FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2016
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion
— Letters to the Editor —
Why change what works? Vote no on 1-74
To the Editor:
The Baker County Commissioners have been Partisan
for at least the past 25+ years. The primary election
process has served Baker County well with Democrat
Steve Bogart being elected as Baker County Judge in
1990, then Republican Brian Cole was elected followed
by Democrat Fred Warner being elected in 2002. Then in
2014 currently Republican Bill Harvey was elected.
The election has gone back and forth between the two
parties. It wasn’t until Fred Warner Jr was defeated in
2014 that there has ever been any question or concern as
to the primary and party system and the successes that the
different Elected Commissioners have brought to better
Baker County along the way.
Why change what has served us well for several years?
It just doesn’t make any more sense than trying to change
State Senators and Representatives, Governor, Congress
or House of Representatives, or the United States of
America President from Partisan to non-Partisan. They
all have accountability to the Citizens on how they vote
on different issues that many times will fall along plat-
forms and ideologies of the two major political parties.
Especially when it comes to Natural Resources as is the
case with Baker County. Even Fred Warner Jr. stated in
the debates that he changed from a registered Democrat
to Republican because he aligned himself more with the
Republicans stance on Natural Resource issues.
Vote no on measure 1-74.
Lorrie Harvey
Haines
I support 1-74
To the Editor:
I am supporting measure 1-74 and urge my neighbors
to do the same. If passed, this measure would mean all
of Baker County has a vote and a voice in who becomes
our elected county officials. Our candidates would have
to appeal to and represent all citizens, not just those in a
particular party. Baker City Council is nonpartisan and
as a former City Councilor, I don’t recall a single instance
where party affiliation mattered or should have mattered.
I believe our county officials should also be nonpartisan
and urge you to join me in voting yes on 1-74.
Gail Duman
Baker City
Submitted by Jan Kerns
Vote yes on 1-74
To the Editor:
As a concerned citizen and supporter of Baker County
Measure 1-74, one message came across loud and clear as
I visited with folks. People are tired of having to change
their party registration to vote for a County Commis-
sioner candidate they prefer in order to cast a vote in the
partisan primary election. Their concerns had several
good points:
1. They don’t have to be a particular political party
to vote for City Council or School Board members –
both boards make responsible decisions on behalf of the
public;
2. They don’t believe that a party label tells the only
story on the values and core beliefs of an individual
candidate;
The three County Commissioner positions are the only
partisan positions in all of the 167 elected offices in
Baker Co. We need to change that so everyone can vote
on the County Commissioners at the primary level.
Please join with me in voting yes on 1-74. Let us have
Baker County join with 28 other Oregon counties who
have seen the wisdom of making the County Commis-
sioner positions non-partisan, and truly represent the
choice, and will, of all of the voters in all elections.
Bob McKim
Baker City
Submitted by Jan Kerns
Hoopes for sheriff!
To the Editor:
I am writing in support of John Hoopes for Baker
County Sheriff. John Hoopes has been with the sheriff’s
department for 16 years and has acquired an abundance
of knowledge and skills that insure he is the best choice
for the job. John has an extremely strong and sound
rapport with Baker County residents. His integrity is
impeccable. John’s honesty, sincerity, moral values and
devotion speak loudly to his ability to be Baker County
Sheriff.
Marilyn Shollenberger
Baker City
Commissioners do not only do County’s
‘day to day business’
To the Editor:
Just recently few people have said, “The Commis-
sioners job is just to run the day to day business of the
County.” That is misinformation! The Commission Chair
does oversee the day-to-day county business but you have
a Chief Financial Officer, Human Resources Director
along with the Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor and numerous
Department heads that are all very capable of performing
day-to-day business of the County.
Your three Elected Commissioners deal with a wide
variety of issues that need to be addressed outside of
the day-to-day business. Some of these issues include
forestry, use of our natural resources, public road ac-
cess, grazing needs, public safety including your second
Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker County
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Opinions submitted as Guest Opinions or Letters to
amendment rights and public land use management plan-
ning with the Government agencies.
It is very important that you have the confidence as
Baker County Citizens that these will be dealt with, and
voted on, in regards to policy and procedures with ideolo-
gies and beliefs stated during their candidacy. I believe
in a conservative and historical approach on how to deal
with making the hard decisions and leading our County
in a positive direction. The Republican Party has always
stood for less Government and regulations when leading
our Nation. They stand for Local Government and plac-
ing the power of the people closer to home.
I do not want someone else choosing a candidate with
different views than my own. That is why I am asking
my fellow Republicans and every other voter in Baker
County to vote no on 1-74. Don’t let someone else talk
you into giving up your rights to a closed primary. The
other political parties have always had the same rights to
pick their candidates but for the last few years they have
chosen not too! The system that we have in place does
work when you use it and I would like to keep it.
These are my own views and I do not represent my co-
Commissioners.
Bill Harvey
Haines
Let’s defeat the nonpartisan issue AGAIN
To the Editor:
Baker County voters, for the second year in a row
are considering (again...) turning our County Commis-
sioner positions from partisan to nonpartisan positions.
