A5
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Compromise
A
re politicians necessary? For decades,
people have become increasingly mis-
trustful and angry towards the stereotypic
politician, with good reason.
However in effort to fi x this, and try some-
thing new, they used an atom bomb (Presi-
dent Donald Trump) instead of making stra-
tegic changes in how we govern our country.
Disruption of our government was clearly not
the way to go.
What we need is to revisit how we collec-
tively defi ne the role of our representatives,
and how they conduct themselves. A large
part of their role is to be an ambassador for
their state or district and utilize their knowl-
edge of government etiquette and represent
their constituents’ needs in the context of the
nation’s needs.
Managing expectations of their constitu-
ents without being disingenuous is an abso-
lute skill set for all. If they can’t do it, they
don’t belong there. Democracy requires
intense effort in good faith to search for, and
reach, solutions which provide a reasonable
benefi t for all, not just your own party.
If any group is routinely discounted and
loses face, then everyone loses. It becomes
like a bad marriage where hostile fi n-
ger-pointing, threats, name-calling and with-
holding destroy the relationship. Expect-
ing one half of the country to be the winner,
and the other half be dismissed as losers, will
defeat any chance for decent government.
Stop acting like the other party needs to
disappear or be defeated; our system requires
compromise with dignity, not derision.
BRENTON KAHLE
Astoria
Confi dently recommend
I
have known David Posalski for eight years,
and confi dently recommend him for the
Ward 4 seat on the Seaside City Council.
Posalski supports our police department.
He will ensure that our police department
will never be defunded. Our department, ably
led by Chief Dave Ham and Lt. Bruce Holt,
has been such a gift to our community for so
very long.
Chief Ham and all of his offi cers have
selfl essly served and protected us, many
times at the risk of their own health and
safety. If elected, David will make sure
that our police department is protected and
respected in the same way that they protect
and respect us.
A vote for David is a vote for our honor-
able local police department.
BILL MONTERO
Seaside
Back to the future
G
earhart faces another election season,
and the same old and worn-out tactics
from the past are brought forward to today’s
election.
The old guard politicos are marching out
in force, acting as if a major campaign is at
jeopardy, instead of a small-town election.
However, there’s a twist in 2020.
As Mayor Matt Brown leaves — hav-
ing labeled many in Gearhart as oppositional
haters — our incumbents Paulina Cockrum,
Reita Fackerell and Dan Jesse are huddled
together in an act of solidarity, avoiding pub-
lic positions and status on a host of issues
facing our residents.
It’s clear the less political positions said,
the less there is to explain.
In the middle of great economic and pan-
demic disruption our incumbents leave us
facing the following:
• A divided city.
• Multiple legal challenges to business
ordinances.
• Businesses abandoned, individual busi-
ness investment lost and existing owners
hanging by a thin economic thread.
• A legally disputed and expensively
planned and undefi ned fi re station.
• Abandoned elementary school exposed
to private exploitation.
• Neglected infrastructure, and a host of
safety issues facing the east side of Gearhart.
Once again, Gearhart must endure the
equivalent of a high school popularity con-
test, replete with friends electing friends, and
incumbents unwilling to either defend or
defi ne their political goals or agenda.
Gearhart’s political social club is once
again putting the city’s best interests in defi n-
ing jeopardy. I ask for your vote for Gearhart
City Council, Position 4.
JACK ZIMMERMAN
Gearhart
Record of leadership
A
s a successful businesswoman and
proud resident of Seaside, Kathy Klec-
zek deserves your vote for Seaside City
Council. Since the early 1990s, she has had
a record of leadership and service.
As a resident of neighboring Cannon
Beach, a hostess at Mo’s Restaurant in Can-
non Beach and a former teacher in Astoria
and Seaside, I have respected Kathy’s com-
mitment to make her Seaside community
livable for its residents and inviting to its
visitors.
Kathy has always impressed me with her
ability to communicate and collaborate with
residents of other Clatsop County commu-
nities. She listens to all sides, speaks clearly,
problem-solves and promotes opportunities
for Seaside and the North Coast. One major
focus of Kathy’s is to reduce traffi c impacts
by promoting alternatives like bicycling and
walking.
When Kathy owned and operated La
Luna clothing shop in Cannon Beach,
she also made time to serve on the Sunset
Empire Transportation District. She always
listened to transportation needs of my col-
leagues and Clatsop Community College
students who depended on the SETD bus to
get to work or class on time.
Kathy worked tirelessly to make the bus
schedule work for them. She valued the
input of all North Coast residents, regardless
of age or ethnicity. Kathy is a very inclusive
human being, respectful of diversity.
