FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Candidates forum
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
The forum was moder-
ated by Baker County
Republican Chair Suzan
Ellis Jones. The group’s
corresponding secretary
Carole Dyke carried the
microphone throughout the
room. Precinct Commit-
tee Woman Laurie Hoopes
controlled the timer. Each
candidate had one minute
per question. Sgt. Mike
Regan was present to
“keep the peace.”
Candidates warmed up
by introducing themselves
before questions began.
A heated question.
Though there were
a couple heated ques-
tion directed to all three
candidates from audience
members, one question for
Bruce Nichols, a two-part
question—and its re-
sponse—perhaps raised the
most eyebrows.
Jake Brown of Halfway
asked first if Nichols un-
derstood how vital grazing
and ranching are to Baker
County.
Nichols responded that
he did.
Brown continued, “Is it
true that while you were
CEO of Clark’s Creek
holdings or Twin Lake
Ranch, LLC, your opera-
tion destroyed grazing land
and alfalfa fields owned by
Elliot Ranches in Bridge-
port and Elliot Ranches
were never compensated
for that loss?”
A murmur passed
through the audience.
Nichols asked for a
repeat of the question then
said, “Okay, so in the first
place I was never CEO of
Clark’s—whatever you
called it. Anyway, there
was a mining operation out
there and all I did is handle
the money. That’s all. I was
not involved in the mining
at all.”
Brown asked, “No deci-
sions then?”
Nichols answered, “No
decisions.”
One of the co-owners
of the ranch in question
said they had indeed never
received compensation for
the lost grazing or alfalfa.
The owner indicated they
had spoken with Nichols in
the past but he had never
mentioned his connection
with Twin Lake Ranch,
LLC or Clark Creek Hold-
ings, LLC.
Deeds filed with the
County, one shown at the
right, do indeed list Nich-
ols as the CEO.
More questions.
Local placer miner
Ed Hardt launched the
questions by asking if the
candidates would make the
Department of Geology
“toe the line” since they
had raised fees on small
mines without coordinating
with the County in spite of
the county’s Coordination
Ordinance.
Nichols commiser-
ated and said, “However,
unfortunately the Federal
laws are a problem. All I
can do is argue the point.
Coordinating doesn’t mean
you can change the Federal
government’s position on
that.” He went on to say
“all a Commissioner could
do” was “disagree.”
Nelson also commiser-
ated with Hardt and said,
“I’d like to see more
advocacy.” He referred
to a mining summit to be
held locally next week. “I
will take a strong approach
on the land use,” he said,
and concluded that a large
enough group of concerned
citizens can change things.
Justus said, “I will do ev-
erything in my power as a
Commissioner to make the
agencies follow the law of
Coordination... Coordina-
tion actually is the law.”
Carla Inman of Halfway
asked how the candidates
would create jobs.
Nichols said, “I don’t
know that we can create
jobs. We can create an
atmosphere that can help
various agencies help cre-
ate jobs.” He recommend-
ed partnering with com-
munity colleges in various
areas to help create jobs.
Nelson said, “Creating
jobs is my whole cam-
paign!” He said he would
talk to industries and find
out what they need, and
he had already done at
companies like Behlen and
Natural Structures to target
people like CDL holders
and welders for them.
Justus said that govern-
ment doesn’t actually
create jobs and typically
stands in the way, particu-
ally with natural resources.
He stated commissioners
could be a buffer between
all the regulations and lo-
cal business owners.
Ramona Creighton asked
if the candidates had the
ability to represent those
with different political
beliefs or just those who
helped put them into office.
Nichols and Nelson
answered affirmatively.
Justus added that by
adhering to the Oregon
Constitution everyone’s
rights would be protected.
Wayne Dyke asked the
candidates about their
desire to combine local law
enforcement agencies.
Nichols responded halt-
ingly, saying he wanted to
study the law enforcement
issue and look at various
things.
Nelson said, “I don’t
see the feasibility in that.
I would look for ways to
cut costs, but not in public
safety.” Nelson suggested
tackling PERS issues
instead.
Justus said he was not for
losing any elected posi-
tion, such as Sheriff, in the
county through consolida-
tion, because any elected
board can Coordinate with
Federal agencies, giving
the county a more power-
ful position.
Lorrie Harvey asked
about the candidates’ views
on continued minimum
wage hikes, and none sup-
ported it. Justus suggested
a county ordinance in op-
position of the increase as
an unfunded mandate.
Ken Hackett asked
Nelson to clarify his stance
on PERS.
Nelson said, “We can’t
go back on promises, but
for future budgeting, we
have to get PERS under
control.”
Betsy Crawford asked
the candidates to outline
their leadership roles in the
community, and each listed
several.
Gary Dielman directed
a question only to Justus,
asking him his definition
of the “rule of law,” and
Justus responded it meant
following the laws that
have been written—includ-
ing Coordination.
Kasey Wright asked
Nichols only how he
would juggle his CPA busi-
ness.
Nichols said, “As a CPA
I’ve learned to juggle
time.” He said he’s already
begun restructuring his
business in anticipation of
being elected.
Rob Crawford asked if
the commissioners had
total control over local
resources, how would they
assure the financial benefits
stayed in Baker County.
Both Nelson and Jus-
tus answered similarly,
talking about the chain
effect of creating natural
resources jobs in that all
the equipment, supplies,
etc. wind up being pur-
chased through other local
companies, thus building
the local economy.
Nichols had a slightly
different take. He said,
“Well that’s a good hy-
pothetical question... but
we’re not in total control.
We have to follow the laws
of the Federal government
and the State of Oregon.”
He talked about how work
has to be put out for bid
elsewhere.
Spring Bartlett asked
about the budget experi-
ence of the three. Nelson
had worked with budgets
up to $3 million for busi-
nesses. Justus had worked
with business budgets in
the $1-2 million range.
Nichols stressed his audit-
ing experience and said
he’d worked with nonprofit
budgets up to $12 million.
Janet Terry of Richland
asked the candidates if
they’d read the job descrip-
tion of commissioner and
were they aware of the
committees assigned to
each.
Scanned Photo.
SEE FORUM PAGE 9
This deed from Twin Lake Ranch shows Nichols listed as the CEO of Twin Lake
Ranch, LLC / Clark Creek Holdings, LLC, contrary to the statement made by the
candidate Tuesday evening. A second deed also shows the same.