FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Politics
Huntington citizens to
vote on multiple recalls
Submitted by Baker
County Clerk Cindy
Carpenter
December 18, 2017 it
became offi cial that the
Recall Election will take
place for the City of Hun-
tington.
On the ballot will be:
Candy Howland, Mayor
of the City of Huntington;
Richard Cummings, City
Councilor of the City of
Huntington; John McLean,
City Councilor of the City
of Huntington; and Cindy
Deck, City Councilor of
the City of Huntington.
The Baker County Elec-
tion Offi ce has chosen
January 23, 2018 as the
election date for this Re-
call. Ballots will be mailed
on January 3, 2018.
Shall Candy Howland
be recalled from the of-
fi ce of Mayor for the City
of Huntington?
Reason given for de-
manding the recall:
Inability to retain offi ce
staff. 3 employees and
1 volunteer, quit due to
hostile work environment.
Violations of Public Re-
cords law – denying access
(ORS 142.420).
Violations of Or-
egon Budget Laws (ORS
294.305 to 294.565). Vio-
lations of Oregon
Public Meeting Laws
(ORS 192.610 to ORS
192.690).
Allowing unbonded per-
sons to handle city funds
including a councilor who
has a previous Felony theft
and Medicaid fraud con-
victions. Allowing volun-
teers access to confi dential
information.
The Justifi cation given
by Candy Howland:
1. (2) Offi ce staff quit
after being reprimanded;
for which I consider are
disgruntled ex-employees.
The other was afraid of a
former council member
who resigned after that
individual left.
2. This is way to vague
about when and what we
denied to anyone.
3. If we had broke any
budget laws our accountant
would have told us. He is
very thorough.
4. Which meeting laws
were violated exactly? We
post, as required, all ORS
for our meetings. This is
too vague to answer if we
don’t know which ones
we are supposed to have
violated.
5. Our people handling
money are bonded except
for the volunteer now help-
ing us.
6. Our acting Recorder is
a volunteer to help us with
accounts as we are in the
process of hiring a new
one and waiting on her
background check to put
her to work.
Shall John McLean be
recalled from the offi ce
of City Councilor for the
City of Huntington?
Reason given for de-
manding the recall:
Inability to retain city
offi ce employees – 3
employees and 1 volunteer,
quit stating, “hostile work
environment.”
Violation of public re-
cords law (ORS 142.420).
Violation of public meeting
law (ORS 192.610 to ORS
192.690). Violation of
Budget Law (ORS 294.305
to 294.565). Allowing
unbonded person to handle
city money.
Allowing volunteers ac-
cess to confi dential infor-
mation. Blatant discrimi-
nation of legal business in
town.
The Justifi cation given by
John McLean:
Doing the best for the
community has been a goal
of mine, wanting Hunting-
ton to move forward but
also preserving this small
town that the citizens like.
I hope the majority of the
citizens in Huntington still
believe that I can serve this
community.
I grew up in this small
town and want the best for
this community.
Vote to keep John R.
McLean.
Shall Richard Cum-
mings be recalled from
the offi ce of City Council-
or for the City of Hun-
tington?
Reason given for de-
manding the recall:
His inability to work
with employees always
a hostile work place.
Three employees and one
volunteer quit. Allowing
unbonded persons handling
city monies.
Does not abide by Oregon
Law. (I.E.) Budget Law
(ORS 294.305 to 294.565).
Allowing volunteers and
unbonded persons access
to personal and confi den-
tial information.
Participated in illegal
Oregon Public meetings,
laws (ORS 129.610 to
192.690)
The Justifi cation given by
Richard Cummings:
Mr. Allen Driver, after
nearly two years on the
city council, I do not recall
ever seeing you at a coun-
cil meeting. So, I am not
sure where your accusa-
tions or information comes
from?
Upon checking with Bak-
er County Clerk’s Offi ce,
there have not been any
complaints fi led or wrong
doing by Richard Cum-
mings or the Huntington
City Budget Committee.
That committee consisted
of, 6 council members,
Mayor, 6 members of the
community and guide of
two certifi ed public ac-
countants.
Also, upon checking,
there have not been any
recent complaints fi led
against Richard Cum-
mings, or the City of
Huntington, concerning
violations of the Public
Meeting Laws. An earlier
complaint was fi led, it was
dismissed and no further
Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker
County Press reserves the right not to pub-
lish letters containing factual falsehoods or
incoherent narrative. Letters promoting or
detracting from specifi c for-profi t business-
es will not be published. Word limit is 375
words per letter. Letters are limited to one
every other week per author. Letters should
be submitted to Editor@TheBakerCounty-
Press.com.
Advertising and Opinion Page Dis-
claimer: Opinions submitted as Guest
action needed.
With that being said,
I personally thank the
citizens of Huntington,
for allowing me, Richard
Cummings to serve as your
representative,for the past
21 months, on the city
council.
With your blessing and
support, I will continue to
serve your interests to the
best of my ability.
Shall Cindy Deck be
recalled from the offi ce
of City Councilor for the
City of Huntington?
Reason given for de-
manding the recall:
Convicted felon for
Medicare fraud and theft
handling city money. 3
employees and 1
Volunteer quit citing “hos-
tile work environment”
caused by city council and
mayor.
Participating in illegal
meetings. Violation of
Oregon Budget Law. Vio-
lation of Public Meeting
Laws. Violation of Public
Record Laws.
The Justifi cation given
by Cindy Deck:
1. This statement is false,
has nothing to do with my
position. I am bonded with
the City.
2. To the best of my
knowledge, no employee
has stated to me that they
were unhappy.
3. I have never participat-
ed in an illegal meeting.
4. I have been present at
3 budgets and all were in
accordance to regulation.
As per Auditor.