Please vote for Kleczek. She will be a
competent connector and leader for Sea-
side’s residents, shop owners and visitors.
Kathy will accept the responsibility and
challenges that Seaside faces.
JEANIE McLAUGHLIN
Cannon Beach
Something positive
N
o city is immune from the criticism of
citizens when its performance is gener-
ally regarded as lacking, or when a specifi c
department fails to respond, help or rectify a
problem a citizen has.
That is exactly the time criticism is called
for, and it is incumbent upon the institution
and the people whom it is directed at to lis-
ten and respond.
The city of Astoria is not without prob-
lems or faults. I know, I have had issues
here in the past. I have advocated my point
of view, and listened to the view point of
department heads, City Council members,
the mayor and the city manager, and in all
of those discussions never once did I think
any person representing the city was unable
to communicate effectively. Quite to the
contrary.
Communication skills are vital in any
leadership role, but they are only as good as
the comprehension skills of the people they
are directed to.
I was a bit taken aback when I read that
a local businessperson was running for an
elected offi ce here, and was making a state-
ment to the effect that city offi cials have
failed to communicate effectively. I think if
that were really true, we would all be com-
plaining loudly.
Complaint, like grievance, is something
that should be taken care of long before you
take a seat at any table, or you risk making
everyone else as upset as yourself. Please
vote for someone who brings something
positive to the table.
WESLEY WAITE
Astoria
criminals. Without the protection of law
enforcement, people will have to enact laws
that protect their right to self-defense.
The Second Amendment Sanctuary
Amendment, Measure 4-205, would elimi-
nate local enforcement of the laws regulat-
ing fi rearms and fi rearm accessories. Dis-
trict attorneys fear this law because it would
make it more diffi cult to prosecute gun own-
ers with enhanced charges and increased
sentencing.
County offi cials oppose the SASA
because the law would eliminate qualifi ed
immunity. It levies a punishment for county
employees who violate someone’s Second
Amendment rights, which upsets the public
employee unions. Unions work to indemnify
their members from any responsibility for
their actions, and they will try to defeat any
policy that jeopardizes those protections.
The SASA does not stop county offi cials
from enforcing laws against criminals who
commit crimes with a fi rearm. It does not
protect a felon in the possession of a fi rearm.
It does not even regulate fi rearms or fi rearm
accessories.
The wording of the SASA is clear. It
does not violate Oregon’s preemptive state
statute. It prevents county offi cials from
using county resources for the enforce-
ment of laws that regulate fi rearms and fi re-
arm accessories. It does not stop the state
or the feds from enforcing these laws, but
it keeps them from commandeering county
resources.
Please consider voting for the SASA
Measure 4-205.
ROB TAYLOR
Bandon
Valuable
W
e need to retain Tom Brownson as
Astoria city councilor, Ward 2. Over
the years, I’ve seen Tom take a leadership
position in dealing with government agen-
cies, helping community members and even
responding to an emergency at sea. In all of
these situations, Tom has shown the qualities
that make him a valuable member of City
Council.
While interacting on behalf of our com-
munity association with the Port of Asto-
ria, Tom has shown patience and persistence
when making and maintaining productive
communication channels with a wide assort-
ment of administration staff.
When communitywide projects called for
needed leadership, Tom stepped up and vol-
unteered to serve on boards, take on proj-
ects and lend his creative skills to solve
entrenched problems.
In offshore waters on his boat, I’ve wit-
nessed fi rsthand how Tom, as captain, han-
dled an emergency situation at sea with a
calm head and steady hand, while always
keeping the safety of his crew foremost in
his decisions.
It will benefi t us all to retain steady lead-
ership on the City Council, working for the
citizens of Astoria as we take on the chal-
lenges of our time. Please vote to retain
Brownson.
THOR SORENSON
Astoria
What is going on?
I
f have you have a doubt that this city gov-
ernment is working for you, then there is
no doubt. One trip to Ocean View Cemetery
will tell you where their priorities are not.
The recent endorsement by the mayor of
the city of Astoria for my opponent for C ity
Council creates question and surprise. But
underneath it all, it should indicate to you
and create the question: What is going on?
Currently, there are no native Astorians
on your C ity C ouncil. There are no combat
veterans, no local retailers or local business
property owners.
There are no current Astoria city coun-
cilors who graduated from Astoria High
School, or even attended any of the Asto-
ria K-12 programs. None of them carried or
delivered this newspaper to your homes. I
am, I do and I have.
Who asked me to run for this C ity C oun-
cil position? It was not the recent following
letter-writers to The Astorian: Mayor Bruce
Jones and his campaign supporter , Dan
Stein, or former M ayor Arline LaMear, and
it wasn’t the chairman of the Port of Astoria
Commission, Dirk Rohne .
