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Wednesday,May5,2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
ELECTION
MOSIER FIRE DISTRICT POSITION #3
Special District
Election May 18
The main ballot mailing was April 28. The last day to
register to vote was April 27. Ballots are due
Election Day, May 18, 2021.
WY'EAST RURAL FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT
Don Moore
1) Why did you decide to run for
a position on the Wy'East Rural Fire
Protection District board?
Last July volunteers from the Wy’East
Fire District responded to my home to
assist me for a medical emergency. My
family and I are grateful for their quick
response and professionalism in that time
Don Moore
of need.
When the opening for the director posi-
tions was brought to my attention, I thought this was a good
opportunity for community service and support the people
who had helped me.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
I grew up in Hood River and graduated from Hood River
High School 1970. Enlisted in the US Coast Guard and
served until 1977. Returning to Hood River 1978 I joined
the family business, Moore Heating Service until 1990 when
we merged with Carson Oil Company of Portland where I
remained until my retirement in 2017.
I was an active member of the Hood River Fire Dept. as a
Firefighter/EMT and Company Officer over 12 plus years. In
1999 My wife and I moved from Hood River to Odell.
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
serve on the board?
My intentions are to work with the other directors to
provide Chief Borton and members of the fire district with
the backup and resources needed to provide the protection
the residents and business deserve.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
make?
I have no preconceived changes in mind.
Robert Graves
Robert Graves did not respond to the questionnaire.
According to his election filing, Graves is a retired fire-
fighter/paramedic, farmer and volunteer with the district.
He holds an Associate of Science degree in Emergecy
Medical Technology from Chemeketa Community College.
Dick Virk
1) Why did you decide to run for a position on the
Wy'East Rural Fire Protection District board?
I have really enjoyed working with EMTs and paramedics
in the valley and would like to stay involved with the EMS/
Fire community.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
I work as an ER physician at Providence Hood River
Memorial since 1990. Hood River County EMS medical
director from 1995-2019. I live in the north end of Pine Grove
just outside Hood River city limits.
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
serve on the board?
My top priority is to make sure there is adequate fire and
EMS coverage for the residents of the district. I believe I can
work well with Chief Borton and the other members of the
board and will also be very open to listening to the people of
the district.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
make?
As with all public entities , finding solutions to volunteer
and funding shortfalls will be a must.
Craig Mallon
Craig Mallon did not respond to the questionnaire.
According to his election filing, Mallon currently works
as quality control manager at Duckwall Fruit Company.
He hold a Bachelors degree in Business from Oregon State
University and is a member of the East Fork Irrigation
District board.
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Barbara Ayers
Jim Appleton
1) Why did you decide to run for a posi-
tion on the Mosier Fire District board?
I’ve served on the Mosier Fire
Department Board for the past five years
during a time of positive improvement and
would like to see that momentum continue.
My work in Emergency Services makes
me the most experienced candidate to
Barbara Ayers
help Mosier Fire. As Hood River County
Emergency Manager, I led the Emergency Operations Center
during COVID, the Eagle Creek Fire, and during Drought
and Winter Storms. I served Sheriff Magill and MFD in both
the Mosier Creek Fire and 2016 UPRR derailment. And I
have worked for Providence Hood River Hospital and San
Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
1) Why did you decide to run for a position on the
Mosier Fire District board?
I am running for Position 3, Mosier Fire District, to repre-
sent my fellow constituents.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
I live on Marsh Cutoff Road in the Mosier Fire District.
I was fire chief in Mosier from 2009 through 2017.
I led the electoral process which created the Mosier Fire
District (MFD) in 2010.
The current budget and goals of MFD clearly reflect my
priorities.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
As Emergency Manager/Public Information Officer for
Hood River County and San Diego Fire-Rescue Dept., I’ve
spent decades building coalitions, working with government
officials, nonprofits and volunteers to make communities
safer. I launched GetReadyGorge, and Hood River EOC and
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer
programs.
Certifications: National Advanced Emergency Manager;
All Hazards Incident Commander; All Hazards Logistics
Chief; Advanced Public Information Officer.
Volunteering: United Way; Hood River Rotary; Mainstreet
Mosier; OB Town Council; CGW2.
I love Mosier! I’ve lived here 14 years in a 1907 farmhouse
near Mosier Senior Center, including through evacuations.
My dogs and I surf in parades.
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
serve on the board?
The 2016 Oil Train Derailment was a reminder of how
important it is that our fire district and our community work
together. In the months following, we decided as the Mosier
Fire Department Board to bring in the state experts Special
Districts of Oregon Assn. (SDAO) to help us grow and im-
prove. I am proud of how far we have come and would focus
on continuing this progress.
As a department, Mosier Fire has made significant
improvements to enhance training, teamwork, fire and EMS
services and replace outdated equipment and policies. My
priority is to continue to support this evolvement.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
make?
Our team has worked hard to build a solid foundation
for Mosier Fire. We hired a strong and experienced leader
with Fire Chief Mike Renault, who expanded mutual aid
partnerships, implemented SDAO audit recommendations,
rebooted training programs, and replaced aging vehicles
and policies.
We now have a better fire and EMS service with over 20
amazing, talented and dedicated volunteers.
