FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion
— Letters to the Editor —
Ash is Southwick’s protégé , which is bad
Vote no on Measure 97, 1-74
To the Editor:
Some time ago when the previous sheriff was in office,
my husband was parked in front of the Sheriff’s Office to
drop off some papers, and he watched a man frantically
rummaging through his car nearby. The frustrated man
then walked over and said he needed help with 75 cents
as he was trying to pay a fee, but the Sheriff’s employee
had demanded the exact sum due. The reason given was
that employees were not allowed to give out change!
Unbelieving, my husband asked the deputy about the
situation. He was told that yes, there had been “issues”
(problems) with employees handling money. So Sheriff
Southwick made a policy that people had to pay required
fees in the exact sum so that his employees would not be
tempted to mishandle public money.
What is wrong with this picture? Is this a small
matter? Is this reasonable in such a prestigious office?
Instead of being committed to hiring trustworthy employ-
ees, he instead takes away their temptation at the expense
of the public he is supposed to serve. And this is the
sheriff who has taught his protégé, Travis Ash, everything
he knows. Can we expect reasonable common sense
management practices from Travis Ash? Can we expect
that Ash will use better sense and higher principles?
John Hoopes is widely known to be absolutely honest
and approachable, and has good leadership sense. In
ordinary life John believes in the Golden Rule: “Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you.” With such
integrity and fairness nothing will persuade him into
faulty compromise. He is deeply committed to lawfully
serving the local people. Let’s vote for John Hoopes and
see what he can do to clean up the mismanagement in the
Sheriff’s Office!
Jeannie Anderson
Richland
To the Editor:
Jeez, the tax and spend Democrats are at it again. They
couldn’t pass a Oregon State sales tax, although they
have tried again and again. Each time the voters said a
big resounding “no.”
I guess if you can’t make it through the front door use
the back door.
They have come with a brilliant scheme to tax the big
corporations and give the proceeds to the deserving needy
of Oregon. Sounds good don’t it until you figure out that
the gas companies, food companies, clothing companies,
the Walmart’s, Targets the big taxable corporations will
pass these tax’s on to you and me. Higher gas prices, food
prices, clothing and almost everything you spend your
money on will be higher. For those of you that want to
pay more at the stores and gas pumps be sure and vote
“yes,” as for the rest of us we will vote “no” on Measure
97.
Same for Measure 74 Nonpartisan Measure, we have
run this county for years Republican and Democrat.
The Democrats pushed this last year and voters voted it
down. What’s the matter with you guys? Ashamed to put
Democrat in front of your name when you run for office?
Please vote “no”... again ... for the second time.
Chuck Chase
Baker City
Nonpartisan system was horrible for Crook
County
To the Editor:
As a conservative and Chair of the Crook County Re-
publican Party I was very disappointed when a measure
to turn our County Commission to a non-partisan status
was passed a few years ago. I had great concerns after
studying the issue and can confirm those concerns were
well-founded.
The premise was that non-affiliated and independent
voters were being disenfranchised since they were not
able to vote in the primary for party candidates. The
proponents claimed there would be much higher turn
out if it was a non-partisan elections. While it’s difficult
to get a grip on primary turnout in presidential election
years it was clear that even with a presidential race the
non-affiliated or independent voters did not respond in
our now non-partisan county commission race at a greater
percentage than before.
Disenfranchised? According to the turnout not so
much. Disappointing when you consider there were so
many other factors that influenced the primary that no
definitive conclusions were to be made.
My best assessment is that the non-partisan status had
only the effect of muddying the waters.
It’s sure the Non-affiliated and Independent voters did
not return their ballots in joyous approval of their ability
to influence the primary. I can not recommend voting in
favor of any measure that would change the status from
partisan to non-partisan. It just doesn’t measure up to the
claims.
What I have seen is the tendency to do more fence
sitting on the part of some candidates. “I’ll just wait for
someone else to lead out on this critical issue” was not
voiced but it was implemented and has not helped our
community. The fence was more appealing than leading.
In Crook County leadership waited for citizens to lead on
a new jail and we did. Was it because it was now non-
partisan? Who knows, but we do know it didn’t create
leadership and in these trying times fence sitters are actu-
ally obstructionists. You don’t need that.
I can strongly recommend voting no on Measure 1-74.
It won’t get you where you want or need to go.
Ken Taylor
Prineville
No on 1-74 for the second year in a row
To the Editor:
Baker County voters defeated this exact same measure
last year and yet here it is again, please vote no on Mea-
sure 1-74. We need to know all we can about our candi-
dates for office of Baker Counties Executive branch (our
county commissioners). We need to know their history,
positions, character, and political party. We need to know
because all these things help us make a more informed
decision when we vote. The founding fathers thought
so too. The effort, time and deliberation by these very
informed and dedicated men gave us the form of govern-
ment we have now. It has worked well, certainly better
than other countries with their systems. When we read
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and James Madi-
son we should be grateful for their effort and thoughtful-
ness. Please vote no on Measure 1-74.
