By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
July 6, 2007

Hood River County commissioners reappointed Joyce Reinig on as the county’s representative to the Columbia River Gorge Commission for a four-year term.

The Monday night vote was split. Chairman Ron Rivers and Commissioner Les Perkins voted against the reappointment while commissioners Maui Meyer, Barbara Briggs and Chuck Thomsen voted for it.

“Because she has been there for 20 years and after 20 years it was probably time for change to allow another direction to get involved,” Rivers said, of his vote. “Not performance or anything she has done or hasn’t done.”

“I felt all the candidates interviewed well but felt Gorham (Blaine) interviewed best and the fact that he had an ag background and has been in the valley a long time would have made him a balanced choice,” Perkins said, of his vote.

Reinig was selected from among five candidates who had applied for the post. The other four included Scott Franke, Gorham Blaine, North Cheatham and Deborah Phillips.

“I’m very excited I’ve been re-appointed as there are some very critical issues we need to deal with at this time,” Reinig said. “I feel my seniority and knowledge will be important during this time.”

Because of a county policy set in 2005, the longtime representative had to apply and be interviewed. Reinig has served as Hood River County’s appointee since the creation of the Gorge Commission in 1987.

County administrator Dave Meriwether said there had been some misunderstanding in the community that Reinig had resigned from her post.

“It is just a new policy since the last time she had been reappointed and applies to every board or commission for the county,” Meriwether said.

Gorge Commission Executive Director Jill Arens praised the move. She said Joyce has a historical perspective on commission work.

“Yet she is eager to try new approaches to improve the commission as it evolves. She is fair-minded and takes her responsibility seriously,” Arens said.

Reinig said as the newly elected vice-chairman and being retired, she will have even more energy and force to put toward Gorge Commission issues.

She said those include the former Jordan property that the school district has purchased, which lies in the scenic area, and the issue of many communities wanting to expand their urban growth boundaries.