Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2016)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5 Opinion — Letters to the Editor — Hoopes is good for Baker Co. To the Editor: I am writing this letter to endorse John Hoopes for Baker County Sheriff. John has shown his passion and drive to work hard for the betterment of Baker county. While serving as a deputy at the Baker County Sheriff he has served the com- munity with genuine care, compassion and pride. He is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. John is an outstanding grandfather and family man that is willing to do what it takes to take care of the community. He strives to treat everyone he serves as family. John will work to improve com- munity moral and concerns to take care of business with heart. There is a time in everyone’s life that we need someone to stand up for us whether it is a neighbor’s barking dog, a major crime or even just someone to listen to your concerns. John Hoopes can be this person for you with care and action to back it up. John Hoopes is someone you want in your corner. He is going to make Baker County a better place to live and raise your family. Today is a day for change. Let’s take a stand and elect John Hoopes for Sheriff of Baker County. He is a stand- up man with a heart of gold. No one will work harder at serving your community from small to big concerns he is there. If you are ready for changes let’s make it happen! Please stand with me and sup- port John Hoopes for Sheriff. Natalie Smucker Redmond, Ore. Hoopes has solid financial plan To the Editor: Sheriff candidate John Hoopes has a very workable plan to make Baker City the regional training center for law enforcement training. His plan will save huge sums of money while keeping our law enforcement personnel at home instead of sending them away for distant training. His plan will be a big boost for the local economy, as you can imagine. This is but one of the many positive changes John Hoopes will bring to the Sheriff’s Office and Baker County. Vote for a man whose life experiences, strength of character, family and community values, and common sense make him the most qualified candidate for Sheriff: John Hoopes! Mike Crews Richland interfered with BLM taking Mr. Michael’s equipment. BLM also destroyed his dis- covery post, which is a federal offense. Did Southwick pass this kind of protec- tion on to Ash, about letting federal agen- cies take personal property? Southwick had all of the State and Federal mining laws laid on his desk. Who wants to take a chance, it could be your personal prop- erty next time, and maybe the EPA, IRS or other federal agency? I also know that Sheriff Ash has his deputies riding with BLM Rangers. I recommend a vote for John Hoopes! Second, in Malheur County, their District Attorney has resigned and the Governor is now making the decision on the replacement. This story has a lesson; do you want the Sheriff, District Attor- ney and even the County Commissioners appointed by the Governor? Vote no on measure 1-74. Keep our county govern- ment transparent and local; please vote John Hoopes for Sheriff and no on 1-74. Ed Hardt Baker City My vote goes to Ash To the Editor: My vote for Baker County Sheriff is going to Travis Ash who has held that po- sition since being unanimously appointed in May 2015. His resume showing his dedication to law enforcement for the past 20 years reads like the dedicated person he is. Serv- ing in police work since his first hire at age 20 by Oregon State Police as a Fish and Game cadet, he has continued his education and gained experience through many venues.In 2007, as all of Baker County held its breath that 76-year-old Doris Anderson, reported missing for 13 days in the Eagle Cap Wilderness area could be found alive, Travis Ash and OSP Senior Trooper Chris Hawkins found her. Travis was given many awards and honors including being the first non-OSP recipient of the Harold R. Berg Lifesaving Award. To read more of this man who has shown integrity, compassion and certainly experience being involved the past 11 years with the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, go to www.electsheriff.com. He deserved to be elected. Experience does matter. Evelyne Fisher Haines I support Ash for Sheriff Hoopes will go extra mile To the Editor: Vote for John Hoopes. Over the years that I have known and witnessed John Hoopes actions, I have seen his love of being of service to many people. As a youth he would go to help anyone with a project that they could not do themselves because of age, illness, or just did not know how to do it. As a teenager he learned from his father that doing his best to help others was re- ward enough. He joined the Marine Corps to serve his country that includes you and I. When he was released he trained to be a mechanic like his Father. Many times I witnessed him giving advice, showing them how or doing it himself to people that needed help but could not afford to pay for the service. He did it because it was reward enough to see the appreciation of those that were in need. As a deputy in the Sheriff’s department he has helped many people, and been of service to the entire population of this county. His biggest concern is for you and I. He will do all that is possible for anyone of us that are in need of his service. You can be assured that as Sheriff all Depu- ties and Personnel of the department will be trained to do their very best for you to keep you safe and give help when needed. He has a love for Baker County and everyone in it and a willingness to serve each one of us in the capacity of a great Sheriffs. Please vote for John Hoopes. Bob and Marilyn Harrison Baker City Ash supports Feds not miners? To the Editor: Approximately 18 months ago, Travis Ash was appointed Sheriff upon the early retirement of Mitch Southwick. As the Sheriff position is a nonpartisan position, the decision was made only by the three County Commissioners. Southwick put in a recommendation letter for Ash to the Commissioners. Personally, Southwick is one to ride the trail with, but he does not know min- ing law. He let the Forest Service take equipment from the Orion mine and the BLM from the Round Butte mine without the due process based on State law. He even had a deputy to guard so that no one To the Editor: As Election Day approaches, the rheto- ric in the candidate races grows more pointed. In the Sheriff’s race, for anyone who has been watching, Sheriff Travis Ash has maintained a consistent message and a high standard of performance and public trust throughout his campaign. At the same time he has performed his duties and lived up to his commitment to the citi- zens of Baker County as their Sheriff. We have not seen him engage in anything but positive