Page 4A
OPINION
East Oregonian
Friday, May 1, 2015
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Publisher
JENNINE PERKINSON
Advertising Director
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Managing Editor
TIM TRAINOR
Opinion Page Editor
OUR VIEW
Tip of the hat;
kick in the pants
Tip of the hat to two local school districts, who took advantage of a few
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general obligation bonds. Because we are living in a climate of ultra-low
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district’s APR in half and shaved two
years off the term of the loan. In total,
the move will save Hermiston taxpayers
$2 million.
They weren’t the only one to take
advantage either.
The Umatilla School District joined
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obligation bond, thus saving taxpayers
$451,000 over the life of the loan that
stretches into 2022.
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their constituents and increase the
support and trust of the community. And we should expect organizations to
do everything they can to stretch our dollars — which we have voted to give
them — as far as they will go.
Other municipal organization should take advantage of the cheap lending
terms and follow the lead of these two school districts.
Three cheers to accountants!
A tip of the hat to Hermiston residents who helped haul away more
than 60 tons of junk GXULQJWKHFLW\¶V¿UVW&OHDQ6ZHHSHYHQWODVWZHHNHQG
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to-recycle items such as tires, electronics
and hardened concrete, the kind of stuff
that can’t really be left out on the curb
for pickup either. That’s where Clean
Sweep comes in, making it as free and
easy as possible for citizens to get rid
of the kind of junk that can make a city
look grubby.
Now Hermiston has 60 tons of that
grubbiness off its streets and lawns, and
the city is better for it. At a cost of just
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way to clean up a neighborhood or a
street.
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service that many more Hermiston residents will take advantage of.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher
Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor.
Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of the East Oregonian.
LETTERS POLICY
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public
issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website.
The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns
about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of
private citizens. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include
the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not
be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to Managing
Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email
editor@eastoregonian.com.
Deadline!
Editor’s note: Letters to the editor regarding issues on the May ballot
must be received by the East Oregonian by 5 p.m. May 7 to ensure publica-
tion in our May 9 edition. Letters received after the deadline will be posted
online but not in print.
OTHER VIEWS
2016 will be here soon
I
t’s conventional wisdom that the
“pregame.” The real game starts at
2016 Republican presidential
some point in the future, perhaps in
race is at such an early stage that
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the polls don’t matter. They’re just a
debate takes place in Ohio. But the
measurement of name recognition at
pregame, if that’s what it is, matters
this point, some observers say, and the
too. Candidates are getting their only
only people really paying attention
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to the campaign are reporters and
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hard-core party activists.
Republican debate was held May 5,
Byron
Maybe that was true in earlier
2011, in Greenville, South Carolina.
York
years. But it doesn’t seem to be the
The participants were Ron Paul,
Comment
case now. “One thing about this
Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Tim
election — Republicans are paying
Pawlenty and Gary Johnson. (Don’t
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remember Johnson? He’s the former New
with any campaign. “They are very concerned Mexico governor who ended up running as a
about who the nominee is going to be, and the Libertarian.)
idea that what a candidate says now doesn’t
The big question that night was whether
matter could not be further
Pawlenty could ascend to
from the truth.”
the top tier of candidates.
Look at the recent CNN/
(He couldn’t.) But the real
ORC poll. First of all, it’s a
lesson of the evening, at
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least in retrospect, was
dominates — Jeb Bush
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is in the lead with just 17
remarkably unformed at that
percent. But nearly all
stage.
the respondents surveyed
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have picked a candidate to
much more stable at an
support; add together every
earlier time. Yes, Kasich
candidate’s little share of the
might enter the race — he
vote and the total nears 100
certainly sounded that
percent, with few undecided.
way last weekend in New
There’s Bush’s 17
Hampshire — and yes,
percent, followed by Scott
perhaps another candidate
Walker with 12 percent;
will give it a try, too. But
then Rand Paul and Marco
the basic structure of the
Rubio with 11 percent each;
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Mike Huckabee with 9 percent; Ted Cruz
nearly set.
with 7 percent; Ben Carson and Chris Christie
And strong, too. Back in 2011 and 2012, it
with 4 percent each; Rick Perry and Rick
was common to hear Republicans complain
Santorum with 3 percent each; and Carly
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Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal and
complain today — some always do — but
John Kasich with 2 percent each. Then there
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are 5 percent who say they support some other impressive group. Governors with solid
candidate.
records, senators who have made their mark in
Add it up, and that’s 94 percent of
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from outside the world of politics.
candidate now. The rest — a pretty tiny
Not all of them will make it even to the
number of undecided — say they can’t make a Iowa caucuses. And they’ll drop off like
decision or have no opinion.
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Of course, that’s just for now. Many will
candidate is to realize that he will have to be
change their minds, but they are already taking able to assemble a coalition of those voters
the race seriously.
who support other candidates in the current
At this point, many voters are likely
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making preliminary decisions based on very
win.
little information. They know Scott Walker
One thing a candidate — or anyone
fought unions in Wisconsin. They know Jeb
else, for that matter — should not do is
Bush is George W. Bush’s brother and George dismiss what is going on in the race now as
H.W. Bush’s son. They know Ted Cruz was
meaningless because it is so early. Plenty can
involved in the government shutdown.
change, but it might be that when February
“That’s why these announcements are
2016 comes around, and the voting begins,
important,” says the pollster, “because it is
some themes (and front-runners) in the race
WKH¿UVWWLPHWRDVVRFLDWHPRUHIDFWVZLWKHDFK will look a lot like they look now.
candidate. And you’ve seen each candidate get
Ŷ
a little bump when they announced.”
