect, gives Ensey, a blank check for legal fees to protect against a possible legal violation.
A more justifiable motion would have been to set a limit amount for payment for Enseys’s legal fees subject to the judge finding in his favor.
The motion, as approved, could arguably be a violation of the ethics code just approved, if it was in effect at the time of this motion, as a conflict of interest.
I would recommend to Attorney Fearing to modify his recall action to include all council people involved to not give anyone a free ride. It makes for a stronger case and eliminates the claim of targeting only Ensey.
I would hope that the residents of Yakima see through the arguement that the Democrats are to blame for the recall effort because it is only because of the Council member’s actions that brought us to this point.
I would also hope that the residents of Yakima do not accept the Council member’s arrogance without taking action because it would free them to act with impunity.
It is time to hold the Yakima City Council accountable, otherwise, we deserve whatever they dish out.
Looks like Puppetmaster Rons plan is backfireing, his vendetta for Ensey is yet again going to cost the City of Yakima more money. Thanks Ron.
Stir Shstick,
I just can not give you a pass.
The recall, which no one has give up any solid proof that Bonlender is behind, is going to cost the city more money ONLY because four members of the City Council elected to pay out. Ron did not force them to do that, they voluntarily open the til…Ching, Ching, Ching and the attorneys get rich!
Your attempt to compare Bonlender to Smith is feeble at best. I, for one do not follow step by step. He will be the first one to tell you that we have had our differences.
And you will certainly not find any emails wherein he leads a group around like you found Smith to be doing with some of our city council people.
Stik, it is hardly appropriate to call Bonlender the puppetmaster, when all along it was that publisher. They were all dancing on his strings for leadership. Mom is the only one that said “I guard the kingdom.’
And Hector is correct, it is the council’s inappropriate action to defend Ensey that will cost the city, not Bonlender. Sonia told them they had no idea what the figure would be, and they demurred. She wanted a top dollar established, when it was seen that it would happen anyway.
$2,500 is a drop in the bucket compared to what it will turn out to be for Ensey’s breastplate. That is if the judge sees merit in the recall. And even if he does not, does that mean the council will still shield Ensey from sling and arrows?
It’s a bad, bad precedent.
We brought Granato to Yakima with bad papers and that has cost us. I say Corpus Christi can have him–and quickly too. We better get a different bunch of guys to do the looking for a new chief. This last bunch made a real faux pas.