FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Local
— Editorial —
Los Angeles
regretting
nonpartisan
stance
A March 7 opinion piece by Tim
Rutten of the Los Angeles Times
caught our attention this week. Their
City Council positions, which were
pushed over to nonpartisan in a move-
ment not unlike to our own local 1-63
quite a while back, are now being
considered for a push back to partisan.
Why? Because having nonpartisan
positions in Los Angeles has resulted
in voter turnout dropping to the point
where almost no one cares enough
about any candidate to vote these
days.
The nonpartisan system has created
widespread apathy.
Ruttan says, “What ought to be
done? Here’s a radical reform that
would make a difference: Abandon
nonpartisan municipal elections. With-
out political parties, the only things
around which people can cohere are
ethnic identity and personality—poli-
tics’ lowest common denominators.
Parties energize people and stimulate
participation. They bring government
down to the block level.”
In Los Angeles, 1.6 million people
out of the city’s 3.8 million, are regis-
tered to vote. As stats go, the 239,374
total voters who participated in the last
municipal election there is pathetic.
But then, if increased voter turnout
exists in any nonpartisan situation, we
haven’t been able to find an example.
The winner of the last race for Los
Angeles mayor won with only 8% of
the total votes cast for him. Not by
a margin of 8%. Only 8% voted for
him— and yet he won.
We can safely compare the mayor
and other positions there on L.A.’s
City Council to our County Commis-
sioner positions because they have one
common thread: these positions can
create and enact ordinances—local
laws by which residents must adhere.
Our County’s nonpartisan posi-
tions such as County Clerk, Treasurer,
Sheriff, etc. serve to uphold and
enforce laws created elsewhere. In
their management capacity, they don’t
participate in the creation of those
ordinances.
That difference is why we believe in
motivating the most voters possible to
turn in their ballots behind candidates
whose ideologies they match up with,
particularly for these law-making po-
sitions. It’s vital to a healthy election.
1-63 proponents would have the
public believe they’re backing their
measure for the noble cause of having
more people vote.
Their words are empty. Numbers,
such as those coming straight out of
L.A. as well as other counties in Or-
egon, don’t lie.
Ruttan is correct. Partisan politics
bring government down to the “block
level”—the most grassroots level in
any community. It allows for elected
Precinct Committee People (100 in
Baker County, all elected, all parti-
san from both major parties) to put
their boots on the ground and interact
with voters. That involvement will
mean differences of opinion, which
we view as healthy, not “vitriolic” or
“divisive.” God forbid we end up in a
one-party society where disagreement
is considered “mean-spirited.”
By our next issue, we’ll know which
way our County is headed.
—The Baker County Press Editorial Board
— Letters to the Editor —
Voters are being allowed to vote
To the Editor:
To my fellow Baker County Residents
in favor of 1-63, you are allowed to vote
in every general election. Whatever party
affiliation you are registered as is your
choice, and by doing so limits you to
voting in primaries only for your party.
Nobody forced you to register as you
have, and if you want someone to vote
for in general election, it is you party’s
responsibility to put forth a candidate, not
someone else’s. In my memory, nobody
has ever been denied voting in a general
election in Baker County, unless prohib-
ited otherwise by law. It is an outright lie
that people aren’t being allowed to vote in
a general election. Any of you portraying
this to be true, shame on you! Vote no on
1-63.
Wayne Dyke
Baker City
Alaska vote yes this and it was a disaster
for them.
Maintain local control and keep core
beliefs of candidates’ part of the selection
process.
Do not fix something that is not broken.
Vote no on 1-63.
Ramona Creighton
Baker City
Let L.A. be a lesson to the
nonpartisan movement
To the Editor:
Many want to be elected into Office, but
what do we really know about them?
What are their core beliefs?
If they belong to a party at least we
understand to a certain amount of degree
what they stand for.
We have seen what has happened not
only in our County, State and now even
in our home base, Baker City the conse-
quence when liberal beliefs are in place vs
conservative principals.
We already have in place the ability for
all individuals to vote if they want to vote
in the general election, including those
Non-Affiliated with any party affiliation.
So why take away the ability to under-
stand what they stand for and were they
will lead us?
Take the time check out what happened
in other counties who implemented this.
To the Editor:
Time is getting short to mark and return
your ballots in time to have your vote
counted. The non partisan 1-63 that the
Democrats put together is another attempt
by them to try to control by confusion.
The Oregon counties that have tried non
partisan voting are changing back because
of lacking voter interest.
Case in point was their experiment in
non partisan politics in Los Angeles, last
week there was another in a long series
of Democratic non partisan catastrophes.
The non partisan voting in Los Angeles
dropped down to only 15% of registered
voters who cast their ballots to fill munici-
pal offices. When the two parties put forth
candidates who compete for a municipal
office such as in this last Commissioner’s
race you want and get an informed choice.
If there is anything good or bad about the
candidate the that would make you vote
either for them or against them you will
know it by election time.
