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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
Founded in 1873
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
DEBRA BLOOM
Business Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
More pressing issues for Oregon
O
f all the issues worthy of
Oregon legislators’ immediate
attention, a narrow tax break for
businesses would rank far, far down the
list.
Yet that tax break is why Gov. Kate
Brown is ordering the Legislature to
convene on May 21. Having signed
state legislation that takes a poten-
tial tax break away from many busi-
nesses, Brown now wants to grant one
to roughly 9,000 sole proprietorships.
In Pendleton last week, Brown said
that she thinks “very strongly that
Oregon’s small businesses need tax fair-
ness and they need it now. They can’t
wait until 2019.”
The governor, who just happens to
be running for re-election this year,
recently had a self-realization: “We have
an obvious inequity in Oregon’s tax sys-
tem that is prejudiced against thousands
of small Oregon businesses, and a sim-
ple change can fix it. I’m simply not
willing to let these Main Street busi-
nesses — entrepreneurs, mom and pops,
and start-ups — go through another tax
Molly J. Smith/Statesman-Journal
Gov. Kate Brown spoke to the media after the 2018 legislative session came to an end.
year with unfair tax treatment as com-
pared to their larger competitors.”
Thus, Brown wants a one-day special
legislative session on May 21, although
it might last longer.
That tax break might be worthwhile,
although the details have been sketchy.
But we wonder why Brown can’t let the
tax break wait for the 2019 Legislature,
yet she is leaving a slew of more-im-
portant issues hanging.
Brown is not calling a special session
to make Oregon’s unstable tax system
better align with the state’s economic
and educational priorities.
She is not calling a special session to
retired business owner, he brings an important
perspective to the commission.
MIKE and MARIAN SODERBERG
Astoria
seen the evidence of these traits in her elected
position as county commissioner.
She is a fiery and committed asker of
important questions and supporter of causes.
Kathleen, we can attest, spends most of her
few free hours attending community events,
listening to her constituents. She advocates
for those in need, and — quite literally —
exhaustively researches the best ways in
which to achieve the best results.
As taxpaying citizens of this county, we
are honored that fellow citizens such as Kath-
leen Sullivan lend their time and energy to
working out the highly technical details of
what makes Clatsop County the place in
which we love to live.
While we understand every elected official
arrives at their position for different reasons,
and with different life experience, we believe
Commissioner Sullivan is an exemplary com-
missioner, one willing to ask tough questions
when they need to be answered, and to do the
work that needs to be done. In short, willing and
able to do her job: the job she was elected to do.
SALLY LACKAFF
ERIN HULTI
Astoria
address our substance-abuse epidemic
flowing from opioids, alcohol and other
drugs.
She is not calling a special session to
confront the well-chronicled deficien-
cies in the state’s child welfare
program.
She is not calling a special session to
complete needed reforms in the Oregon
Public Employees Retirement System.
She is not calling a special session
to tackle the widespread shortage of
affordable housing across Oregon.
She is not even calling a special ses-
sion to devise a new, public-supported
plan for replacing the nearly obsolete
Interstate 5 bridges in Portland.
And she certainly is not calling a
special session to address many of the
issues that have divided rural and urban
Oregon.
Choose any of the above or add your
own topic, and it likely would matter
more to Oregonians — including leg-
islators and business people — than
Brown’s plan for a May 21 special
session.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Feeding deer is wrong
id someone fall asleep at the wheel when
a photo of a couple feeding deer was
included in the May 4 edition? I am fairly cer-
tain an ordinance was passed against feeding
wildlife, but even if I’m mistaken, it is wrong
on so many other levels.
By promoting the feeding of wild ani-
mals you are endangering them, because they
multiply faster (notice most of the does have
twins every year?), which will eventually
either lead to nature implementing a disease
to control their population, or their preda-
tors (cougars) will follow their prey into town
(note current cougar sightings), not to men-
tion the greater their number the more likely
they will meet with an automobile, also not a
good ending.
Next time you are tempted to publish an
“oh so cute” picture of people breaking the
law, please think twice.
MARY SCHNASE
Astoria
D
Vote Orr for House and
Wev for commissioner
any thanks to all who are working for
and to the many candidates who want
to provide us with their leadership. We have
many to choose in this important primary
election. Good democracy happens when we
take part in it.
I want John Orr, House District 32, and
Pam Wev, Clatsop County Commissioner
Position 3, to get elected because they know
the issues, are ethical, incredibly smart and
are not subsidized by outside money and
managers.