Byron York is chief political correspondent
Some analysts describe this period as the
for The Washington Examiner.
This year’s field
seems much
more stable
at an earlier
time. The basic
structure of the
Republican field
seems nearly
set.
YOUR VIEWS
Not too late to move
Don Requa statue
Well, I am with Mr. Fritz Hill
about the Requa statue: It’s not a
done deal.
The location of the bronze
statue of Mr. Don Requa was
apparently determined by the
Pendleton City Council meeting
April 21.
Who actually made that
decision? I still believe the citizens
of Pendleton and the surrounding
area have a right to another appeal
that the Requa statue be placed at
Pendleton High School.
If it is up to the city council
to appoint a Pendleton Arts
Advisory Committee, I suggest
no city council member be on the
committee, nor the mayor or city
manager.
The city council and Pendleton
Arts Advisory Committee should
create a comprehensive set of rules
and guidelines, as suggested by
Mike Forrester, for any public art
within the city limits.
It should be up to the Umatilla
County commissioners to form
a similar arts committee for the
county.
Mr. Requa is not likely to
attract tourists as will other historic
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with Pendleton’s pioneer theme,
a statue of Moses Goodwin, or a
covered wagon, or both, would
be much more appropriate at
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pioneers crossed the Umatilla
River. The size of such statues
should be considered.
The statue of Mr. Requa will
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Park. People have asked me why
he is more important then other
well-known Pendleton residents.
He isn’t, except for high school
students.
I predict, in years to come, if
Pendleton retains its western and
Round-Up reputation, the statue of
Mr. Requa will be moved to where
it belongs: Pendleton High School.
Dorys C. Grover
Pendleton
Pendleton schools need
levy funds to operate
Please continue to help the
children in our local schools by
voting yes on the renewal of the
Pendleton School District local
option levy, Measure 30-105,
which will be on the May 19 ballot.
This levy, continuing with
no increase at a maximum tax
rate of 40 cents per assessed
value, provides additional school
operating funds that are not
provided by the state.
Failure of this levy to
pass would mean a loss of
approximately $470,000 per year
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$2.25 million in revenue to the
Pendleton School District.
Imagine what another $2
million loss to operating funds
would look like: a reduction in
funding of salaries for teachers,
meaning layoffs that would
result in increased class sizes
again, cuts to academic programs
again — when we’ve just started
building them back up — a freeze
on adding critical technology into
the classrooms, and more. The loss
of even one teacher impacts our
students.
This local option levy was
initially approved by voters in 2000
and renewed in 2005 and 2010. It is
not a new or additional tax. The tax
rate does not increase.
We know it’s still tough
economic times for individuals,
businesses and organizations.
Renewal of this existing levy is
greatly needed. Our schools are
a critical link in the development
and education of our community’s
youth.
I urge you to join us in voting
yes on the continuation of PSD
local option levy.
knew I needed some type of degree
past a high school diploma. I
stayed at BMCC because I found
that teachers were well versed in
their subjects, in many cases they
had or still were working in the
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stayed at BMCC because the level
of dedication from the community
had made departments like the
science and agriculture departments
an up-to-date facility that compared
to large four-year schools.
The current BMCC bond would
help to ensure that our region is
still in the forefront of improving
our local economic work force. I
am in support of the bond because
it is one of the few ways we can
ensure our tax dollars go to what
we want them to go for.
This bond also takes advantage
of a state match of dollars making
our local tax dollars stretch. I hope
you will join me when you get your
ballet and vote yes for the BMCC
bond.
BMCC graduate
appreciates college
BMCC bond dollars
necessary for upgrades
I feel compelled to write a letter
in support for the Blue Mountain
Community College bond. One
of the great things about Eastern
Oregon is the ability to receive a
high level of education locally that
helps drive our own economy.
I attended BMCC because I
I am writing to ask for your
support in voting yes for the Blue
Mountain Community College
bond levy.
I would like to point out several
of the reasons why we need to
give this initiative our support.
This bond will allow the college
Debbie McBee
Pendleton School Board member
Aaron Duff
Milton-Freewater
to update and expand technology
and infrastructure to improve
instructional capabilities and
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operational savings for the college
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heating, cooling and plumbing and
electrical systems.
BMCC serves 10,000 students
each year, and an average of 82
percent remain in the local area,
making positive economic and
social contributions. Investing a
dime a day for a 15-year bond
will raise $23 million to support
capital improvements at all BMCC
locations in Umatilla and Morrow
counties.
I received my AA from
BMCC in 1980, which allowed
me to continue on to OSU where
I graduated with a degree in
business.
I returned to BMCC in 1987
to pursue additional studies,
and it was during this time that
I met my wife who was also a
student at BMCC. Therefore I
can personally attest to the value
of having a community college
in our area. I continue to live and
work in Umatilla County, as well
as serve on numerous boards and
committees in order to give back
to the community and country that
means so much to me.
Let’s get it done this time, and
thank you for your support.
Jerry Baker
Athena