FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion
1-63 needs to fail
To the Editor:
A vote of “no” is needed for Baker
Initiative 1-63. This measure is just not
good for Baker County. It appears to be
change for the sake of change – sound
familiar?
Fact: Nonpartisan elections consistently
have lower voter turnout. Consistently
lower turnout!
Fact: There is no accountability for
nonpartisan offices as they are not tied to
a party platform.
Fact: A person’s core beliefs do influ-
ence decision-making. To think otherwise
is a thinking error.
Fact: Liberal organizations such as
the League of Women Voters, League of
Conservation Voters and the Nonpartisan
League (which was founded by the Social-
ist Party of America) promote nonpartisan
elected officials, as a move to a one party
system.
Fact: Currently in the Legislative
process, House Bill 3500 will create open
primaries if passed.
Fact: County Commissioners are the
rule makers for our county. Just like our
State & Federal Representatives and Sena-
tors, all partisan offices. Other county
elected offices such as the Assessor,
Sheriff, Clerk, and District Attorney are
nonpartisan and these positions carry out
laws—they do not make them — this is a
huge difference in job duties.
Fact: What bitterness, what rancor?
The system works well as it is today.
Only ones who express bitterness and
keep harping on it, are those who have
lost or failed in their elected duties. We
are a representative republic, which the
libs are trying to whittle away at, with
this idea of nonpartisanship, which is the
socialist pathway to a one party system.
In 2013 when the Republicans nominat-
ed candidates for Dr. Stiff’s position (Re-
publican) there was one person who was
upset and apparently bitter because they
could not apply for the vacant position.
This person was Randy Joseph, the chief
petitioner for this nonpartisan measure (1-
63). He is a registered Democrat.
So, why would anyone want to know
less about their elected County Commis-
sioners? Maybe it’s just the potential or
rerun candidates who want the voters to
know less….Vote NO on 1-63. It’s just
not good for Baker County.
Suzan Ellis Jones
Chair, Baker County
Republican Central Committee
Baker City
Nonpartisan system hides
candidate values
To the Editor:
Please don’t give your rights away!
Vote no on 1-63!
I’m asking for all of our Baker County
Republican, Independent, & Democrat
voters to not dismantle our historical and
cultural voting system. For close to 240
years we have had one of the world’s best
governmental structures for selecting our
political leaders. This very system has
stood the test of time.
When I vote, I always look for some-
one who is conservative and shows past
experiences, beliefs and voting records
that align with my core values. I also
look for someone who has the leadership
capabilities to bring others into this way
of understanding.
A partisan primary election is the best
way to choose a candidate that best
supports our values and also has some ac-
countability to the Political party and their
members regarding such. The differences
between the major political parties in core
beliefs do have impacts on the decisions
made by your County Commission-
ers. Examples of decisions on Climate
Change, wind farms and environmental
Impact issues are constantly brought forth
regarding the Natural Resources in Baker
County.
Taking away this opportunity we all
lose, all of us as voters, the ability to
choose our best representative. Someone
else may be making the choice for you
and taking away the right that you now
have. The System works when all sides
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choose to be a part of it. Don’t change
our voting system because you simply
don’t choose to use it. Join me in voting
NO on 1-63.
Bill Harvey
Chair, Baker County
Board of Commissioners
Haines
Nonpartisan commissions
doesn’t break good ole boys’
network
To the Editor:
A popular myth is that the non-partisan
elections are the best ones because they
don’t have any of the Democrat versus
Republican fighting and more people are
involved. Better, purer democracy is the
premise. That’s a premise that fails of it’s
own logical fallacy. Knowing the politi-
cal leaning of a candidate as expressed by
party affiliation is more rather than less.
And it’s a bit comical to pretend non-
partisan means less contentious and opens
the process to more voters.
Is it possible that local elections are
more partisan than state and federal elec-
tions? The factions in local elections are
personal and tend to flow along family
lines and friends that create groups based
on strong legacy relationships. Enter the
“good old boy network.”
There I said it.
People tend to line up into one of two
camps and are very vocal. People outside
of the factions are often locked out and are
reluctant to engage the powerful alliances.
They are also more likely to be turned off
by both sides and just don’t want a part of
either one. Trying to breach the powerful
hold of the camps is not helped by non-
partisan elections. Rather, if there are two
primary camps those groups will isolate or
disenfranchise the “newcomer.”
While it’s a wonderful thought that par-
tisanship will be eliminated it’s also a pipe
dream. Imagine the candidate that uses
the walk list to determine an approach to
gaining petition signatures.
A stop at a Democrat’s house com-
menting on the good friendship with a
prominent Democratic family in town will
score emotional points. And when at a
Republican’s home, dropping the fact that
he usually voted Republican gains loyalty
there.
The truth is people do care about
partisan issues and political ideology and
politicians know this.
Non-partisan elections may seem like
a noble enterprise but fail the people.
People want to vote for those with values
similar to their own. Knowing the party
and it’s principles and values gives people
certain assumptions that they can work
under. Without these assumptions, the
voter has to do more work. People usually
don’t like to do extra work and stay home
rather than making a terrible mistake
based on a guess.
Baker County voters have a choice
with Measure 1-63 that will appeal to the
notion that nonpartisan elections are better
and partisan elections are not desirable.
