FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
Continued from Page 1
Harvey asked the candi-
dates the questions, which
were:
• “In your view, what
is the role of the Baker
County Sheriff?”
• “How has your career
and education prepared
you to be the Baker County
Sheriff? (Particular focus
should be on budgeting,
supervision, employment,
training of personnel,
interaction with law en-
forcement, city and county
agencies, and community
groups).”
• “In your opinion,
address three challenges
facing the Baker County
Sheriff’s Office and how
you, as Sheriff, would
respond to them.”
• “In the event that
Congress does not pass
the Secure Rural Schools
funding package, a county
wide general fund budget
reduction may have to
occur. How would you re-
duce the Sheriff/Jail budget
by up to 10%?”
• “The Sheriff, as an
elected official, must work
closely with the Board of
Commissioners. Please
provide a detailed descrip-
tion of how you would
ensure that the people are
best served by working as
a team with the Board of
Commissioners.”
•“The second amend-
ment of our constitution
is one of our basic rights
to protect our way of life.
If our state or federal
government attempts to
impose gun registration or
confiscation on local gun
owners, what stance would
you take as the Sheriff?
Would you support this or
oppose it?”
• “If elected Sheriff,
would you make changes
to the structure of the de-
partment and if so, what is
your philosophy on filling
vacancies?”
• “Why should you be
appointed as the Baker
County Sheriff?”
Both candidates reiter-
ated the answers they had
previously submitted in
writing to those questions.
Ash said, “It’s simple.
I’ve dedicated myself to
public service for almost
20 years and I am deeply
invested in Baker County
and the Baker County
Sheriff’s Office. As the
Sergeant and now Lieuten-
ant in charge of the patrol
division at the Sheriff’s
Office, I have strived to
focus our efforts on keep-
ing Baker County a safe,
peaceful community and as
a team we pride ourselves
on working hard for vic-
tims of crime and others
who need help. I plan to
keep building positive
relationships with commu-
nity members and we will
always work to improve
the level of service we
provide to the public.
Interim Sheriff
“As for me, I graduated
from Pine Eagle High
School in Halfway in 1993
and was hired as a full-
time police officer in 1998
at the age of 22. My wife
and I chose to return to
Baker County to raise our
two children in this won-
derful community. Sheriff
Southwick hired me as a
patrol deputy in 2005 and
I have continued to grow
as a police officer and have
risen through the ranks to
reach the level of Lieuten-
ant. Over the course of
my career I have had a
wide range of training and
experiences, particularly in
the areas of investigations,
high risk situations, drugs
and alcohol, and leader-
ship. For the last 7 years, I
have been responsible for
the operations of the patrol
and investigative divi-
sion of the Baker County
Sheriff\’s Office, but I also
am familiar with the man-
agement of the office as a
whole. I have been hum-
bled by all of the support I
have received since Sheriff
Southwick announced his
retirement. If selected, I
look forward to working
for Baker County.”
Hoopes said, “I should
be appointed Baker County
Sheriff because I have the
knowledge and drive to be
successful. My employ-
ment history speaks for
itself—I am a hard worker,
and I have been all my
life. I have been taught a
strong work ethic by my
grandfather, father and
extended family. I have
the best interests in mind
for the public, as well as
the employees. The fact
we are at this crossroad in
the Sheriff’s appointment
process proves I am will-
ing to stand up and fight
for the opportunity to serve
and represent the citizens
of Baker County. I truly
care about this place we
call ‘home,’ and the people
who live, work and visit
here.
“I am well aware if
I am appointed to this
position, and I fail to work
hard enough to earn the
vote of the people in the
2016 election, I will be
unemployed. Therefore, I
am highly motivated and
determined to succeed as
Sheriff of Baker County.
“It is my hope that you
will strongly consider ap-
pointing me, John Hoopes,
to the position of Baker
County Sheriff.”
A little over an hour
into the session, after the
candidates answered the
questions prepared by the
Commissioners, a break
was taken, while written
questions were submitted
to Martin from the public.
She read these to each of
the candidates as the pro-
cess continued.
• “Do you consider the
Sheriff the highest law au-
thority in the county, over
and above any federal law
authority?”
