STEELER SURPRISE
CAN’T RUN FROM THE LAW
Five-play stretch before halftime leads to win, B1
Former Olympian given 5-year sentence, A7
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014
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BY KURTIS HAIR The World
DeFazio, Robinson go for the jugular in Coos Bay BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
COOS BAY — Not only are Peter DeFazio and Art Robinson used to running for office, they’re used to running against each other. That was evident in their sharp rebuttals at the League of Women Voters of Coos County candidate forum Monday night at the Egyptian Theatre, which drew about 400 attendees. U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., has represented Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District since 1987. His GOP challenger, Art Robinson, led with that fact in nearly every statement, making “career politi-
cian”and “political class”his buzzwords of the night. Robinson said career politicians trade “our resources for campaign cash,” creating a conflict of interest when it comes time to vote. “Campaign finance is a serious problem.It’s the reason DeFazio has been able to serve more than a quarter of a century in office,” he said to laughter from the crowd. “Mr. DeFazio, you’re in office because you have been able to get money from special interests to overcome virtually every challenger you have had.” DeFazio got scrappy, scribbling notes throughout the forum and firing back at Robinson with his past statements on public schools and the hundreds of thousands of dollars he received from hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, which led to a series of attack ads against DeFazio in 2010 and 2012.
Robinson repeated, “He leaned, I would lead,” in his closing statement, accusing DeFazio of sitting on the fence on the timber industry’s problems and the Jordan Cove Energy Project. “I haven’t done a bunch of 180s since I’ve been in Congress,” DeFazio countered. “I’ve been consistent, a fighter, a leader.” He said his O&C bill is the only bipartisan bill to make it out of the House, though its success looks dim in the Senate. He also produced a letter from Jordan Cove parent Veresen Inc. CEO Don Althoff, thanking DeFazio for their “relationship that has developed over the last 20 months.” While DeFazio said he’s able to be detailed and give specifics in his answers, Robinson is vague, “except to blather on about the SEE COOS BAY | A8
Richardson turns up the heat Gov. John Kitzhaber, left, and Rep. Dennis Richardson shake hands after a Gubernatorial Debate on Monday, at NBC5 in Medford.
BY JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A3 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
The Associated Press
protocols for her business, and that he has called on the state Ethics Commission to confirm those guidelines and protocols were proper. “We are taking an allegation that is undocumented and unproved and treating it as fact,” Kitzhaber said. “Someone who is desperate enough to go down that route, it raises serious questions
Comics . . . . . . . . . . A6 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . A6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . C3
DEATHS
INSIDE
MEDFORD — In their sixth and final debate, Republican gubernatorial challenger state Rep. Dennis Richardson tried to turn up the heat on Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber, repeatedly using the word “corruption” in connection with a consulting business operated by Kitzhaber’s fiancee. “He thinks it’s OK that his first lady and senior adviser would triple her income in one year, receiving payments from companies that wanted access to her government connections,” Richardson said Monday night in the studios of KOBI television in Medford. “Governor, that’s not OK. That’s corruption.” Kitzhaber responded that Cylvia Hayes had a successful consulting business before he was elected four years ago, that they created a set of guidelines and
in my mind about what they have to offer Oregon except for the fact that they are not me.” Kitzhaber had appeared to be cruising to re-election to his fourth term, but lately has suffered a series of setbacks, though he has held on to his position as front-runner. SEE GOVERNOR | A8
Scott Trimble, Davenport, Iowa Dixie McCourt, Coos Bay Earl Stringfield, Coos Bay Vicki Brunsman, Myrtle Point Peter Frizell, Lakeside
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NEWPORT — Newport residents made it clear to the U.S. Coast Guard that the decision to close its air facility would have deadly consequences. Hundreds gathered at Oregon Coast Community College on Monday evening for a community meeting to discuss and hear public comment on the Coast Guard’s recent decision. On Nov. 30, the Coast Guard will close its air facility in Newport and consolidate all of its aviation resources on the Oregon coast to Astoria and North Bend. Newport is one of the busiest ports on the Oregon coast, and it would take about an hour for the closest sector, North Bend, to respond to an emergency. The city of Newport and Lincoln County held the meeting to get the Coast Guard’s and the public’s input over the issue. It was an emotional night. The meeting started off with Admiral R.T. Gromlich, commander for the 13th U.S. Coast Guard District, explaining why the facility had to close. “The decision to close the air facility in Newport, Ore., as well as Charleston, S.C., was actually part as a budget submission for fiscal year ’14,” Gromlich said. Gromlich said that it has been a tough environment fiscally, and the Coast Guard is constantly having to make difficult decisions, and these decisions come from the highest levels.
Since the decision was announced, many in Newport and surrounding communities banded together. One organization, Newport Fishermen’s Wives, a nonprofit organization, started a petition get the Coast Guard to reverse its decision. The petition got about 18,000 signatures, and Jennifer Stevens, president of the Newport Fishermen’s Wives, gave it, along with hundreds of letters, to the admiral. Many fishermen, loggers, Newport residents and relatives of those lost in accidents emotionally spoke to members of the Coast Guard and members of the Oregon congressional delegation over the issue. For Ginni Goblirsch, a Newport resident and former member of the Newport Fishermen’s Wives, closing the facility and putting search and rescue an hour away will put lives at risk, she said. “In this region, and this cold water,” Goblirsch said. “An hour is a death sentence. You’re not doing search and rescue. You’re doing body recovery.” The national requirement for search and rescue is two hours. On Oct. 11, the Coast Guard rescued five people who were stranded on rocks about 15 miles from Newport. If the air station in Newport had been closed, North Bend might have been too late in responding. For David Jinks, director of Midwater Trawlers Cooperative SEE NEWPORT | A8
White House opposes Nazi benefit payments WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Nazis should not be getting the Social Security benefits they are receiving as they age overseas, the White House said Monday, responding to an Associated Press investigation that revealed millions of dollars have been paid to war-crimes suspects and former SS guards who left the U.S. for Europe. “Our position is we don’t believe these individuals should be getting these benefits,” said spokesman Eric Shultz when asked about the situation. He said the Justice Department has said it has “aggressively pursued Nazi war criminals and brought over 100 of them to justice.” He added that the department and the Social Security Administration “work together within the confines of current law to cut off benefits for criminals that shouldn’t be receiving them.” AP reported Sunday that dozens of Nazi suspects have collected benefits after being forced out of the United States. Though their World War II actions led to their departure, they were not convicted of war crimes. The payments flowed through a legal loophole that gave the Justice
James Stackpole, North Bend Pattie Hopper, North Bend
Obituaries | A5
FORECAST
By Amanda Loman, The World
U.S. Representative District 4 candidates discussed their views at a public forum put on by the League of Women Voters of Coos County at the Egyptian Theatre on Monday night.
Yearslong political rivalry comes to a head during debate
$1
Residents in Newport fear air facility closure
It’s debatable
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Department leverage to persuade Nazi suspects to leave the U.S. If they agreed to go, or simply fled before deportation, they could keep their Social Security, according to interviews and internal U.S. government records. Several efforts to change the law to cut off payments to the few aged former Nazis have failed. Separately, a senior House Democrat demanded on Monday that the Obama administration investigate the payments over the years. Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York requested the inquiry in letters to the inspectors general at the Justice Department and Social Security. Maloney, a high-ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, called the payments a “gross misuse of taxpayer dollars.” The Justice Department said it was reviewing Maloney’s letter. Security The Social Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Security The Social Administration has refused AP’s request that it provide the total number of Nazi suspects who received benefits and the dollar amounts.
Rain 65/57 Weather | A8
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