So now we get the second in the series of Columbian campaign pieces for Stuart

As I pointed out yesterday, the Columbian has joined with Steve Stuart's floundering campaign to get him elected as a county commissioner.

In this case, it was Tom Koenninger coming out of the closet for Stuart in a huge way. To anyone that doesn't share Ol' Tommy the K's world view, they are immediately classified as the enemy. Of course, ol' TK already HAS his, so it's easy for him to complain about others trying to get theirs.

That's why he demands strict restrictions on those who live in the Gorge while he, unencumbered by those same laws or regulations, beats hell out of those who want to live like he does. Of course, if HE actually lived there, he wouldn't come across like quite the hypocrite he is.

In today's blather, he makes Tom Mielke out to be the anti-Christ, continuing to puff up ol' Stevie Stuart's bus tour morality play.

TK tells us:

"Builders and developers are gaining the upper hand, with
ample help from the Clark County Commissioners, especially Chairwoman Betty Sue Morris."

Apparently, the simple idiot hasn't looked at Stuart's PDC's, where a Who's Who of the very people ol' TK loathes are financing his boy, big time.

05/18/2005 $10,000.00 CROWN ROAD VANCOUVER WA 98684 CROWN ROAD DEVELOPER

02/10/2005 $10,000.00 KUBICEK GREG VANCOUVER WA 98687 HOLT HOMES, INC. REAL ESTATE

03/04/2005 $10,000.00 LUGLIANI DAVID VANCOUVER WA 98683 AMERICAN PACIFIC COMMUNITIES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

02/11/2005 $10,000.00 SEBASTIAN RANDAL S. LAKE OSWEGO OR 97035 RENAISSANCE HOMES HOME BUILDER

07/29/2005 $8,018.00 HOLT HOMES INC. VANCOUVER WA 98687 REAL ESTATE

09/06/2005 $5,000.00 BREMERTON LLC VANCOUVER WA 98682

06/30/2005 $5,000.00 GLAVIN PETER AND VICTORIA VANCOUVER WA 98686 TAYLOR MADE HOMES PRESIDENT

06/28/2005 $5,000.00 HINTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION VANCOUVER WA 98685 DEVELOPER

05/13/2005 $5,000.00 RENAISSANCE DEVELOPOMENT CORP. WEST LINN OR 97068 DEVELOPER

04/20/2005 $5,000.00 SCOTT'S EXCAVATING VANCOUVER INC VANCOUVER WA 98687

04/20/2005 $5,000.00 ZEPHYR COMMUNITIES LLC VANCOUVER WA 98684

04/20/2005 $3,000.00 PACIFIC FIRST FINANCIAL GROUP PORTLAND OR 97223

06/23/2005 $2,000.00 AMERICAN TOP REAL ESTATE CO INC WALNUT CA 91789 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

04/20/2005 $2,000.00 PACIFIC FIRST REALTY LLC PORTLAND OR 97223

06/23/2005 $1,000.00 KOLBERG DOUGLAS PORTLAND OR 97221 SELF EMPLOYED DEVELOPER

06/23/2005 $500.00 KASSAB ELIE VANCOUVER WA 98660 PRESTIGE DEVELOPMENT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

07/27/2005 $500.00 KILLIAN PACIFIC LLC VANCOUVER WA 98660 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

06/29/2005 $500.00 REALVEST CORPORATION VANCOUVER WA 98660 DEVELOPER

07/20/2005 $500.00 RIVERVIEW PROPERTIES LAKE OSWEGO OR 97035 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

So, there you have it. About 2/3d's of ol' Steve's money, something over $88,000, comes from the forces of the Dark Side that ol' TK whines about. Doesn't this cretin understand that when this so-called "environmentalist" is bought and paid for by the very developer interests that Koenninger condemns, they're going to want SOMETHING in return?

So,where's ol' TK's condemnation of Stuart for being a wholly owned subsidiary of many of the Clark County developers he routinely condemns? What does ol' TK think they coughed up $88,000+ for, anyway?

Was it some sort of extortion? Hard to say. But what I do know is this: Tom Koenninger is a rank hypocrite. His double-standard is legendary. His failure to hold Stuart to the same standards, to question Stuart's involvement in getting Pridemore to yank a bill that would have put state limits on local races while costing Stuart $40,000 or so in campaign funds (as detailed here:), his failure to condemn Stuart's obvious reliance on developer dollars for his campaign while blasting everyone else... all condemn Koenninger for the hypocrite he is.

He has become an embarrassment to the community, to the Columbian and to journalism. He ought to be ashamed of himself... and that's in addition to being stupidly giddy about Karpinski chasing hundreds of jobs away because of Koenninger's idiotic desire to keep this place economically retarded, like it was when he was a kid.

Clearly, there is no level Koenninger will not stoop to to get his boy elected... including his incessant caterwall about a bus tour. It's almost as if he's got it confused with the governor of this state taking 50 people with her to China or some such. What a maroon.

Opinion - Livability of county in jeopardy

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

TOM KOENNINGER
editor emeritus of The Columbian

Be aware if you care: Clark County land is being gobbled up in smothering, sprawling subdivisions and endless acres of strip malls.

Longtime environmental attorney John Karpinski is aware, does care, and is in deep distress over the county commissioners' actions.

The building boom and development craze, while not a new phenomenon, is becoming a growing menace to future livability here. It's all about politics.

Builders and developers are gaining the upper hand, with ample help from the Clark County commissioners, especially Chairwoman Betty Sue Morris.

The land use balance on the commission has swung toward development over the past year.

More...