Ash responded, “The
difference I see there, is
the Sheriff is going to
be enforcing state laws,
and federal laws are not
enforced by the Sheriff’s
Office, and so, we are
given the chief execu-
tive authority (by statute)
over the State laws in the
County. We are not going
to be enforcing any federal
regulations. That’s not
something we can do.”
Hoopes responded, “I’ve
got to agree with Travis
on most parts, that the
Sheriff is responsible for
the State’s laws, and that I
do believe the Sheriff is the
presiding authority in each
county they’re in, in Or-
egon. It’s a pretty simple
thing, to me.”
• “Do you feel public
opinion is valued in select-
ing a Sheriff, and if so,
what did you do to ensure
the public voice was
heard in the appointment
process?”
Neither candidate gave
a response as Harvey
interceded and said that the
candidates had no say in
the matter since the County
Board of Commissioners
set up the process, includ-
ing the method of public
involvement.
• “What is your strategy
for working more effec-
tively with the media, and
how will you ensure that
the media and the public
receive the information
they need in a timely man-
ner?”
Both candidates respond-
ed that it’s important to
get information out to the
public, and to work with
the media, but there has
to be a balance, because
some information can’t be
released, because it would
endanger an investigation,
for example.
• “Do you believe it
is important or neces-
sary to interpret the U.S.
Constitution in order to
decide which laws you will
uphold and enforce?”
Ash responded, “State
statutes are derived from
the (U.S.) Constitution,
and the Oregon Constitu-
tion. When it comes to
state statutes, and what
we’re actually enforcing,
there’s not a whole lot of
interpreting we can do.
We’re bound by case law,
and we’re bound by what
the actual law is, and so,
there’s not a whole lot of
room for interpretation on
our part.”
Hoopes responded, “I
agree with Travis, in part,
for sure. I don’t think
we need to interpret the
Constitution. For the
most part, the Constitu-
tion is fairly black and
white. Regulation comes
from that, and case law
is produced from it. We
are required to uphold the
Constitution for what it is.”
Other questions along
similar themes were:
• “What authority inter-
prets the law? Is the law
interpreted by the Supreme
Court, or by the local
authority?”
• “If elected Sheriff, and
realizing that you are the
ultimate law enforcement
authority in Baker County,
what actions will you take
in regards to enforcing the
laws inside Baker County,
enacted by outside agen-
cies, such as the Forest
Service and BLM?”
• “Should the Sheriff be
notified each time a federal
law enforcement officer
goes upon a valid, locat-
able mining claim, under
ORS 105.005, and the
1872 mining laws?”
• “Have you ever been
the Incident Commander
or the Lead Officer? If so,
describe your experience
dealing with a hostage situ-
ation, SWAT, Search and
Rescue, and also describe
your experience writing
major search warrants, and
serving as a Peace Officer
in a major investigation?”
• “How do you feel about
the militarization of local
police forces?”
After these questions
were answered, Harvey
addressed the public, and
asked if there were more
questions to pose to the
candidates.
Ed Hardt, Jim Iler, Jim
Scott, Ron Edge, Art Sap-
pington, Gary Dielman,
Chuck Chase, and Ken An-
derson participated in this
segment of the interview
process.
The participants asked
the candidates about sev-
eral issues, like militariza-
tion, federal jurisdictional
authority, and enforcing
laws on mining claims.
Hardt said local law
enforcement and the
Commissioners needed to
learn more about fed-
eral jurisdiction and laws
concerning mining claims,
and handed them copies of
documents he compiled.
Some questions took the
form of strong comments,
and at one point, two
people, including Dielman,
left the room, seemingly
frustrated.
Chase thanked the
Commissioners and the
candidates for what he
considered an open, fair
interview process.
Bennett posed some
questions to the candidates,
and after that, all three
Commissioners thanked
them for serving and for
participating in the inter-
view process, along with
the public.
Closing statements from
the candidates were given
at that point. A decision
about the appointment of
Sheriff is expected to be
made at the next regular
Commission session, on
Wednesday, March 18, at
9 a.m.
