FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Politics
— Letters to the Editor —
Support Richardson and Pierce
To the Editor:
All too many times I hear it said “We
here in Eastern Oregon cannot do any-
thing to help to change the direction that
our State Government is going.” Oregon
State is at a crossroads with this year’s
election. We can continue this downward
slide with the lack of leadership that has
been in place for far too long or we can
now rebuild our State with new, better,
stronger and accurate leadership for the
betterment of all the citizens of Oregon.
I am asking for all of Baker County
citizens to join me in supporting Den-
nis Richardson for Secretary of State
and Bud Pierce for Governor of Oregon.
Together we can choose a new direction
for Oregon. One of Job creation and one
of bringing back businesses instead of
losing them as they go out of state. We
must rebuild our economy through reduc-
ing job killing regulations and unrealistic
mandates along with over taxation of our
businesses and citizens. Oregon is the
highest tax and spend state in the west and
any tax on businesses is a tax on you and
I, the people. Oregon can again become a
state that not only supports businesses but
once again become competitive with any
state out. A robust economy that serves
all of our citizens within our State includ-
ing Eastern Oregon as well as the western
side of the State.
This can only be done with New Leader-
ship from people who are willing and
able to support the needs of all citizens of
our State with new ideas. We now have
the opportunity to vote for this change
of ideology by bringing back common
sense leadership in our State Government.
Please come along side many fellow
citizens of our great State and vote for
Dennis Richardson for Secretary of State
and Bud Pierce for our next Oregon State
Governor.
Bill Harvey
Haines
of emergencies from wildfires to various
crimes with a limited budget and staff.
I would like to encourage all Baker
County citizens to become informed and
vote for the only qualified candidate for
Baker County Sheriff.
Mitch Southwick
Baker City
Sheriff’s race is important
To the Editor:
With the November general election
approaching we are starting to see numer-
ous campaign signs appearing throughout
the County. As everyone knows I am
supporting and voting for Travis Ash for
Baker County Sheriff.
Sheriff Ash has the experience, training,
maturity, education and proven abilities
to continue to lead the Sheriff’s Office,
Parole and Probation and the Jail in a
direction that will best serve the citizens
of Baker County. This was also apparent
to the Commissioners when they inter-
viewed candidates to complete my term
and appointed Travis to Sheriff in May,
2015. Since that time Travis has proven
himself as a outstanding leader and also
that he has the abilities to handle all types
To the Editor:
The race for Baker County Sheriff is far
more important to us than the Presiden-
tial contest. In a time of ever-expanding
unconstitutional federal regulations and
enforcement, our small county with all its
abundant resources appears to be at the
mercy and whims of foreign and federal
corporate business interests.
There is but one elected county official
who can protect our rights, property, and
families from the Federal usurpers and
their unconscionable and egregious acts.
That one is our elected Sheriff, sworn to
uphold County laws that require federal
agencies to coordinate with our local
government for the overall benefit of all
the people of Baker County. If a Sheriff
fails in his solemn sworn duty and loyalty,
he can be replaced.
The unelected federal bureaucrats in
our county can only operate against our
interests by the consent of our sheriff.
The goal of these outsiders is to achieve
their U.N.-inspired One-World agenda
which assails the rights and freedoms and
property of the local people.
Please take the time to do your own
research and make your own determina-
tions as to the content of the character, de-
meanor, intentions and commitment of the
two candidates. Which one is committed
to best serve YOU and protect YOU from
the advancing attacks on your property
and liberties?
Meet them and ask tough questions.
Why does Deputy John Hoopes believe he
will be a better Sheriff than acting Sheriff
Ash? Thousands of people have known
John Hoopes and his family for decades,
and know his strengths and honest charac-
ter. Do you?
Look hard at the record of Travis Ash,
and see how closely he has tied himself to
supporting and aiding federal agencies in
their detrimental and disastrous intentions
and acts. Job “experience” means nothing
if that “experience” involves signing fed-
eral contracts and pursuing underhanded
relationships with federal agents acting
against the interests of our local people.