It wasn’t one political party, or represen-
tatives of it. It was not the management at
KMUN r adio.
The people who petitioned for me to run:
The nonpartisans, the apoliticals; it was you,
wanting a Filipino-Finn from Uniontown.
And you all know why. Because of you, not
me, Floyd Holcom is going to be your next
city councilor. Thank you all, very much.
Vote for Floyd for Ward 2.
FLOYD E. HOLCOM
Astoria
Believes in equality
T
hroughout history, our nation has strug-
gled to make good on the promise of
equality and civil rights for all Americans.
No matter how diffi cult to achieve, this
promise sets America apart from other coun-
tries that treat people unfairly.
I believe Suzanne Weber would support
legislation that would allow businesses to
discriminate against LGBTQ employees. In
my view, that’s anti-American discrimina-
tion. It’s also morally wrong.
I want a representative in Salem who
believes in equality and civil rights. I want
someone who believes in treating people
fairly. That’s why I’m voting for Debbie
Boothe-Schmidt. I hope you will, too.
TESSA JAMES SCHELLER
Warrenton
CLATSOP
POWER
EQUIPMENT , INC.
SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS
Poisoned
P
olitical correctness has poisoned the
offi ce of the district attorney, and there
is a growing trend of defunding the police,
disarming the citizens and discharging the
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
34912 HWY 101 BUS • ASTORIA
503-325-0792 • 1-800-220-0792
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
62 47
Sunny
61 49
60 47
60 43
59 44
60 44
Mostly cloudy Rather cloudy Rather cloudy Clouds and sun Rain possible
56 44
Rain possible
Aberdeen
Olympia
60/47
59/48
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
60/42
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Tuesday
Tonight’s Sky: Nearly overhead
before midnight is the constel-
lation of Cygnus the Swan, also
known as the Northern Cross.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 61/51
Normal high/low .................. 62/45
Record high .................. 79 in 1982
Record low .................... 33 in 1966
Precipitation
Tuesday ................................... 0.61”
Month to date ........................ 2.76”
Normal month to date ......... 1.82”
Year to date .......................... 44.63”
Normal year to date ........... 42.31”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Sunrise today .................. 7:33 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 6:29 p.m.
Moonrise today .............. 5:48 a.m.
Moonset today .............. 6:24 p.m.
First
Full
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
12:18 a.m. 7.8 6:47 a.m. -0.2
12:53 p.m. 8.3 7:15 p.m. -0.1
Cape Disappointment
12:27 p.m. 8.2 5:54 a.m. -0.1
none
6:24 p.m. 0.0
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
New
Time
Last
12:04 a.m. 8.2 6:15 a.m. -0.3
12:39 p.m. 8.6 6:44 p.m. -0.1
Warrenton
12:13 a.m. 8.2 6:31 a.m. -0.1
12:48 p.m. 8.7 6:59 p.m. 0.0
Knappa
12:55 a.m. 8.1 7:48 a.m. -0.2
1:30 p.m. 8.5 8:16 p.m. -0.1
Depoe Bay
Oct 16 Oct 23 Oct 31 Nov 8
11:41 a.m. 8.7 5:22 a.m. -0.1
11:59 p.m. 8.4 5:53 p.m. 0.1
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
80/62/pc
72/58/s
54/35/pc
76/52/s
56/29/s
87/73/s
89/62/pc
96/69/s
87/79/t
74/60/s
99/69/pc
90/65/s
78/59/s
70/49/s
68/52/t
55/38/pc
71/51/s
68/47/pc
88/75/c
69/52/sh
98/65/s
87/76/t
67/49/t
100/70/s
94/61/s
62/44/r
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
59/41
Hermiston
The Dalles 63/39
Enterprise
Pendleton 52/33
59/41
64/40
La Grande
56/32
63/42
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
54/36
Kennewick Walla Walla
58/44 Lewiston
63/43
62/44
Salem
Pullman
62/37
Longview
62/47 Portland
65/46
55/39
Yakima 61/40
60/42
Astoria
Spokane
58/43
Corvallis
63/42
Albany
62/41
John Day
Eugene
Bend
64/41
60/38
58/36
Ontario
63/32
Caldwell
Burns
59/22
60/32
Medford
74/40
Klamath Falls
69/31
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
57/29/s
73/59/s
60/49/s
63/41/s
62/48/s
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
68/40/s
77/58/s
60/52/c
66/49/pc
64/51/s
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
67/51/s
65/43/s
62/47/s
63/40/s
62/43/s
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
67/51/s
73/48/s
61/50/c
69/46/s
64/50/pc