Public comment: A prayer, a plea, and a moment of silence

Presenter: A moment of silence, a prayer for our public officials, and a plea for civil discourse. Sept. 23, Lane County Commissioner David Loveall:

David Loveall (Lane County, commissioner): I’d like to make a small statement here real quick. Due to the multiple and tragic events of the last two weeks, our country has experienced some very difficult and dark days. Several innocent people, children, and public safety officers have lost their lives. And I grieve them all.

[00:00:27] I still want to be a champion to the courageous causes that allow people to live the way they wish, to speak freely, and to come to the table with fruitful dialogue, and to fight and champion for families and for truth. I also grieve any actions that I’ve done that may have contributed to some of this. So I’m asking for healing and grace and peace over our county and our land. And I’d like to offer a few moments of silence for what went on this week.

(Moments of silence) Thank you very much.

[00:01:02] Presenter: Later in the meeting, public comment:

[00:01:05] David Loveall (Lane County, commissioner): Chris Cirullo.

[00:01:07] Chris Cirullo: I would like to exercise my First Amendment right to simply pray for our county.

Father God, we exalt your name as worthy of all praise, honor, and glory, and acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from you, our loving father.

[00:01:22] As your word says in Romans 13, “I pray the leaders of this county would understand the account they will have to give for how they’ve led, and that they are intended to be your servants for good, according to your ways and principles. That the fear of the lord, which is the beginning of all wisdom, would come upon them, recognizing that they will one day stand before a holy and just god and give an account.

[00:01:43] Let them come to realize the truth of your word in Galatians 6, which says, ‘Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows, they will also reap.’

[00:01:53] Father, I pray that you, the god of our lord Jesus Christ, the glorious father, would give everyone here the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of you. I pray that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened, so that they may know what is the hope of your calling, what is the wealth of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the measurable greatness of your power towards us who believe.

[00:02:14] According to the mighty working of your strength, I pray that they would recognize that you exercise this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at your right hand in the heavens, far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion and every title given not in this age, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.

[00:02:33] And that you subjected everything under the feet of Christ and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

[00:02:43] I also ask that every government official be filled with the knowledge of your will through all wisdom and understanding that the spirit gives, so that they may live a life worthy of the lord and please you in every way. Where needed, convict them of sin. Call them to repentance and transform them into agents of your reconciliation. Most of all, guard and keep them safe. Protect their families, lord.

[00:03:07] Pour out your blessing in favor on those who desire to honor and serve you and root out and remove those who don’t. I contend for all of these things because of your mercy, in accordance with your promises, and ultimately for your glory. In Jesus’s name, amen.

[00:03:23] Presenter: Lela Trope:

[00:03:24] Lela Trope: I live in Springfield and full disclosure: Commissioner Loveall is my person for representation. And I looked at the agenda. I’ve downloaded way too much stuff, and I don’t have a printer at home that works. And so I kind of have to go off-the-cuff sometimes.

[00:03:44] But what I wanted to say is my husband’s getting older. He’s not driving anymore. He’s a bit infirm in his logic and thinking. And yet I look at young people, who are illustrating the fact that if you guys don’t all come together, cohesively, and decide that this person’s more right than another person and that person needs more time and attention because they’re noisier and they make more noise: Isn’t that pretty much where we’ve gone in this country with the most recent killing of a person who pretty much is a national hero—where we don’t have civil discourse and we don’t have responsibility?

[00:04:32] And I for one have to say that out of all the people, that I appreciate having a good, solid give-and-take without being called names and trying to silence them by firing them, because, as Charlie Kirk said: ‘When the talking stops, the fighting starts.’ And I encourage, no matter what people read about conversation, about talking, the accusations can get dangerous when people are considered to be, ‘I don’t agree with you, you’re out of my mainstream, so I want you gone.’

[00:05:13] And I don’t think that that’s what a county commissioner’s board is supposed to do. There needs to be more give-and-take and less accusation, in my opinion. I think that Commissioner Farr does a great job. I think that Commissioner Loveall does a great job and and I think that rural west Commissioner Ceniga does a great job. I’ve not followed you two gals as often as much in what you’re voting and what you’re doing.

[00:05:41] But I need to get back on with this because of the fact that I personally feel vulnerable because of all the arguing and everybody wants their opinion to be the last one heard and down here at the Lane County commissioners’ facility here, there have been a lot of irrational people coming in and demanding their way and that’s the wrong way to do it.

[00:06:07] And I think that we don’t want Eugene to have any more fighting in the streets, destroying personal property. It’s time for it to end.

[00:06:21] David Loveall (Lane County, commissioner): Sorry, Lela, your time is up.

[00:06:22] Lela Trope: Can I just say one more thing about money?

[00:06:24] David Loveall (Lane County, commissioner): It’s up, Lela. I’m sorry, it’s three minutes, it’s all we get.

[00:06:27] Lela Trope: Okay.

[00:06:27] David Loveall (Lane County, commissioner): Thank you very much.

[00:06:28] Presenter: A plea for civil discourse, a prayer for public officials, and a moment of silence at the Lane County Board of Commissioners.