You should understand WHY the min-
ers and forest users and recreationists
overwhelmingly support John Hoopes.
Educate yourself and vote properly to
protect your own vital interests in the
times ahead.
Jim Iler
New Bridge
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Vote Ash for Sheriff
Republican open house
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
The evening was
structured not as a debate
or forum between oppos-
ing candidates or parties,
but as an open house to
introduce Republican
candidates and present
information on initiatives
such as the nonpartisan
issue, which the local party
unanimously voted to op-
pose for the second year
running.
Baker County Republican
Chair Suzan Ellis Jones
started the evening by in-
troducing Barreto, who led
the Pledge of Allegiance
and the Invocation.
Measure 97.
Barreto spoke to Bal-
lot Measure 97, formerly
known as IP28. Barreto
said this measure, which
conservatives oppose, has
gathered some steam and
is polling favorably. “It’s a
huge concern,” he said.
Measure 97, if passed,
would implement a state-
wide tax on sales—a gross
receipts tax—not profits,
for C-Corporations selling
$25 million in products per
year. This would include
most fuel and grocery sup-
pliers in Oregon, and even
Barreto’s own company,
Barreto Manufacturing,
which employs 85.
“Every business in Or-
egon is looking for a way
to escape it,” he said. Bar-
reto said he would likely
move the headquarters for
his own business out of
state in order to be able to
compete.
The tax would begin
at 2.5%, but could scale
upwards of 7.5%.
“It will increase the cost
of living on everyone,”
Barreto warned.
Bentz took the micro-
phone and concurred. He
said, “Most grocery stores
don’t have a 2.5-percent
profit margin.”
Bentz said that if 97
passes, Oregon will “lose
38,000 private sector jobs
and 18,000 in the public
sector.”
“It’s a value-added tax,”
he explained, “so it pyra-
mids. Fuel will go up.”
The tax will add 14 cents
per gallon to gas, Bentz
estimates.
With the tax starting out
at $6.1 billion per year,
Bentz said this would
increase money in the Gen-
eral Fund by 27%.
“Then you can have ev-
erything. Your life is gonna
be perfect!” he joked of the
Democrats’ point of view.
1-74.
Initiative 1-74 would
convert Baker County
Commissioner seats from
partisan to nonpartisan if
passed.
The initiative is nearly
identical to 1-63, which
was defeated by voters last
year, and supported by the
same group of individuals
within the county.
Precinct Committee
Person (PCP) Jake Brown
of Halfway presented a
slideshow on the history
of the nonpartisan move-
ment worldwide and in the
U.S., calling it a move to
a “one-party system” with
socialist roots.
Unions such as SEIU
strongly support con-
version to nonpartisan
positions, as do other left-
leaning groups such as the
League of Conservation
Voters.
The local Republican
party contends that local
Democrats desire more
power within Baker
County, and have teamed
up with a handful of more
liberal Republicans to
create a system that would
help hide their political
ideologies—and make
them more electable in
a primarily conservative
county.
“Statistics show that ar-
eas that have gone nonpar-
tisan have steadily lower
voter turnout,” said Jones.
Proponents of 1-74 claim
their measure will allow
more people to vote.
Jones also pointed to loss
of local control should this
measure pass. At present,
when a Commissioner
resigns, the 48 elected
Republican PCPs hold a
nominating convention
to select the replacement.
That basic grassroots layer
of representation would go
away, leaving that replace-
ment as an appointment
by only two people—the
remaining commissioners.
Should two commission-
ers resign, the Governor of
Oregon would select the
next Baker County Com-
missioner.
Mark Callahan.
Five-time candidate
Mark Callahan pointed to
his “never give up” spirit.
This time around, Callahan
is taking on incumbent
Senator Ron Wyden.
“He’s a 35-year career
politician New Yorker ...
