Two days ago, I sent a final email to the Washington County Board of Commissioners, warning that the lack of response from any member of the Board except Dick Schouten was going to necessitate a ramping-up in the Cool Washington County campaign, which would include some public actions that might not put the current county government in a very good light.  The next day, surprisingly, I actually received two emails in response to my message.  One was from County Administrator Robert Davis, offering to talk about the Cool Counties Declaration and its implications for Washington County.  I hope this conversation actually happens; I am currently for a phone call from Mr. Davis.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO THE BOARD, ASKING THEM TO PASS THE COOL COUNTIES DECLARATION

Meanwhile, I received another email, last night, from Chairman Tom Brian.  Chairman Brian's message was not very...er...encouraging.  The chair of the Washington County Board doesn't understand the Cool Counties Declaration, or what it is really about.  And instead of responding to my messages over a month ago with his concerns, he chose to wait until now, when the campaign has gathered enough momentum to seem, I think, somewhat threatening to someone who doesn't really get it.  He sent me a long list of worries about money, staff time, and the like; believe it or not, Chairman Brian, I saw all that coming, and am well aware of the challenges the county will face in becoming a true Cool County.  That does not detract from the environmental imperative to set tangible goals for reducing greenhouse emissions.

If Chairman Brian thought he would discourage the Cool Washington County campaign by bringing up a few problems that I anticipated long ago, he was sorely mistaken.  This Monday, at a Pacific University event, Pacific students who attend will be sending emails to the entire Board of Commissioners, about Cool Counties.  I have finally received some kind of response from the Board, and this campaign is just beginning in earnest.

-Nick