While the tenor of an election can excite
or turn off people has nothing to do with
party affiliations or partisan vs. nonpar-
tisan elections. Good candidates that ex-
press their principles and values, incorpo-
rate that in their approach at governance
and have demonstrated integrity in their
community will do more to enhance elec-
tions and gain more participation.
Choosing yes onMeasure 1-63 will not
help Baker County. I recommend a NO
vote.
Ken Taylor
Chair, Crook County
Republican Central Committee
Prineville
1-63 is road map to one-party
system
To the Editor:
Ballots are out for the May election. To
keep the system which has worked for a
very long time, everyone needs to vote
no! Everyone who wants to vote, can vote
now—but to hear the “yes” crowd, you
would think someone is physically stop-
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ping them from voting in every election.
The non-partisan system is the road map
to a one-party system. History all over
the world shows this—look at Mexico and
how well it has worked for them. Here
in Oregon, look at Josephine County,
and other counties which are currently
non-partisan. They are not happy with the
system and want to return to the system
Baker County has today.
One of the arguments we hear is so
everyone can vote in the primary election.
Well, currently, in the Oregon Legislature,
House Bill 3500, which is still an active
bill, will provide open primaries. So why
change the partisanship of Baker County
Commissioners? Maybe it’s the folks
who have run for office and lost who think
this change will help their next attempt.
Change for the sake of change is not good
for Baker County. Join me in voting NO
on Baker County Initiative 1-63 when you
vote.
Carole Dyke
Baker City
Many reasons for ‘no’ on 1-63
To the Editor:
Liberal Democrat and Chief Petitioner,
Randy Joseph has stated that he thinks the
opposition to this county initiative is just
objecting to be objecting.
Joseph does not seem to be listening to
what the opponents are saying, there are
valid reasons for voting no on Measure
1-63.
We like the party system. It is what our
country is founded on. It has worked well
in Baker County. Why fix it, if it isn’t
broke?
• Change is not needed, just for the
sake of change. Sound familiar? We see
how change, just for the sake of change
has transformed America this past seven
years.
• Other counties in Oregon have gone
the nonpartisan route and they regret it
and are making plans to change back to
the system that did work. So, is Baker
County supposed to follow these other
counties off the cliff like lemmings?
• Everyone can vote currently in the
primaries. It is a personal choice what a
person chooses to register as, or are we
now legislating personal responsibility
now?
• Our Commissioners set policy, rules
and pass ordinances. Just like our State
and Federal representatives and sena-
tors. Other nonpartisan positions in the
county do not do this—they carry out and
implement the laws. Big difference in
responsibility.
Ballots are out soon. Please join me in
voting no against Baker Initiative 1-63.
Baker County just does not need this.
Jim Longwell
Baker City
Our system isn’t broken, why
change it?
To the Editor:
Ballots are out this week for Baker mea-
sure 1-63. Have you ever wondered why
some people are so interested in changing
how we elect our County Commissioners?
Electing our County Commissioners
has worked fine for a lot of years. All of
a sudden it’s a problem. Well I guess it’s
become a problem since a few liberals
cannot get elected. The system is not
broken, it works fine for everyone.
Our Commissioners make county laws,
draft and pass county ordinances. Much
like our Federal and State Representa-
tives—which are partisan positions.
Other nonpartisan offices in County
Government, such as the Sheriff, District
Attorney, Assessor and County Clerk do
not set policy —they carry out laws, quite
a difference in job descriptions.
Other counties throughout Oregon who
have gone nonpartisan are taking steps
to change their commissioners back to
Partisan. The grand experiment has not
worked so well.
As the Gentlemen from Josephine
County stated, there are so many running,
the good candidates get lost and the vote
is so split, the best candidate does not
win. Baker County has enough really
serious issues to deal with – like keeping
our roads open on public lands. Join me
in voting against Measure 1-63. Baker
County is just fine the way it is now.
Laurie Hoopes
Baker City
Out of bounds
To the Editor:
Do you want your access to public lands
treated like a basketball game, where
you have to worry about if you are “in
bounds” or “out of bounds” and having
to live with the penalties of not staying
within the boundaries set forth by the
Forest Service? That is exactly what your
life will be if the proposed designation of
routes language and travel management
plan are put into place on our National
Forest.
Currently you are allowed to openly
and freely access the Wallowa Whitman
and Malheur National Forest via motor-
ized means at your discretion unless oth-
erwise noted by wilderness areas or areas
specifically targeted as non-motorized.
Once roads areas are designated a use,
all motorized use off those roads will be
prohibited (within a given buffer along the
road) going from an open forest system to
a closed forest system.
Much like the basketball court where
you are not allowed to leave the court,
motorized access will be disallowed from
roughly 95% of your public lands. You
may only play on the court the Forest
Service allows, which will be along their
selected roads, and if you play outside
those lines you will be penalized up to
$5,000 and/or one year in jail.
When did you turn over your right
of motorized access to the US Forest
Service? Did any of you sign a document
giving Mr. Montoya or Peña the authority
to decide when and where you traveled?
Offenses that will get you penalized if
you go outside the designated area are:
Firewood cutting, retrieving big game,
dispersed camping, accessing historic
berry and mushroom picking areas, ac-
cessing historic hunting areas, or simply
recreating in your favorite area, just to
name a few.
If you do not agree that our motorized
access should be restricted, please let Sec-
retary Tom Vilsack (tom.vilsack@usda.
gov) and Robert Bonnie (robert.bonnie@
usda.gov) to let them know how their staff
is failing our communities and families.
John George
Bates
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