FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion
— Editorial —
Richardson
for Secretary
of State
With no hesitation, we endorse
former state representative and former
gubernatorial candidate Dennis Rich-
ardson for Secretary of State.
Richardson put up an impressive
fight during his bid for governor,
sweeping most counties in Oregon,
but ultimately hitting up against the
western Oregon population, which
always swings to the left. Even at that,
in Oregon’s biggest race, he came
closer than most.
Richardson not only knows how
things work in Salem, but he’s trav-
eled the rest of the state—including
Baker County several times—enough
to understand that Portland and Salem
attitudes don’t reflect those in the rest
of the state.
The most likely Democratic op-
ponent for this position in November
will be Rep. Val Hoyle, who is basi-
cally bought, sold and paid for by
New York’s Michael Bloomberg in
exchange for attacking our 2A rights.
We believe one recent Bloomberg do-
nation to Hoyle was in the neighbor-
hood of $250K with another coming
in from a D.C.-based special interest
PAC at $100K.
We believe Richardson has the
strongest change of any to defeat
Hoyle.
Now, we heard Republican guber-
natorial candidate Bruce Cuff allege
last month that Richardson isn’t a true
conservative, fiscal or otherwise, and
we know from personal experience
with Richardson and his family that
this just isn’t the case.
Dennis Richardson would be a
tremendous asset as Secretary of State,
and we wish him the very best.
—The Baker County Press Editorial Board
— Letters to the Editor —
Not for Trump
To the Editor:
After what seems a never-ending elec-
tion cycle, it is now Oregon’s turn to vote.
For the last several elections it has been
said that “this is the most important elec-
tion our lifetime” and this year, it’s more
true than ever.
At the beginning the primary season, the
Republicans provided a candidate field
of great depth, albeit, much too large.
We’ve watched one after another suspend
campaigns leaving two major contenders,
along with debris from the ugliness of this
year’s process. Zealots in each campaign
are still energized but the mean 7th grade
mentality have left way too many disgust-
ed. While it was hoped to hear policy and
principle discussions, we have witnessed
bullying, personal attacks and bait and
switch deceptions.
With the raucousness of the internet
wars, the bias of a media valuing profit
over fact, the truth is that the consequenc-
es of this vote are so important that the
America I have grown up knowing, hangs
in the balance.
Anger and frustration, it is said, fuel
Trump’s candidacy. I’m angry and quite
frustrated with what has happened over
the last eight years.
Trump, everyone agrees has tapped
into our anger and has great campaign
slogans. Being an effective president
requires more that arousing large crowds.
(I still see Obama standing in front of
Greek columns.) To be a president who
navigates America out of these turbulent
times requires many skills and character
traits such as trust, honesty, faithfulness,
Trump has a recorded history of lacking
these. Also lacking is any history of con-
servative convictions.
Like most conservatives in the last two
election cycles, I held my nose voting for
McCain and Romney. Please consider
very carefully when voting, a Trump
nomination ensures a Hillary presidency
for like thousands of rock solid conser-
vatives across the country. I will not for
Trump in November.
Annette Lathrop
Joseph
Nichols ignorant on issues
To the Editor:
The battle in the Commissioners race
has been an interesting race to say the
least. All of the candidates have been
thoroughly vetted in numerous candidate
forums.
Bruce Nichols stood out as the most
ignorant of issues facing the county in the
short and long term. The list is long and
the problems are complicated, with Fed-
eral overreach being the biggest problem
Baker County faces. From the Endangered
Species act (Sage Grouse) which Bruce
was told not to comment on at the forum
(wouldn’t say by who when asked). The
Owyhee Canyon Lands Monument lock
up. The Blue Mountain Revision coupled
with the Travel Management proposing to
take out over a 1,000 miles of our Public
Land roads. The transfer of Public Lands
has been a hot button issue, but not for
Bruce. Lastly Bruce has stated he thought
that Baker County needed to Cooper-
ate with the Forest Agencies instead of
Coordinate in which the Agencies have to
tier their plan to Baker Counties Resource
Plan. But as Bruce stated in the Forum “I
do have an opinion on those issues.”