We’re partnering with the City of Mosier for a future com-
munity center. There’s nothing we can’t do — together. I’m
proud of our experienced Board and what we’ve accom-
plished. Let’s keep, and build, MFD momentum!
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you
to serve on the board?
I mean to monitor on your behalf for “letter and spirit”
of the law, parliamentarian procedures and encouraging a
goal of transparency well above legal threshold.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
make?
Mosier Fire District is once again insular.
The board, staff, and volunteers are a club. Important
policy and operational choices are made out of public view,
and without proper time and/or input.
I mean to counter those antidemocratic tendencies from
a clear minority.
This does not suggest emergency services are faulty in
Mosier. Many improvements have been made since my
departure. I applaud and look to encourage them. At the
same time, it’s essential to question how services have been
affected by board choices, sometimes in negative ways.
Peter Lawson
Peter Lawson did not respond to the questionnaire.
According to his election filing, Lawson is a Mosier resi-
dent currently working as a Hood River Valley High School
teacher. His educational background includes a Bachelor of
Arts in Environmental Studies, a special education degree
and a school administration endorsement, all from the
University of Oregon.
He wrote, "I have always felt it important to volunteer and
give back to my community. For the past 8 years I have been
working at Hood River Valley High School developing a pro-
gram that is based in a re-purposed fire station working with
at risk youth helping prepare students with transitioning
from school to our community. I continue to strive every day
to provide a positive learning environment where students
can feel success. After the fires of 2020/21 I feel compelled
to help work to better prepare our community for future fire
events. I hope to contribute to education and community
outreach for fire prevention."
POSITION #2
Todd Reeves
Todd Reeves did not respond to the questionnaire.
According to his election filing, he is a Mosier resident and
prior board member, with a degree from Oregon Institute of
Technology.
PORT OF THE DALLES — POSITION #4
Jack Hay
President of Agri-Business
Council of Oregon. We
brought together elements
of Oregon Ag. Commodities
growers and Oregon busi-
ness. I served 8 years on the
Farm Service Agency Board…
5 farmer members that
administered Federal Farm
Programs in Oregon. That’s
all in the past and my only
focus would beThe Dalles
and Port activities.
with Wy'East Resource
Conservation and
1) Why did you decide
Development. He wrote, "I
to run for a position on the
currently work with agricul-
Port of The Dalles board?
tural producers and rural
I have been involved for
small businesses to provide
years within the agricultur-
project development assis-
al industry statewide and
tance for energy and water
some nationally. I have been
efficiency projects. I work
a board member of Wasco
with innovative technology
Electric Co-op for 12 years
to improve operations and
4) What changes do you
also on several OSU experi-
efficiencies. I have worked for
think the district needs to
mentation boards. I decided
two separate manufacturing
make?
to try and get more involved
operations and one freight
The Port should focus on
in economic development
company that were all locat-
3) What will your top pri- marketing and expanding
activities locally. I believe that orities be if voters select you the available property the
ed in the Port of The Dalles.
the primary focus of the Port to serve on the board?
Wallace is currently serving
port manages. A complete
should be property devel-
his first term as a port com-
The Port manages the
regional resource evelua-
opment and jobs. Economic Marina and Airport activi-
missioner, and has past gov-
tion should be conducted.
growth in The Dalles is a real ties. They also develop and
ernmental experience on the
Leveraging this information
challenge with many land use market property. I cannot
with a cogent marketing plan Dufur School Board and as
issues that limit growth. On
mayor of Dufur. Currently on
say what I might be assigned that presents the resources
the positive side we also are
the budget committee for the
to oversee but I would work
available including a viable
blessed with many natural
to be and active productive
active educated workforce in Wasco County Soil and Water
resource opportunities that
Conservation Duistrict, and
member of the Commission. an area that offers a quality
make The Dalles a wonderful My priority would be living
past budget committee for
living environment. Then
place to live and work.
Columbia Gorge Education
wage jobs for the community. begin a marketing outreach
Service District.
Value added through food
program that sells the area,
2) What is your back-
He is a graduate of Dufur
processing, manufacturing
The Dalles and people as a
ground/profession, and
products, economic diver-
great place to work and raise High School and holds an
where do you live?
Associate of Arts degree from
sification. When we had the
a family.
I am a retired wheat grow- aluminum smelter which
Blue Mountain Community
Robert
Wallace
er. I downsized the farm to a were good living wage jobs,
College and CEM
small vineyard 9 miles east
Robert Wallace did not
Certification in energy from
the downside was when we
of town. I am in the Dufur
respond to the questionnaire. the Association of Energy
lost the industry we weren’t
School District and attended diversified and the economic
According to his election
Engineers.
Petersburg School, The Dalles shock was brutal. We are left filing, Wallace is currently
High, Wahtonka, and U. of
employed as executive direc-
with a superfund environ-
O. I am a Navy veteran. I am
mental disaster in the middle tor/certified energy manager
a Past President of Oregon
Wheat Growers, Chair
Oregon Wheat Commission,
served on U.S. Wheat Board
of Directors, National Wheat
Growers, etc. I am a Past
Call 541-308-2207
of our port industrial area.
We need to be insistent about
getting it cleaned up. It’s
time for Lockheed Martin,
the Federal Government, the
State of Oregon to get this
cleaned up and return the
property to useful economic
development.
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