Last year, 2015, Baker County voters turned down this
same proposal. In true liberal fashion, the same handful
of people has brought the same issue back to the voters
again. They cannot seem to take “NO” for an answer.
These same people have lost sight of history and why
this is such a bad idea for Baker County. A Nonpartisan
system is a bad deal; it is the forerunner of a one-party
system. I remember from last year a Letter to the Editor
from Alberta Bailey of Baker City, which said, “In the
1930’s and 1940’s, Italy and Germany were both nonpar-
tisan—one party. As I remember that didn’t work out so
well. Vote no.”
Know your history and understand our commission-
ers are the rule/law makers for Baker County. Just like
our elected legislatures at both the state & federal levels.
Let’s keep the politics transparent in Baker County, Vote
no on Measure 1-74.
Suzie Dyke
Baker City
Nonpartisan switch was disaster in
Josephine County
Hoopes is my choice for Sheriff
To the Editor:
I am writing to endorse John Hoopes as the Republican
candidate for Baker County Sheriff.
John is a native resident of Baker County and has
proudly served our community for the last 16 years. His
pride and respect for the area we live in and the people
he serves have created a solid foundation for his cam-
paign and have been a driving force to generate positive
change; and positive change is exactly what this county
needs. People need someone who is willing to listen, and
dedicate the time and energy needed to solve the major
issues Baker County is facing right now. John Hoopes is
not afraid to face these issues head-on and resolve them
in a practical and Constitutionally-minded manner.
John also served our country as a Marine which has
provided invaluable experience and training for the posi-
tion of Sheriff. It takes a lot of courage and selflessness to
dedicate four years of your life to fight for your country; I
respect all of those who have given of themselves for our
Constitutional freedoms and rights. The Marines provide
an education that cannot be obtained through any other
institution. Nothing even comes close to matching the
skill and knowledge gained in through military service.
A man who is willing to set his life aside to serve his
country is a man with the honor and discipline needed to
serve this county.
There is a definite need for positive change in Baker
County and I believe John Hoopes has the dedication and
experience to help bring about this change. We are living
in tumultuous times; our livelihood is being threatened
and the federal government just keeps tightening their
grip on rural Americans. We need someone who is will-
ing to fight for our rights as citizens and who will go
the extra mile to make sure everyone’s voice is heard. I
support John Hoopes for Baker County Sheriff and I am
asking the citizens of this county to do the same.
Joelle Crowther
Baker City
Hoopes best suited to job
To the Editor:
I have had several opportunities over the past few
months to get to know John Hoopes and to consider the
goals and objectives of both of the candidates for the
upcoming election. John Hoopes’ honest and practical ap-
proach to solving the issues Baker County is faced with is
what sets him apart from the other candidate. His willing-
ness to listen to people’s problems with genuine con-
cern and respect is commendable. I am writing today to
show my loyalty and support for John Hoopes for Baker
County Sheriff as I believe he is best suited for the job.
Creg Talbott
Baker City
To the Editor:
Baker County Residents, I urge you to vote no in
switching to a non-Partisan Commissioner office on
Baker County Measure 1-74. In the early 90s Josephine
County switched to non-partisan and we have had noth-
ing but trouble ever since.
Josephine County has made worldwide news due to
the lack of funding of the O&C funds and other overall
ramifications of having non-partisan Commissioners. It
may seem like a great idea, but our County has been suf-
fering ever since nonpartisan commissioner was adopted.
We have lost almost all of our Sheriff’s Department and
many Union employees.
A better system is for each party (there is more than
two) to put forth their best candidate, and hold them ac-
countable. Non-Affiliated candidates can still run. The
way our current system is set up we have on average
eight people running for one position, so when two posi-
tions are open we could have a field of sixteen candi-
dates, four or five which run every single time and only
receive a small percentage of the votes.
With so many candidates running it often discourages
good people from running and those that do have the
votes scattered throughout all the candidates and have
been known to take away from the good candidates.
With the lack of good candidates we have had two
Commissioners recalled and our current board that has
had over reaching power which has cost the County
in a referendum vote to overturn some over reaching
ordinances, because they would not listen to the people.
Many residents in the County attempted to activate
another Recall, which ended up costing the County even
more money.
As you can see nonpartisan Commissioners causes
discontent and Commissioners are not held accountable.
I urge you to think twice and Vote NO for non-partisan
Commissioners offices as you can see it is a bad idea.
Please Vote NO on Baker County Measure 1-74 for the
sake of your county.
Keith Trahern
Grants Pass
Clintons have left horrible legacy
To the Editor:
Wow, what a legacy the
Clintons are leaving for
their grandchildren. If
Hillary wins, she’ll be Liar
in Chief with Bill as “First
Laddie.”
In 2005, Hillary stated,
“Look, the average
Democrat is so stupid
(just plain), they are easy
to manipulate. That’s the
easy part.” And boy is she
proving it!
Isn’t she good at name
calling?
She has been at the
taypayer trough for over
30 years and wants to sop
it dry.
Money does not make for
integrity!
Ester Evans
Baker City
the Editor express the opinions of their authors, and
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