Backus is the best bet, but what about this memorial?

Published 5:58 pm Wednesday, October 30, 2013

I am quite sure Ms. Nancy Backus will be the next mayor of our town.

I’ve seen many letters to the editor and write-ups endorsing her that made her look like she can walk on water. I’ve seen her campaign signs and placards all over town much bigger and more prominently displayed than that of John Partridge.

I’ve also seen her Oct. 13 televised debate with Mr. Partridge a couple of days ago on Channel 21. May I say that she has more charisma and possess a more confident personality that her opponent. She sat up straight, shoulders back, whereas Partridge leaned clumsily and heavily forward on the table.

She answered all the questions posed by the debate moderator without looking down from her notes, whereas Mr. Partridge fumbled and read from his. She was impressive. She looked ready to assume the position of mayor of our town.

But before I draw my penciled line on the ballot from her name to yes, may I ask a couple of questions?

As you know, the hottest issue among us, Vietnam-era war veterans of Auburn is the joint war memorial. Majority of the members of VFW Post 1741 and the American Legion Post 78 are dead set against this idea. We, at the VFW, voted on it twice, and twice we rejected it. My question is: Is she in favor of this memorial or is she not?

My second question is about those two rusting World War II Quonset huts sitting on the property of Tyee Cedar & Lumber Company on A Street. They’re definitely one of the many disgusting eyesores of our town.

Ms. Backus and I had a couple of email exchanges on this, and I appreciate her responses. She said these rusting structures sit on a private property and there’s nothing she can do about the matter and that the City of Auburn’s code enforcement dubbed these structures as within its standard rules. This town must have a very low standard on structures to allow such an unsafe and unsightly-looking structure along one of Auburn’s main and busy thoroughfares.

Ms. Backus said that because of these Quonset huts’ “military and historical value,” she’ll see into the possibility of moving the rusting structures into a “museum.”

Is she really going to do that? Or, is it just lip service on her part? Just asking.

– Jesse Jose