They are progressive in wanting to get the
best use from the budgets they would have to
work within. They understand the real mean-
ings of “fair pay” and “fair play” when deci-
sions need to be made.
Please be the responsible citizen and cast
your votes. Ballots are due by May 15 for this
primary election.
SARA MEYER
Astoria
M
Vote Kujala, Roscoe for
county commissioner
he election for Clatsop County Commis-
sion offers voters an important opportu-
nity to elect two people with deep roots in the
community, coupled with service and a vision
for the future. Mark Kujala, District 1 candi-
date, and Peter Roscoe, District 2 candidate,
both fit that bill.
Mark and Peter have a record of involve-
ment with volunteer groups, local government
service and business ownership. We have
worked with them, and know how responsible
and engaging they are. At this point in their
lives they also have the time and expertise to
serve the citizens of our districts.
We are casting our vote for Mark Kujala,
because we live in District 1. We encour-
age others to do the same. This will give us a
strong voice on the commission. Mark under-
stands how government works, based on years
of experience on the Warrenton City Commis-
sion and as mayor of Warrenton.
We also encourage voters in District 2 to
vote for Peter Roscoe. He knows, and has
served our community for many years within
government and volunteer organizations. As a
T
Vote Orr for state
representative
ollow the money,” as the saying goes,
and then vote for John Orr as our next
state representative. John’s campaign has been
funded by small contributions, and supported
by people who actually live here.
He remains free to do his own research,
and take his own positions for the future of
Clatsop County and our voters. He will not be
daunted by the pressures of Wall Street tim-
ber companies, Portland-based groups, or
the fossil fuel companies that want to use the
Columbia River as a watery highway to other
countries.
John has background in social service
issues, having represented children in the
court system. He has worked with North
Coast land conservancy groups; he’s an expe-
rienced lawyer and a jazz musician, to boot.
He is articulate, and can hold his own. Among
those he has worked with, he is known as a
man of integrity who likes doing his research,
is bright and cares about his community.
John is ready to contribute in this way, and
has his political feet securely on our ground.
If you haven’t voted yet, do so for John Orr.
JAN MITCHELL
Astoria
‘F
Sullivan doing job she was
elected for
e are writing to offer support of our
friend and coworker, Clatsop County
Commissioner Kathleen Sullivan. We know
Kathleen in her role as a dogged, diligent and
loyal employee in her full-time job; and have
W
What kind of government are
you running?
have been a government employee most
of my life, since I was 17 years old; U.S.
Army, and a city, county, and state official for
over 30 years in Clatsop County.
I’m not sure what’s actually going on in
the county government but I can say this,
the county manager is in charge of manag-
ing county affairs, such as county employees
and all functions of the county, and is answer-
able to the elected official, not the other way
around.
Just to state that he’s not attending a com-
mission meeting because of some hostilities
is grounds for termination (“Clatsop County
I
manager strikes back over commissioner
comments,” The Daily Astorian, April 26).
From where I stand, the only persons in a hos-
tile environment are Lianne Thompson and
her counterpart, Kathleen Sullivan. Meeting
closed.
What kind of government are you running
when a rebuttal is not permitted? Don’t we
voters have a right to hear both sides?
JIM BRIEN
Seaside
Thanks for support
of tribute concert
hank you to all those who attended the
Pete Seeger 99th Birthday Tribute Con-
cert and Singalong on April 28 at the Per-
forming Arts Center. With a cast of 40 and a
full house, we raised the roof with songs of
joy and justice, and raised our own spirits in
the process, for a gift of net proceeds of over
$3,000 to the PAC.
Thanks to the many volunteers who han-
dled the endless tasks of this event, to KMUN
who broadcast the concert live from the PAC,
and to the Clatsop County Cultural Coalition
and the Oregon Cultural Trust, for funding.
Thanks also to the Pacific Unitarian Univer-
salist Fellowship for their sponsorship of the
concert.
I’d also like to extend a special thank you
to The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer
for their excellent coverage of this event.
Editor Erick Bengel of Coast Weekend and
reporter Patrick Webb published great articles
in both papers. Patrick took the time to attend
preparatory events, taking photos, interview-
ing participants, and producing stories which
were beyond anything we had hoped for.
This was indeed a spirits-raising event for
our community. I am very happy to have had
a part in it.
KIT KETCHAM
Astoria
T