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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2016)
opinion october20 2016 2016 Election Endorsements By Scott Laird to prepare herself and is informed and organized, two great characteristics for a In a bit of an unusual move for City Councilor. me, I’m going to try and be direct and to While Mike Buffum is well the point here. If you would like to know meaning and I appreciate his willingness more about any of these candidates, to serve, he needs a better and more please read my review of the “Meet the comprehensive understanding of the Candidates” political forum starting on current issues facing the City and the the front page. way the City functions. City Council: Bruce McNair and Mayor: Kim Tierney Susan Wagner Kim Tierney has been working Bruce McNair has been one hard in her position as a City Councilor of, if not the best, member of the City and has earned this opportunity. Her Council in the 12 years I have been professional experience will be a bonus, following it. He takes time to research and now that she is retired she will have the issues and tries to understand all the more time to dedicate to working for implications of the Council’s decisions. the City. She is familiar with the vision He’s not afraid to ask the hard questions, of the current staff and the scope of and while he can be a thorn in the side of current projects, and has a good working the staff and other Council members, he relationship with the current Council. does it for the right reasons - he is trying She will make the transition to a new to do what is right for all the citizens of Mayor easy for everyone. this community. We couldn’t ask for a Mario Leonetti’s past experience better public servant. on the Council and as Mayor is a plus Susan Wagner has the experience and his relationships as a business owner to serve in this position – City Budget give him insight into the wants and Committee, Planning Commission, needs of the citizens. He’s somewhat School Board – this was the logical next out of the loop on current issues at City step for her. She has been attending City Hall and has not attended a City Council Council meetings for the last few months meeting in a long while – always a red flag for me when someone runs for these positions. He has some good ideas and brings a fresh perspective, but with things running so smoothly at City Hall right now, why upset the apple cart. County Commissioner: Margaret Magruder Margaret Magruder brings a wealth of experience on various boards and commissions that will help her navigate the county’s business. While she seemed to lack specific details about the issues she would like to address, she does have a vast knowledge about what is happening in the County. She seems like the safe bet in a year when two new Commissioners will take office. Wayne Mayo has always been a bit of a wild card, but this election cycle he has been much more on message and to the point. He still has a tendency to stray when discussing specific issues and can get lost in his own head. He is passionate and brings fresh ideas and wants to help the citizens, I’m just not sure which Wayne Mayo will show up if he’s elected. School Bond: The Vernonia School District needs to get rid of this debt that is slowly strangling them – VOTE YES! be a benefit to the community. She encouraged everyone to vote and use their voice, whoever they chose to support. Mike Buffum says he is running for office because he really likes Vernonia and wanted to do something to give back to the community. He says the town has always been really helpful, especially after the 2007 flood when his home was damaged. He said he has time to spend working as a Councilor. He says he is not a politician, which he thinks is a benefit. Margaret Magruder is a long time Columbia County resident and farmer who has served on the Columbia County Budget Committee, the Oregon Board of Agriculture, the District 5J School Board, the American Lamb Board, and the Columbia County Extension Budget Committee. She is a small business owner and has served as a 4-H leader. She says her knowledge of natural resources and experience in government provide her with the background to work collaboratively with the citizens of the County. She believes Columbia County is a great place to live, work, and play, with high quality people. Wayne Mayo is a Scappoose businessman who has worked in construction for 36 years. He raised seven children in Columbia County. He has served on the Scappoose Planning Commission and St. Helens Parks Commission. He says he got more involved in County government around the hospital issue, and says he is running because he knows he can do better. He said he wanted to keep taxes low, keep county services as good as they can, take care of the roads, and support the Sheriff’s Office. Mayo added that he helped deliver his youngest son when he was born before they could reach the hospital and joked that, “If you ever need someone to catch a baby, I can do it!” The following are the questions the candidates were asked and a Bulletin Boards on Facebook as a way that people share information and help each other. “The people here make this community,” said Wagner. McNair looked at several new projects that he termed “the three legged stool” – the school campus, the Health Meet the Candidates continued from front page paraphrasing of their responses: Name some positive things, or things you think are going well in the City/ County? Wagner talked about the people of Vernonia, their generosity, devotion, and willingness to pull together. 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Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 EVENTS Sat, Oct. 29 • Specialty hamburgers • 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks • 5 Craft beers on tap • Pool tables & satelite TV • Free Wi-fi • Beer & Kegs to go Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Halloween Party with Third Member Sat, Nov. 5 Triple Edge Band Sun, Dec. 4 Texas Hold ‘em “BIKER FRIENDLY” Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 3 Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Chip Bubl Tobie Finzel Aaron Miller Karen Miller Shannon Romtvedt Photography Scott Laird Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 www.VernoniasVoice.com
