Dutto

LA GRANDE — The owner of EOAlive.TV said he removed the video of a local candidate forum a few hours after it was posted Tuesday, Oct. 18, because he was “disgusted” that some candidates used the event to attack their opponents.

Brent Clapp, owner of the online TV channel, said he was upset the Public Safety Forum, which was scheduled to allow candidates for the La Grande City Council and for mayor to talk about public safety issues, was not limited to that topic.

“I just really was disgusted by how some of the candidates used that forum and I think they took advantage of the unions of the firefighters and La Grande city police. It was divisive. It was nasty. I was just really uncomfortable with how that forum ran,” he said in a video on the EOAlive.TV Facebook page addressing why he removed the recording.

Five candidates running for city positions gathered at the La Grande Fire Department to discuss public safety. The La Grande Fire Department’s Firefighters Local 924 Union and the La Grande Police Association hosted the forum.

Candidates had the chance to speak about important safety issues in La Grande — from wildfire risk to staffing and retention concerns with the fire and police departments. But public safety wasn’t the only thing on the agenda.

Candidates were given 10 minutes to introduce themselves and then speak about any topic related to public safety. Dustin Alam, president of LGFD Firefighters Local 924 Union, said he intended candidates to use this time to talk about what they stand for and how they plan to address public safety issues if elected. Given the lack of a moderator, Alam said they wanted to keep the format as simple as possible, which is why there was no time set aside for rebuttal.

One candidate in particular used this time to directly attack his opponent.

Cody Vela, who is running against Corrine Dutto for a seat on the city council, spoke about his perception of his opponent’s approach to public safety. None of which Dutto had an opportunity to address because she had been the first to speak. During her time at the podium, Dutto addressed how the needs of law enforcement, firefighters and first responders are changing and need to be considered on an ongoing basis.

Alam and Clapp spoke before the recording was removed from EOAlive.TV’s platforms, according to Alam. He said while Clapp agreed to stream the forum, the unions did not have a contract in place with EOAlive.TV for the streaming. Alam said he understands this is Clapp’s business and that it is his decision to make.

“The bottom line is that at 2:30 a.m. I got up, removed all those videos from our platforms because I felt terribly uncomfortable with how it was portrayed,” Clapp said in the video. “At the end of the day I’ve gotta live with myself. I’ve gotta live with what we produce and what we put out.”

Dutto offered a statement following the forum reflecting upon what had been said about her.

“I just am trying to communicate what I have to offer to the community. I think we have a wonderful community but we do have needs which need to be addressed,” she said. “I completely support our police and fire departments. We need to use data to address possible adjustments, data like an increase in calls for service. I think we have all of the pillars we need to function as a very livable city, these include our police and fire departments, our public works department, parks, pool and library. If we didn’t have any one of these things we would not have a nice place to live.”

Dutto added she believes it is important for the city council to work together.

“Berating people does not foster a good team environment,” she said.