Lord help us, vote Kody Justus long
time rancher for Commissioner..
Chuck Chase
Baker City
Nichols presents conflicts
To the Editor:
Houston, is there a problem?
The position with Mr. Nichols election
as a Baker County Commissioner is not
his Financial Knowledge as a “asset” but
that it presents itself as a “liability” for
Baker County.
The County, in order to legally protect
itself and citizens would be required to
implement some sort of oversight commit-
tee to neutralize any “ Conflicts of Inter-
est” between Mr. Nichols CPA (private)
and Mr. Nichols Commissioner (public).
Because of the potential Financial Li-
abilities for Baker County, this process
could not be left to Bruce’s discretion, as
he alluded to at the first forum. Instituting
this oversight committee by Baker County
would require man hours and expense
that would not be required if he were not
operating a for profit CPA business, which
may or may not conflict with companies,
or other Counties doing business with
Baker County.
Ron Davis
Baker City
Can’t vote here, but like Nichols
To the Editor:
My extended family has lived in Baker
County since it was first settled. My
grandparents, Skinner and LaVaughn
Kirby were cattle ranchers in Durkee. I
hold Baker close to my heart – In fact, I
married a Baker boy, Doug Schmitt. Our
roots in Baker run deep and we return
many times a year to visit. Because we
care so much about the area, we want to
share why we think Bruce Nichols is the
best candidate for Baker County Commis-
sioner.
First, he has excellent financial manage-
ment skills. Bruce Nichols is our personal
accountant. We trust him and have the
utmost faith in his financial knowledge
and skills. These skills as a CPA / financial
expert will serve the county well.
Second, Bruce is in tune with the needs
of Baker County. When we have had
questions about charitable contributions to
Baker area charities, Bruce has put us in
contact with the right people.
Third, Bruce Nichols is a connector. He
doesn’t just watch things happen or com-
plain about things happening, he makes
things happen. Just one example is his part
in ensuring that the Leo Adler House is
currently managed by the Adler Founda-
tion and not by a bank in a different state.
Bruce Nichols has outstanding financial
acumen, is a straight-up kind and honest
man, knows the needs of the commu-
nity, is a connector, and can make things
happen. These are exceptional skills that
I think we can all agree are hard to find
in political candidates these days! I hope
voters see this unique opportunity to elect
the kind of person we all want working to
improve Baker County as Baker County
Commissioner. Bruce Nichols is the ideal
candidate for the job.
Amber Schmitt
Round Rock, Texas
— Letters to the Editor —
Also can’t vote in Baker County,
but like Nichols
To the Editor:
For over 25 years, I have relied on and
trusted the expertise, always provided
to me by Bruce Nichols, of Nichols &
Mitchell, CPA. He has served this county
with great care for decades. I went to
work for the City of Huntington, in 1977,
as their City Recorder, Bookkeeper, Mu-
nicipal Judge, Budget Officer and any-
thing the Council directed me to do, as do
most small town City Recorders.
Over my 25 years of working in that
capacity for the City of Huntington, I was
fortunate to work many with excellent
people, leaders, judges, attorneys etc.
I found Bruce a dependable, knowl-
edgeable, associate that was proven time
and time again with the work he put forth
as our City Auditor. His know-how, pro-
fessionalism and ability to communicate
allowed me to not only learn but serve
confidently in knowing that we had his
talents available to the City.
Even after I had retired as City Record-
er, and became the Mayor of Huntington,
Bruce continued to serve the City and
Baker County. Providing the qualified
assistance a successful City requires.
Most notably, Bruce was instrumental in
helping me to convince to the Hunting-
ton City Council, Baker County District
Attorney and the State of Oregon, how a
City of Huntington Employee was seri-
ously misappropriating large amounts of
municipal funds. This was a complex task
that Bruce was able to manage without
problems.
