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3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018 ELECTION 2018 Candidates talk rentals, rabbits in Cannon Beach 26 junction, as well as parking at South Wind. Risley leaned more toward creating a com- mittee to study the issue, as well as leveraging underuti- lized parking lots at busi- nesses like the Cannon Beach Community Church or banks while they are closed. Swedenborg said he wasn’t sure of the solution, but advo- cated for paid parking in city- owned parking lots. By his estimates, the three lots could raise about $500,000 a year to fund whatever option the council decides. Mitchell and Halvorsen also chimed in about the impact of tourism in the region, saying each would work on the state level to rework the way lodging tax revenue gets distributed to cities. “A lot of people already know we’re here,” Mitchell said. “So let’s cut back a lit- tle on promotion and reinvest in things like our roads, our schools … which would not only be a benefit to the com- munities, but would ease the tax burden on those who live here.” Policy issues debated at election forum By BRENNA VISSER The Daily Astorian CANNON BEACH — Candidates for City Coun- cil generally share a common vision: preserve the character and charm of Cannon Beach. But when asked at an elec- tion forum Thursday night about how they would manage key issues which define that character — vacation rentals, parking and how to contain a growing bunny population — their views diverged. City Councilor Mike Bene- field, Greg Swedenborg, a hotelier and Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce board president, and Robin Risley, a real estate agent and plan- ning commissioner, are vying for two seats on the coun- cil in November. Mayor Sam Steidel is running for his seat unopposed. They were joined by state House District 32 candidates Brenna Visser/The Daily Astorian Brenna Visser/The Daily Astorian Mayor Sam Steidel speaks at a candi- date forum. City Council candidates Mike Benefield, Robin Risley and Greg Swedenborg speak at an election forum. Tiffiny Mitchell, a Democrat, and Brian Halvorsen, an Inde- pendent. Republican Vineeta Lower was invited but did not attend. The forum was spon- sored by The Daily Astorian. On some issues, like the bunny infestation frustrating neighbors in Tolovana, candi- dates were equally stumped. “But I think the problem lies in the eye of the beholder,” Benefield said. “You either love them or hate them.” But on others, like regulat- ing vacation rentals, the candi- dates disagreed on approaches. Benefield advocated for a proposal about to go before the Planning Commission that would eliminate the five-year rental permit that allows some homeowners nightly rentals. “It’s putting a commercial business in a residential neigh- borhood,” he said. Risley instead felt the city should do more to crack down on illegal rentals, which she believes will happen once the city hires a code enforcement officer. Swedenborg, however, feels the number of rentals registered with the city is fair. Only about 30 homes have the five-year unlimited per- mit, and the revenue generated from those rentals benefits the city significantly, he said. Instead, he would propose raising the annual fee for the permit from $350 to $3,000 and suggest using the revenue to fund more affordable hous- ing solutions. “These houses we’re talking about are designed to Governor moves to head off Trump on environmental regulations Brown wants state protections By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown wants to guard against a rollback of federal environ- mental rules by moving them into state law where the Trump administration couldn’t touch them. Brown, a Democrat up for re-election next month, pro- posed legislation Wednes- day that would have the state adopt all federal clean air and water standards as of Jan. 19, 2017 — the day before Don- ald Trump was inaugurated as president. “As states, we can take a leadership role in prevent- ing the erosion of core laws that protect our environment,” Brown said in remarks at an event at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. “Together, states must stand up to the Trump administra- tion’s continuous attacks on our health and environment.” Brown said that the Trump administration has already scaled back some rules that aim to keep the country’s air and water clean. The administration has repealed or proposed elimina- tion of about 46 regulations, according to Brown’s office, citing the Harvard Environ- mental Law Program Regula- tory Rollback Tracker. These include fuel effi- ciency standards and regula- tions on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. Oregon has one such plant. The U.S. Environmen- tal Protection Agency is also considering aspects of rules adopted in 2016 to require reduced emissions from public landfills. Landfills emit high levels of gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. Nation- ally, they are the third-largest source of anthropogenic meth- ane emissions. attack on clean air standards, clean water standards, and federal efforts to fight climate change,” Brown said. “In Ore- gon, that rollback stops now.” Nikki Fisher, a spokes- woman for the governor, said in an email that there would be no expected additional cost to state government as a result. Brown’s opponent, state Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, said in response to the pro- posal that he too would “defend Oregon and our clean air and clean water.” “As governor, if the Trump administration attempts to roll back rules that safeguard ‘In Oregon, that rollback stops now.’ Gov. Kate Brown Eight state attorneys gen- eral, including Oregon Attor- ney General Ellen Rosen- blum, sued the EPA over the proposed rollback in May “on behalf of (Oregon’s) citizens and residents to protect their health and well-being and to protect natural resources held in trust by the state.” “It is widely assumed that the next wave of rollbacks will be to core safeguards of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act,” according to Brown’s press release. “Over the past two years Oregonians have witnessed an unprecedented and aggressive Oregon’s environment, I will defend Oregon and our clean air and clean water,” Buehler said in a written statement. “I have shown this repeatedly by breaking with my party on this important issue. I opposed the president’s deci- sion to remove the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and broke with my party to replace coal energy in Oregon with cleaner renewables like wind and solar.” Buehler supported 2016 legislation that required Ore- gon to stop using coal-gener- ated electricity by 2030. He also criticized Brown’s direc- tion of the state Department of Environmental Quality, which regulates air and water. In February 2017, Brown appointed Richard Whitman director of the agency. The previous director resigned in 2016 over a heavy metal air pollution scandal in Portland. In January, state auditors found that backlogs in per- mits and inspections at the agency “endanger the state’s air quality and the health of Oregonians.” “In addition to talking about federal environmental regulations, I would challenge Gov. Brown to fix her own DEQ which has been mired in chaos and turnover, failing to protect and enforce our state laws,” Buehler said. A spokesman for Brown’s campaign, Christian Gaston, claimed in an email Thurs- day morning that Buehler was “lying.” The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group, Pamplin Media Group and Salem Reporter. be rentals. We can’t turn back the clock on that,” Sweden- borg said. Candidates also differed on how they would address park- ing during the city’s peak tour- ism season. “A flashing sign that says we’re full?” Benefield joked. “Unfortunately we’re a beau- tiful place, and the rest of the world is finding out. I’m not sure what to do about that.” Benefield supports creat- ing a shuttle system between town and the U.S. Highway Hawaiian Chieftain tours back on The Daily Astorian After being delayed because of emergency repairs, the tall ship Hawaiian Chief- tain will offer sails and tours in Astoria as scheduled this weekend. Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, the nonprofit that maintains both the Hawaiian Chieftain and a larger ship, the Lady Washington, had worried repairs to the Hawai- ian Chieftain’s rig could take the ship out of the water for up to two weeks. They were pre- pared to postpone a journey Astoria offers middle school tour The Daily Astorian The Astoria School District is hosting an open house on facility needs Monday at Asto- ria Middle School in advance of a $70 million bond measure going to voters in November. The district is asking vot- ers for the bond to improve its five campuses. The center- piece of its improvement plan is a nearly $45 million mod- ernization of Astoria Middle Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Volunteer Pick of the Week Holly AMERICAN LEGION October 6 th /9 am - 5 pm Come meet our crafters and local businesses. Bake goods, candles, clothing, fabric items, etched glass and more! School, including the recon- struction of a dated class- room wing into a three-story academic hall with identical learning communities on each floor. Support areas of the school would also be modern- ized, and the track resurfaced. The open house from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday will include a campus tour and information session. The mid- dle school is located at 1100 Klaskanine Ave. WANTED SEASIDE CR A F T FA I RE to California to make up for the lost sails, tours and edu- cational programs in Astoria. Now, the Hawaiian Chief- tain will arrive at the Colum- bia River Maritime Muse- um’s dock Friday and will offer sails and tours on Satur- day and Sunday. The last time the group had to cancel a sail was due to weather, said Zachary Stocks, program development officer with Grays Harbor Historical Seaport. “The only thing I can say is these are unexpected chal- lenges,” Stocks said. 4 year old Bassett/Lab Blend The greatest gifts are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Adopt the gift of happy devotion. Investigative Journalist David Barsamian Host of the public radio talkshow “Alternative Radio” Read about Holly on Petfinder.com Sponsored By C LATSOP C OUNTY A NIMAL S HELTER 1315 SE 19 th Street, Warrenton • 861 - PETS www.dogsncats.org All proceeds will go to the local back pack program Great Columbia Crossing 1315 Broadway in Seaside Noon to 4pm, Tues-Sat PRESENTING SPONSOR 10k run/walk Astoria Band Boosters CAN & BOTTLE DRIVE 1 P.M.- 3 P.M. • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7TH AT ASTORIA HIGH SCHOOL C h e ck th e L a b e l ! P LEASE , NO EARLY DROP - OFFS Items must have the 10 cent, OR redemption label in order to benefit the band programs The Band Boosters are the primary source of funds to keep Astoria’s school band programs functioning. Please help by dropping off your empties or making a donation. Call (503) 791-8134 or email i_want_to_help@astoriabands.org for more information. Oct pm 5 th 7 Astoria Peforming Arts Center Free event to the public Barsamian lectures nationally on world affairs, imperialism, capitalism, propaganda, and the media. Sunday, October 14 $40 per person Sign up online! the Columbia Astoria-Megler Bridge CLOSED to vehicles 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. More info at coastradio.org The event is a fundraiser for Coast Community Radio, donations at the door will be gratefully accepted GreatColumbiaCrossing.com