We need to get rid of him
this year.”
— Contact Us —
Walden speaks out on bill
regarding public trail health
The U.S. House of
Representatives today
passed the National Forest
System Trails Stewardship
Act (H.R. 845), legislation
championed by Rep. Greg
Walden (R-Hood River)
to help better maintain
public trails on national
forests and ensure they
are accessible for outdoor
recreation.
“Hunting, fishing, camp-
ing, and other outdoor ac-
tivities are cherished pas-
times here in Oregon, and
they should be enjoyed for
generations to come. But
as many people in Oregon
know, the public trails in
our state are in desperate
need of better manage-
ment,” said Walden. “The
National Forest System
Trails Stewardship Act
makes a number of com-
mon-sense improvements
to how the Forest Service
maintains our state’s trails
and landscape, and helps
put us on the path to more
sustainable trail manage-
ment.”
Last year, Walden met
with backcountry horse-
men, snowmobile users,
and other forest enthusiasts
to discuss the legislation in
Bend. The National Forest
System Trails Steward-
ship Act addresses many
of their concerns with trail
management by breaking
down barriers for volunteer
efforts and collaboration
with outside groups. Nota-
bly, the bill would encour-
age fire crews to perform
maintenance during the
offseason, and allow outfit-
ters and guides to reduce
their fees by providing trail
maintenance.
According to a 2013
report by the Government
Accountability Office
(GAO), the Forest Service
is only able to maintain
about one quarter of trails
up to standard, and nearly
two-thirds of trails receive
no maintenance at all. The
report also recognizes the
benefits of utilizing volun-
teers for trail maintenance,
and recommends steps to
help the Forest Service
maximize use of volun-
teers and partners.
The National Forest
System Trails Stewardship
Act passed the House with
unanimous support, and
now heads to the Senate
for consideration.
Callahan refers to him-
self as a devout Christian
who believes God is guid-
ing his political path.
“We have a shot to win,”
he said.
Callahan stated that
reforming the “77,000
pages” of existing tax code
as one of his goals should
he be elected.
Rep. Cliff Bentz.
Bentz spoke briefly for a
second time, pointing out
that at present there are 35
Democrats and 25 Republi-
cans in the Oregon House.
He reminded those in the
room that Oregon’s share
of the Obamacare-mandat-
ed Medicaid cost—$1 bil-
lion for Oregon— comes
due next year.
John Hoopes.
“I’ve worked under four
different sheriffs,” said
Hoopes.
“I think we need some
change in the county,” he
said.
Hoopes, a fifth genera-
tion Baker County resident
gave a rundown of his fam-
ily’s history in the area. “I
like the way of life here,”
he said.
Hoopes said he made the
decision to run for Sheriff
five years ago and has been
working toward realizing
that dream.
Arvid Andersen.
Forester Arvid Ander-
sen of Andersen Forestry
Consulting is one of three
Republicans running for
City Council in Baker City.
Andersen joked, “I’m not
voting for Bernie Sand-
ers!” when asked if he
would like to speak. He
declined his time, as the
two other candidates were
not present.
Mike Downing was at
the venue, but not in the
room at the time. Daniel
Lowe was out of time
attending a League of
Oregon Cities event.
Conclusion.
By the end of the open
house, the Crowes were
still involved with the
aftermath of their vehicle
accident, and unable to
attend.
The Baker County Re-
publican Central Commit-
tee is opening a campaign
office at 1915 Broadway in
Baker City. Those interest-
ed in obtaining information
or signage for their favorite
candidates are encouraged
to stop by.
The office is manned
entirely by volunteers, and
hours open are 2-6 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
YOUR ELECTED
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Merkley.Senate.gov
Phone: 541.519.0572
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US Sen. Ron Wyden
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Wyden.Senate.gov
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Editor@TheBakerCountyPress.com
US Rep. Greg Walden
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Wendee@TheBakerCountyPress.com
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David@TheBakerCountyPress.com
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