Real Experience Counts. Vote for Bruce
Nichols.
Donna Rush
Ontario, Oregon
Liberals are supporting Nichols
en masse
To the Editor:
I found it interesting that letters to the
editor a few days ago submitted by Susan
Bolgiano and Ed and Suzanne Moses
are in complete lock-step with a well-
organized effort of democrats supporting
Bruce Nichols. Mrs. Bolgiano is one of
many who changed their party affiliation
to republican in what appears to be an ef-
fort to support him in this closed repub-
lican primary election. Ed and Suzanne
Moses are current Democratic Precinct
Committee people for the Baker County
Democrat Party. They openly support Mr.
Nichols.
In fact, their letters sounded much like
the positions taken by Gary Dielman
(who has Nichols signs up in his yard),
and many others whom I recognize as
well established liberal democrats in the
county. Why is Bruce Nichols the appar-
ent candidate for the local progressive
liberal movement?
The obvious answer to me is that Bruce
doesn’t really have a position other than to
sit idly and let the status quo prevail. The
democrats love this! They keep harping
on the fact that Kody Justus will stand up
against the federal agencies who are steal-
ing our way of life here in Baker County.
Well, that is an effort that I applaud and
will support.
Kody Justus is young and has the energy
to represent Baker County well. He has
proven that he can handle fiscal respon-
sibilities in the private sector. I’m most
impressed by his command of not only the
day to day tasks needed to run this county,
but also his vision and grasp of where this
county needs to go if we’re going to have
a future. Join me in voting for the con-
servative choice: Kody Justus for County
Commissioner.
Keith Jones
Bridgeport
Comparing County
Commissioner candidates
To the Editor:
We’re looking at the candidates for
Baker County Commissioners, Bruce
Nichols and Kody Justus.
Bruce Nichols, whom we personally do
not know, has been stated as fine upstand-
ing person. We don’t feel he is the best
representative for County Commissioner
of Baker County. It sounds like he is
partial to the Federal Government, to the
point of going along with whatever they
say. We believe decisions within our State
and in this case Counties should involve
more local control as originally intended.
In the voter pamphlet , Bruce has stated
“partnering more effectively with the
agriculture and timber industries.” At the
Baker County Livestock Forum, it seems
Bruce knew little about the topics he was
given. Bruce stated he had an opinion
about them all, but had been told not to
talk about some things. Who tells you
what you can or cannot say? How does
that work Bruce? If you are going to part-
ner with these industries, you need to be
able to talk about all the issues and prob-
lems they are confronted with, whether it
is endanger species or EPA Regulations.
It sounds like you are not telling us the
whole story about who you really are.
We do not see or hear anything about
Bruce stating he will support all of our
Constitutional Rights. This is a big issue
for us. Will he stand up to the Federal
Government to follow the law?
Kody Justus stood side by side with
our family, on the fireline for days as we
battled the largest wildfire in the history of
Baker County on our family property,
with no government agency help. Kody
did not come to our aid because we asked,
he showed up on his own because he cares
about the people, their needs and their
livelihoods. Kody can relate to our issues,
struggles and concerns. Kody also helped
on the fires in Richland/Halfway.
Kody was involved with Bill Harvey
and Mark Bennett, with issues regarding
the way the fires were handled. Kody
contacted us and asked our input on the
making of a documentary film, of the
fires, to take to government agencies to
make the necessary changes in the fighting
of fires. This is what a County Commis-
sioners should be doing. They need to
be out and about the County talking and
interacting with the people about issues,
concerns and what is the best solution.
Kody was doing that last year! Kody cares
about people, Baker County and upholds
the Constitution.
Kody Justus is the one candidate, who
has truly demonstrated that he cares about
protecting our rights and freedom in Baker
County. Kody has our votes.
Larry and Tammy Davilla
Baker City
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