letters
TO THE EDITOR
the opportunity to excel and worked to
make that happen.
Sorenson spoke out in favor of the effort
to raise additional funds and voted for it.
I applaud Sorenson’s dedicated service
on the Lane County Commission and his
commitment to our children. I support him
for another term on the commission.
Hillary Johnson
Eugene
HONESTY & INTEGRITY
When I bought a home in the River Road
area, I factored into my decision that Rob
Handy was a neighborhood advocate. I had
seen him in action at neighborhood meet-
ings and at meetings involving larger coun-
ty issues. I was impressed. When he asked
me to be the treasurer of his 2008 campaign
for county commissioner, I could only in-
tuit that he was a man of honesty and integ-
rity. After the campaign and his successful
election, I knew he embodied those quali-
ties. After reading the tiny print and sifting
through the innuendo these past four years, I
still know he is a man of honesty and integ-
rity, still tireless and hardworking.
When I faced the daunting prospect of a
cell phone tower being built in my Veneta
area neighborhood, only one county com-
missioner (not my own) did not marginalize
my efforts to see the county effect a county-
wide telecommunications ordinance. That
commissioner was Pete Sorenson. That fi rst
measure of support and success taught me
that everyone can make a difference. Thank
you, Commissioner Sorenson.
Both Commissioners Handy and Soren-
son deserve the votes of their constituents
(of whom I am not one).
Mona Linstromberg
Tidewater
VALUABLE INCUMBENT
I have known Pete Sorenson for many
decades personally and in his capacity as
a community leader and public offi cial.
He has always been a dedicated and
trustworthy public servant. I was surprised
to read about the lawsuit instigated against
him and fellow Commissioner Rob Handy
by political opponents lead by a Republican
former county commissioner and by
wealthy conservative lumber interests.
The ruling on the case by a Coos
County judge was certainly an innovative
interpretation of the Oregon Open Meet-
ings Law. I am very familiar with this law
because I have served as chair of two local
public bodies. The ruling does not conform
to my understanding of the law or the un-
derstanding of other legal experts. It prob-
ably would have been overturned if it had
been appealed.
To my surprise, it seems that there are
some who want to pull the rug from under
Pete and support his opponent based on this
controversial ruling. Pete’s many years of
service and commitment to progressive ide-
als is being completely disregarded. Why
are we being urged to vote against an ex-
perienced incumbent with a long history of
service based on charges concocted by his
opponents who want to remove him from
offi ce? A vote against Pete assures the suc-
cess of these opponents in their endeavors.
We need the assertive and progressive
voice of Sorenson on a board dominated
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by a super-conservative majority. We don’t
need someone who wants to “get along.”
Let us keep Pete on the board.
Munir Katul
Eugene
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Thank you for your excellent article
about the DeFazio forest plan (4/12). An
important part of the history of Oregon’s
logging industry can be called “disaster
management.” Due to events known as the
Columbus Day Storm, the Ox Bow Burn
and the Tillamook Fire, techniques and
practices we use today came to be standard
in times of great calamity. By matching the
volumes generated by disaster we become
a symptom, not a remedy.
It is rare for any business to be able to pay
their landscapers with yard clippings, yet
many businesses recognize the value, and
spend great sums to keep up appearances.
Someone in the company has to decide the
proper balance. Modern corporate loggers
have established a professionally accepted
way of doing business that assumes
humans will replace fi re and wind.
When a road that has forever been a path
is considered as a highway, it is appropriate
to take stock of “why do I want to go there?”
Jim Guthrie
Eugene
PETE’S PUBLIC SERVICE
We, the people of the 99 percent, have
a great advocate in Lane County Commis-
sioner Pete Sorenson. He has stood with us
both in the proposals he has authored and
supported and in the witnessing by showing
up on street corners where we have demon-
strated for social justice.
It is true that people are greatly defi ned
by their enemies, and we have seen how
much effort his detractors did put into the
now discredited attempt to bring him down.
He and Rob Handy stood fi rm and won.
Pete has the knowledge of government
and the determination we will need to be an
effective voice in the upcoming County Com-
mission. Give your support to Sorenson for
Lane County Commissioner. He will be your
dedicated public servant where it matters.
Len Hockley
Eugene
BREAK THE UNION
CHANGING THE WAY WE
FEED OUR CHILDREN
An Evening with Chef Ann Cooper
“The Renegade Lunch Lady”
presented by
Eugene Coalition for Better School Food
Friday, May 4th
7:00 – 8:30pm • FREE
First United Methodist Church
1376 Olive St, Eugene
for more info:
www.KidFoodMatters.com
Followed by Tea Reception
Everyday Comfort
The UO’s corporate law is renown. The
corporation I refer to is the one that took
over what was once a public institution.
First order of business: Break the union.
Separate the faculty from the professors,
saying the latter type of employees lack
a “community of interest” and are “too
disparate” to be part of the new union that
has moved into the new company store.
Once put upon an ivory tower now reduced
to unwanted desperadoes, the seekers of
truth will be resigned to the streets. The
new sheriff in town will teach the faculty
what they need to know and how to teach.
If Big is my brother I can only hope one
of us is adopted.
Vince Loving
Eugene
LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and
will print as many as space allows, with priority given to
timely local issues. Email to letters@eugeneweekly.com
fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401.
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EUGENE WEEKLY APRIL 26, 2012
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