and optimistic claims about his commitment and obligation to the public’s safety and welfare. I have, as objectively as possible, tried to evaluate the qualifications of Mr. Hoopes, however, he has avoided most public opportunities to answer specific questions about his position. He offers to answer any question in person; easy enough to do in the presence of family, friends or the safe and secure environment of known supporters that don’t expose him to criticism or tough questions requir- ing an unrehearsed response. He was protected from questions at the Repub- lican Central Committee “Open House” and he failed to appear at the AAUW Forum, where he could have been asked questions. This seems problematic, com- ing from an individual who claims Open Communication as one of his qualifica- tions and who wants to hold the public’s trust in the position he seeks. Sheriff Ash has undertaken many initia- tives since being appointed sheriff in May of 2015. He has taken advantage of every public opportunity to describe his efforts, initiative, and vision, face to face with his critics and supporters alike. Mr. Hoopes talks with pride of his family, his love of Baker County, and term as a U.S. Marine. I sincerely commend him for these senti- ments, as every man should be so lucky to be able to claim these accomplishments— he should be proud. But it takes that and much more in the way of professional accomplishment, interpersonal skill, emotional and physical fortitude, and a life-long demonstration of public commit- ment as demonstrated by Travis Ash, to hold such a position of public trust. Vote Travis Ash for Baker County Sheriff. Steve Fiddler Baker City — Special Column — So I was thinking ... ‘Tis election season— Oh joy! By Jimmy Ingram Special to The Baker County Press Election season. It’s here. And the only good thing about it being here is that it will eventually be over. While I appreciate the fact that we live in a representative republic, that doesn’t mean that we have I have to love all the baggage that goes along with the process. Regardless of what candidate(s) you may or may not like, or what ballot measures you may be pas- sionate about, most of us share a disdain for the political bombard- ment we must endure every couple years. Signs: They’re everywhere. Lawns, porches, billboards, fence posts, in the middle of manure- filled pastures (I love the irony). Vote “yes” on this, “no” on that. “Make America Great Again. “I’m With Her.” Ugh. At some point this may have been a proven way of getting out the vote but ask yourself this: Has your vote on anything ever been swayed based upon seeing a sign? Were you going to vote for candidate “X” and changed to candidate “Y” at the last minute because of the sign in your neighbors yard? Did the font on a billboard hypnotize you into vot- ing differently on a ballot measure? Probably not. Mostly it just seems like a way of reaffirming that you and your neighbor don’t see eye-to- eye politically. That and cluttering up our beautiful landscape with cardboard. TV Ads: These are the worst, having become so incredibly predi- cable over the years. The political opponent in TV ads is always portrayed in black and white; snarling, moving in slow motion while pointing their finger angrily at something in dictator- like fashion. The ad leads you to believe they hate kittens, apple pie and freedom. They make babies cry, skies gray, and unemployment lines longer. Then, suddenly the sparkle of up- lifting piano music is cued to give you hope, reminding you to vote for the ad-sponsored candidate. And how can you not? After all they are reading to children, shaking hands with factory workers in hard hats, and waving gleefully at their ador- ing, inspired minions. Easy decision, right? That is until you see the exact op- posite ad 30 seconds later. My name is Jimmy Ingram and I approve this message of TV ad frustration. Fashion: While not at the top of the importance scale, this is every bit as annoying. My favorite in this category is what I call the “Midwest Denim Tour.” When each candidate appears in states like Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio they are sure to drape Submitted Photo Jimmy Ingram is a local farmer and father of two who enjoys people watching within our wonderful community and beyond. themselves in denim from head to toe—clearly a fabricated attempt at appearing to be “folksy” when talk- ing to farmers, factory workers, and blue collar America in general. I’m convinced that every political campaign in the US has a “denim budget” figured into its campaign costs. Wanting to appeal to the working class is fine, but dropping into rural Kansas on a private jet may have been the first sign that a candidate has little or nothing in common with most of us who get our hands dirty at work. The media: Anyone who thinks that media sources don’t have it in for one of the two current major po- litical parties is kidding themselves. A quick Google search of any Republican or Democratic candi- date nationwide will lead you to thousands of news sources, each with their own brand of biased, self-serving promotion of one party and demonization of the other. By now most of us are savvy enough to consider the source, and therefore the amount of likely bull thrown in our direction. For many of these news sources, any intention of remaining balanced is not very well hidden in the con- text of what they choose to report. I never thought I’d look forward to hearing about what Lady Gaga wore to her last concert but after six months of nonstop political report- ing I’m dying to know what she did wear. Thanks, Yahoo! Celebrity Endorsements: Funny thing, I thought I had my mind made up as to who I was voting for this November until Kanye West endorsed someone different. His recent political endorsement has me second guessing my decision. Am I being serious? Obviously not. But Kanye West is. We get to hear the wonderfully in- formed political opinions of people such as Kim Kardashian, Scott Baio, Mike Tyson, Tommy Chong, and Katy Perry. I’ve often wondered at what point Hollywood celebrities consider themselves important enough to officially “endorse” a candidate for office. Evidently having talent isn’t a requirement. So thank you celebrities ... if there’s one demo- graphic whose opinion we all seek for political guidance, it’s people whose lives revolve around money, fame, plastic surgery, fashion photo shoots, personal assistants, and just general narcissistic behavior. What would we do without your input? Be sure and go to the polls on November 8, everyone. I would hate to know that anyone has endured this marathon of an election year without having their voice heard when it counts. Happy voting, America. More opinions are continued on Page 9!