2015 East
Shriners All-Star
Queen named
Cymbrie (Cymie) Lagao
has been named the 2015
East Shriners All-Star
Queen. She is 14.5 years
old and attends the 8th
grade at RPA (Redmond
Proficiency Academy).
After a fall from a
haystack, Lagao nearly
severed four finge . After
surgery, she said, “I then
started my rehab at Shri-
ners Hospital. During my
rehab they were so great
and wonderful. Two years
later I have only have 60
percent usage of my hand.
I am not able to make a fist
yet, however will be going
in to surgery this summer/
fall to fix it.
She added, “I love the
Shriners and all they do for
kids like me and others. I
have always been around
the Shriners and this
game.”
The game will be held
this summer in Baker City.
Submitted Photo.
Cymbrie (Cymie) Lagao, 14, is this year’s East side
Queen for the East-West Shrine Game.
Firefighters climb
steps for charity
Submitted Photo.
This year, Baker City Fire Department fielded a team
of three to compete in an international event—the
Climb. Local competitors were Baker City firefig -
ers Mike Downing (pictured above) and Ben Decker,
and Brandon Hargous from Bend who climbed for
the Baker City team. The team raised $2,445 in
the fight to prevent leukemia/lymphoma and, as
Downing pointed out, the opportunity to donate is
open until the end of March. The Climb in Seattle
is a one-day event, for which 1900 firefighters fro
across the USA and several countries around the
world signed up. 1,711 climbed the Columbia Tower,
which worked out to a firefighter being sent up ever
16 seconds. Every climber wears full firefightin
gear, which weighs 60 lbs. The times for the Baker
City team were Downing, 3rd year, 55:12 Decker,
3rd year, 28:31 Hargous, 1st year, 20:09. As time of
print, the totals for the fundraiser were not yet avail-
able. So far this year, more than two million dollars
have been raised for the cause by this event. The
fastest climber for 2015 was the same as the previ-
ous three years: Andrew Drobek of Missoula City
Fire, with a time of 10:46. That means Drobek aver-
ages seven storeys each minute. The oldest climber
was 73, and had a time of 20:00.
Free vision
screenings offered
Baker County Library District and partner organiza-
tions See to Read, Elks and Lions Clubs of Oregon have
their sights set on improving the eyesight and success of
Baker County kids.
Free vision screenings for children ages 3-7 will be
offered on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 from 10:30 a.m. to
noon at the library in Baker City. No pre-registration is
necessary.
At least 15 percent of all preschoolers have an un-
detected vision problem that needs to be treated with
glasses. Unknown vision impairments have unnecessary
negative effects on development as a child learns to read
and write in school.
The screening technology used at all See to Read
events is photo screening, which just takes a picture of
the child’s pupils and processes the information automat-
ically. Because of efficienc , children as young as 3 years
old are encouraged to have a vision screening. Early
detection increases the chance for successful treatment.
Siewell nominated
for teaching award
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – First-year honor students
at Eastern Oregon University nominated 19 educators
from Oregon and Washington to receive Inspirational
Teacher Awards this year.
Students who maintained dean’s list standing during
fall term were given the opportunity to nominate a teach-
er who influenced them on their road to higher education
and academic excellence.
Brian Staebler-Siewell, 2014 graduate of Baker High
School, nominated mathematics teacher Michael Siewell.
Two more arrested
on meth charges
On March 7, 2015 at about 8:50 am, Baker City Police
Officers served an arrest warrant on Valerie Jean Taylor
while she was at the Baker County Sheriff’s Office visi -
ing an inmate. On March 8,at about 10:03 a.m., Baker
City Officers served an arrest warrant on Ashley Denice
Cleland at the Baker County Sheriff’s Office where she
turned herself in to officers. By means of Grand Jury
Indictments, both women were charged with: -Unlawful
Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphet-
amine), Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance
(Methamphetamine), Tampering with Evidence Taylor
and Cleland had both been living with Jose Padilla-Albri-
do at 3025 D Street in Baker City.
Both women were also at 3025 D Street when Baker
City Officers executed the second search warrant at
the residence on February 18, 2015. It was during that
warrant that officers seized approximately one pound of
Methamphetamine and $3,500 in cash.
This investigation will be ongoing and additional ar-
rests are likely.