Tom Van Diepen
Baker City
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I’m voting for Ash
To the Editor:
The Sheriff of Baker County must be experienced in all
areas of law enforcement, facilities management and ad-
ministration; be of excellent moral and ethical character;
and must be a leader of all and not a follower of some.
I have had the privilege of working for law enforce-
ment for 30 years (10 with Baker City PD and 20 with
the Oregon State Police). In my position I was able to
observe the work of both candidates interacting with
other officers and agencies, occasionally I saw their ac-
tions with the public and also saw the results of some of
their day to day work.
Both candidates have “experience” in many areas, but
Travis Ash is the one who exceeds in all aspects needed
to serve the citizens of Baker County as Sheriff; not only
on a local level, but also representing Baker County at
many out of the county functions. Please vote for Travis
Ash for Sheriff.
Marilyn Bloom
Baker City
Ash is the best choice
To the Editor:
Vote Travis Ash for Sheriff! Travis Ash is the best and
only choice for sheriff. I have known Travis and his fine
family for several years. Travis is a devoted husband and
father. The devotion that Travis has for his family carries
over to his work. Travis works hard to meet the demands
of running a department with limited resources. Because
of these limitations he covers shifts on his own days off,
responds in the middle of the night and on holidays, and
fills in for his deputies when they have personal needs or
family requirements of their own. I know many of his
deputies personally and see how they respect his devotion
and commitment not only to the public, but to them and
their families as well.
I have had several opportunities to attend public events
where both sheriff candidates had opportunities to ad-
dress the public or answer questions. Travis has attended
all of them, spoke to the people (when permitted), and
answered any question asked of him. His opponent,
however, has either failed to appear or has represented
himself poorly, never answering questions or addressing
specific changes he has mentioned he would make for the
office.
Making comments on his Facebook page about change
isn’t the same as facing the public to identify these issues,
whatever they are. I cannot support a candidate for any
public office, especially one as important as Sheriff, who
cannot or will not address the public in person.
So please join me in supporting and voting for the only
qualified candidate for sheriff of Baker County, Sheriff
Travis Ash.
Donna Fiddler
Baker City
agencies of the federal government and has sworn to hold
their authority to the original limits.
John Hoopes is committed to protecting the rights of
the people, while his opponent Travis Ash is committed
to allowing federal agencies to come into Baker County
and take authority over the Sheriff. This is wrong!
Elect John Hoopes and stand behind him in the difficult
times ahead. If you vote for Travis Ash, fully expect him
to step aside in favor of the federal mafia when it wants to
kill local people for merely challenging their jurisdiction,
as they did in Harney County. There are photos on the
internet showing Travis Ash proudly standing shoulder to
shoulder in support of the federal thugs who deliberately
assassinated a peaceful man who was charged with no
crime.
John Hoopes is a man of great strength and character.
You will never regret voting him as your Sheriff.
Frank McLeary
Richland
Will Ash be loyal to local residents?
To the Editor:
Please join me in voting for John Hoopes for Baker
County Sheriff. John Hoopes has the mindset and the
savvy that we need here in Baker County.
I am told that the current Sheriff, Travis Ash, is bring-
ing in retired Oregon State Police to take top administra-
tive positions. What is Mr. Ash thinking? These people
are already getting a healthy retirement check from the
State of Oregon. They are not going to feel the same
loyalty toward, or have the same incentive to do what is
right for the people of Baker County. When issues come
up, Baker County residents safety and well-being should
always take priority over State overreach.
John Hoopes knows that the Sheriff’s job is to protect
and serve the people of Baker County. I know a John
Hoopes-led Sherriff’s Office is the one that will work for
us. He is loyal and accountable to the people of Baker
County.
Lyn Akers
Baker City
No on 1-74 and Measure 97
To the Editor:
Proponent Organizations for State measure 97 who
have endorsed a “yes” vote are the League of Women
Voters, Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP), OEA,
SEIU, etc. If Measure 97 is passed, Oregon will lose
over 38,000 private sector jobs in Oregon, while increas-
ing the size of State Government. Most corporations will
be leaving the state. Phil Knight, owner of Nike has do-
nated big bucks to the No on Measure 97 efforts because
it will hurt Nike.
These above-mentioned nonpartisan organizations
are the same organizations that encourage local elected
offices to become nonpartisan. They have shown with
M97 that the “guise” of nonpartisan is just another name
for liberal. Watch their TV ads and how they try to cloak
their radical beliefs behind the nonpartisan term! Sound
familiar?
Here in Baker County, our County Commissioner seats
are partisan and it has worked for the majority of voters
(who really want to vote) in Baker County for many,
many years. Nothing is broken in County Government.
Keep transparency in Baker County Government.
Neither of these measures is good for Baker County or
for Oregon.
Join me, my family and friends in voting no on Baker
County Measure 1-74 and State Measure 97.
Kasey Wright
Halfway
— Contact Us —
Miners and
outdoorsmen
support Hoopes
To the Editor:
John Hoopes is over-
whelmingly supported as
a candidate for Sheriff by
local miners and outdoors-
men and women. He
has actively studied the
Constitutions he has sworn
to obey, defend, and sup-
port and he knows that the
proper role of government
is to protect the rights of
the people. He understands
the limited authority of the
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