5. I have never violated a
public meetings law in the
three years in offi ce.
6. I am bonded with the
City and have never vio-
lated public records laws.
Summary from the
County Clerk
All three Councilors
and the Mayor will be on
the ballot for election day
January 23, 2017.
This is the same election
date as the State Measurer
special election.
We have created a sepa-
rate election with different
colored envelopes and
ballots so the two elections
they will not be able to be
confused with each other
in any way.
The Recall ballots go the
City of Huntington Active
voters only while the Mea-
sure will be sent County
wide.
It was our decision to do
this since the 35 day time
line for the Recall fell into
this date range to do both
at the same time.
This will be a huge cost
savings for the County and
the Recall City.
We already have the drop
boxes being delivered and
picked up also arranged.
The Election Board is
scheduled and we can now
keep them busy all day
Election day and have the
room to set up two separate
board processing centers
with the Special election
being just one Measurer.
Opinions or Letters to the Editor express
the opinions of their authors, and have not
been authored by and are not necessarily
the opinions of The Baker County Press, any
of our staff, management, independent
contractors or affi liates. Advertisements
placed by political groups, candidates,
businesses, etc., are printed as a paid
service, which does not constitute an
endorsement of or fulfi llment obligation
by this newspaper for the products or
services advertised.
— Letters to the Editor —
Wolves aren’t good for much
To the Editor:
I totally agree with Gordon Bloom and
his friends about the wolves. All they are
good for is to kill off the defenseless deer,
elk and domestic livestock. It’s too bad
the environmentalists don’t have any idea
where their food comes from, nor do they
care as long as they can run to the store
and buy it.
I like our neighboring state’s motto:
“Shoot, shovel and shut up.”
Pat Culley
Baker City
Vote yes on Measure 101
To the Editor:
This is a crucial time for health care
access across Oregon and particularly here
in Baker County. Voting YES on Mea-
sure 101 this January is one of the most
important things you can do to ensure that
affordable health care is kept accessible
— especially for kids, seniors, and people
with disabilities in Baker County. Over
10 percent of our county’s population de-
pends on Medicaid for health care. These
are our friends, families and neighbors
who would otherwise go without needed
care.
I run the hospital here in town, St.
Alphonsus Medical Center-Baker City.
Because of that, I know fi rsthand how
important accessible health care is. Not
too long ago, people without insurance
showed up daily for treatment at our
emergency department. Now that doesn’t
happen as much, because more people
have insurance. That means lower costs
for all of us, because people get the care
they need from the doctor’s offi ce, instead
of using the emergency department.
State lawmakers crafted a balanced law
to fund these vital insurance programs. It
was a bipartisan effort that had the sup-
port of the entire health care community:
doctors, nurses, hospitals and beyond.
Now voters are being asked to weigh in
on the package in January, and those same
doctors, nurses and hospitals are asking
you to vote YES on Measure 101. In total,
more than 120 trusted organizations — in-
cluding AARP-Oregon — are supporting
Measure 101.
Everyone deserves access to basic health
care and no one in our state should have to
wonder whether they can afford to go in
for care. With this law, more hardworking
Oregonians will be able to afford quality
health insurance that gets them the care
they need. Please join thousands of health-
care professionals across the state in
voting YES on Measure 101 this January.
You can learn more at www.yesforhealth-
care.org.
J. Phil Harrop
President, St. Alphonsus Medical Center
Baker City
Grassroots petitioning
rule revised by SoS
Secretary of State Dennis
Richardson announced
revisions to the grassroots
petitioning rule. This rule
would prevent wealthy
special interest groups
from manipulating the
initiative process through
frivolous lawsuits on ballot
titles designed to obstruct
and delay signature gather-
ing. Legal challenges often
create delays of two to
three months or even lon-
ger, which is unnecessarily
burdensome for grassroots
petitioners that do not have
the resources to hire a sig-
nature gathering service.
Specifi cally, the revi-
sions incorporate the
recommendation from the
League of Women Voters
of Oregon that the grass-
roots petitioning rule be
changed to allow circu-
lation of petitions with
the Attorney General’s
certifi ed ballot title during
any legal challenge. The
League pointed out that
this process would achieve
the goal of avoiding legal
delays while ensuring that
voters at every stage have
a clear idea of what they
are signing.
“Special thanks to Norm
Turrill and Becky Glad-
stone of the League of
Women Voters of Or-
egon for their thoughtful
improvement to ensure
voters have a clear idea
of what they are signing,”
said Secretary Richardson.
“The public comment
process creates an incred-
ibly valuable dialogue for
rulemaking, and I welcome
additional ideas to further
improve the grassroots
petitioning rule.”
Secretary Richardson
welcomed public com-
ments on election im-
provements in August and
is reopening the public
comment period for the
proposed grassroots
petitioning revisions to
the State Initiative and
Referendum Manual. The
revisions are highlighted
on pages 8, 17, and 34 and
are included along with
other unrelated changes
previously noticed.
— Contact Us —
Public comments can be
emailed to elections.sos@
oregon.gov until December
21 at 5pm or shared during
the administrative rule
hearing on 2018 Election
Manual updates scheduled
for December 18 from
2:00pm-4:00pm at the
Elections Division, 255
Capitol St NE, Suite 501,
Salem, OR 97310.
“This rule resolves statu-
tory ambiguity in favor
of grassroots petitioners
and empowers average
Oregonians by preventing
powerful and wealthy spe-
cial interest groups from
using frivolous lawsuits to
manipulate the initiative
process,” said Secretary
Richardson.
The original idea for the
grassroots petitioning rule
was identifi ed by Inde-
pendent Party of Oregon
Co-Chair Dan Meek, a
Portland attorney who
frequently works on grass-
roots petitions and serves
as legal representative for
the Progressive Party of
Oregon.
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