Don’t be fooled by all of the hype that
the Democrats are putting out on this
non partisan 1-63, it is failing from the
simple fact that people lose interest and
don’t vote, Los Angeles and other Oregon
Counties are a case in point. Lets keep our
two party system and vote this 1-63 down,
stand with me and vote NO.
Chuck Chase
Baker City
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Vote no on 1-63
— Guest Opinion —
Proud to have
voted against
SB941
By Mike Nearman
Senate Bill 941, the expanded gun back-
ground checks, has passed the House with
all Republicans voting no, and mostly
Democrats voting yes.
The bill will do little good, save for mol-
lifying the consciences of those who want
to do something—anything —to prevent
gun violence. It will make it harder for
anyone to get a firearm, both law-abiding
citizens and the criminals who want to get
illegal guns. It just makes it harder for
everyone and never impossible for a deter-
mined criminal. Because they operate
outside the law, they have more opportu-
nities—illegal—to obtain a firearm. They
will still get guns.
Earlier this session, the legislature
passed a motor voter bill, which effec-
tively registers to vote everyone who
visits a DMV. During debate on that bill,
we were told that we have to do anything
to remove barriers to voting, because it’s a
right, even if it impacts only a few people.
I wish they thought the same on the right
to bear arms.
Unrelated to the substance of the bill is
the fact that by including an emergency
clause, the bill denies the citizens their
Submitted Photo
Representative Mike Nearman
serves House District 23. He can be
reached at: Rep.MikeNearman@
state.or.us.
right to a referendum, as they are guar-
anteed in the constitution. This happens
on far too many bills and it’s a sign of
legislative arrogance.
Finally, there is a disturbing trend in
government that’s been discussed lately.
It’s the idea that there are so many laws
and rules that any person who is reason-
ably engaged in the normal business of
life is in violation of several laws at any
given time. In many ways, SB 941 is just
another brick in this wall. Previously, I
could loan a shotgun to a duck hunting
buddy. Now, I have to get a background
check to do it, do it illegally, or not do it
at all.
I was proud to vote against SB 941.
Infant’s death investigated
The Baker County
Major Crime Team is
investigating the death of
a three-month-old infant in
Baker City.
On May 11th, 2015
at about 5:50 a.m., the
infant was brought to the
Saint Alphonsus Hospital
Emergency Room by his
parents. The infant was un-
responsive and lifesaving
efforts were unsuccessful.
The Baker County Major
Crime Team responded and
assumed the investigation.
An autopsy is scheduled
for today with the Oregon
State Medical Examiner’s
Office.
The infant was identified
as Xysis Lahey II of Baker
City.
The Baker County Ma-
jor Crime Team consists of
the Baker County District
Attorney’s Office, detec-
tives from the Baker City
Police Department, the
Baker County Sheriff’s Of-
fice and the Oregon State
Police.
The investigation is
continuing and further in-
formation will be released
when it becomes available.
Heritage Museum receives grant
The Friends of the
Baker Heritage Museum
are proud to announce that
they have received a grant
from The Oregon Commu-
nity Foundation – Edna E.
Harrell Community Chil-
dren’s Fund in the amount
of $850.
These grant funds will
be used to support the
Baker Heritage Museum’s
Kid’s Camp July 20-24th.
The annual kid’s camp
provides a chance for local
children to learn about the
history of Baker County,
rocks and minerals and
wildlife in a fun and safe
environment.
The camp accommo-
dates 25 children, there
are scholarships available.
Please contact the Museum
if interested.
The Museum Commis-
sion wishes to express its
deep appreciation to The
Oregon Community Foun-
dation and Edna Harrell
for this generous grant and
for making the 2015 Kid’s
Camp possible.
Paving project ahead for Vale area
The Oregon Department
of Transportation will
repave the section of US
20/26 between Vale and
Cairo Junction in Malheur
County this summer. Work
will consist of grinding
out deteriorating pavement
and inlaying a new asphalt
surface. The project will
include a center-line
rumble strip and new
striping. Travelers can
expect single-lane traffic
controlled by flaggers and
pilot cars with delays of up
to twenty minutes through
the work zone.
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The project is expected
to start around mid-July
with all work finished
before the end of October.
Paving activities will likely
take place at night and
take about three weeks to
complete.
YOUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS
President Barack Obama
202.456.1414
202.456.2461 fax
Whitehouse.gov/contact
US Sen. Jeff Merkley
503.326.3386
503.326.2900 fax
Merkley.Senate.gov
US Sen. Ron Wyden
541.962.7691
Wyden.Senate.gov
US Rep. Greg Walden
541.624.2400
541.624.2402 fax
Walden.House.gov
Oregon Gov. Kate
Brown
503.378.3111
Governor.Oregon.gov
State Rep. Cliff Bentz
503.986.1460
State Sen. Ted Ferrioli
541.490.6528
Baker County
Commissioners Bill Harvey;
Mark Bennett; Tim Kerns
541.523.8200
541.523.8201