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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2018)
Page 4A East Oregonian Tuesday, October 23, 2018 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor WYATT HAUPT JR. News Editor Founded October 16, 1875 YOUR VIEWS Reader endorsements T he deadline for letters to the editor has arrived. We’ll run the rest of the eligible letters we’ve received through Saturday — in the order we received them — but will gladly accept and publish letters on other topics. Thank you to all who wrote. Let’s vote for McLeod-Skinner Thank you for your article on October 12, “Walden, McLeod-Skinner take on the issues.” The article was well- researched and balanced and presented the information in a factual matter. We could discuss the details of how “poverty” should be defined or what constituent engagement should look like, but I think it is more important to look at the overall profile and world view of each candidate. I am not a one-issue voter. It has become obvious to me that there is not a single candidate for any office that I would agree with 100 percent of the time or that I would disagree with 100 percent of the time. It is my responsibility as a voter to cast my ballot for the candidate who will best represent my values. I believe in America’s most basic bargain: “Opportunity to every American, and responsibility from every American.” I believe our government should protect civil rights for all Americans, expand educational opportunities, regulate predatory banks and polluters, protect our environment and a women’s right to choose, promote sensible gun safety, and provide access to quality health care. I believe we should not be running up the deficit to put more dollars into the pockets of our wealthiest citizens, and I surely don’t believe we should cut Medicare and Medicaid to solve our country’s fiscal problems. Jamie McLeod-Skinner will work to provide us with better opportunities to achieve these goals. According to Politics That Work, Greg Walden voted less than half the time to support the LGBT community and to fund public education. He only voted for racial equality 10 percent of the time and has never cast a vote for a robust social safety net, consumer protection or sensible gun safety laws. I ask you to join me in casting your vote for Jamie McLeod-Skinner on Nov. 6 and refocusing our politics on the issues that are important to all of us. Lonnie Read Pendleton Reject fear, reject Measure 105 As a daughter of immigrants and family member of some undocumented ones, I want you all to know that if Measure 105 passes, it will directly affect them in negative ways. This measure is not the Oregon way of inclusion and this will only separate families. My aunts and uncles are farmworkers who harvest some of the food we all eat, from potatoes and apples to even onions, just to name a few. They wake up every day in the early morning and drive to work just like everyone else, but if Measure 105 passes, this will become a problem for them. Many farmworkers are undocumented and will be too scared to even drive to work because they will be racially profiled and possibly deported. People should not live in fear that they might get separated from their families just by driving to work, school, church, or grocery shopping. Not only will people live in fear just for driving, but many undocumented women who experience domestic abuse will also be too fearful to report it. Almost one-third of Oregon women reported experiencing some kind of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault or physical assault, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This statistic only includes reported cases; many are never reported and this number will only increase if Measure 105 passes. Immigrant families, just like the many families that have built entire communities in this country before us, are joining in on a long American tradition of immigrating here for a better life and for the freedom and opportunity this country offers. Measure 105 will only tear families and communities apart. No Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. did you receive all this experience? Experience is earned in many ways. Being a homemaker for years builds a lot of worth in experience that I have used on resumes. I might not remember all the places I have also worked, but I know most of them. If I put in for any position where I state about my experience, I will proudly display it on the form I fill out. Vote for Davis! She has nothing to hide. LETTER TO THE EDITOR one should have to live in terror when carrying on their daily lives. Everyone has a right to a more prosperous and happy life. For the sake of a better society, please vote no on Measure 105. Jazmin Avalos Hermiston McLeod-Skinner is accountable to the people We are supporting Jamie McLeod Skinner for our congressional representative. She has demonstrated her commitment and dedication to the district through her travels and conversations with a wide variety of constituents. Jamie is not afraid to discuss complex and controversial issues such as education, health care access, climate change, and economic growth. She is ready to push back on the rollback of protections for clean water, clean air, and the attack on public lands. Jaimie is accessible and listens to anyone, not just loyal supporters and funders. Her loyalties are to the people she would represent, and not to big monied interests. Jamie McLeod Skinner will bring a new level of openness and willingness to represent all the varied and diverse interests of the district. Jeff and Colleen Blackwood Pendleton Murdock has record of success Most politicians create more problems than they solve so they can justify their being. They like to create the impression they are then coming to the rescue. Isn’t it great that in Umatilla County we recognize the fact the real mission is to solve problems and to avoid them whenever possible, including making sure the budget is always balanced and we avoid financial crises? We run our county ethically and with integrity and avoid scandals. We also have good morale. Our departments get along and work together. The relationship between the sheriff and the commissioners may be at an all-time high. We are also fortunate to have people in office who appreciate those of us in the private sector and want to help promote business enterprises. I am particularly grateful to Commissioner George Murdock, who took action with the Rodeo Inn at an important freeway intersection. Because the area was cleaned up, a nationwide firm, Trailers Plus, is going to locate directly across the freeway from Woodpecker Truck, bringing an estimated five new jobs to this community. The prospects for expansion are also very good. Eli Stephens Pendleton Walden’s tax bill will hurt large families The new IRS form 1040 has a calculation that may surprise you. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act increased the standard deduction but completely dropped the personal exemption deduction. No matter how many children or dependents you have, there is only the flat standard deduction. Itemized deductions are still allowed, but that has nothing to do with family size. The winners of this new tax law are married couples with no children (or other dependents), single taxpayers and single parents with only one child. Most families lose. Older couples who have grown their families benefit. Their children, raising young families, are likely to pay more. Will they really rejoice in saving taxes at the expense of their grandchildren? This Bernie Sanderson Hermiston is not in some hazy future, it is this year. Vote for a new perspective and work to change this Republican tax law that our current congressman voted for. Send Jamie McLeod-Skinner to represent us in Congress in November. Sally Garlick Pendleton Walden still working in Washington I prefer to have Congressman Walden in Washington, D.C., doing what we elected him for rather than in Oregon campaigning. Through his efforts we now have a Healthy Forests Act that should help prevent forest fires like those that devastated Oregon this year. So, Campaigner vs. Legislator ... I choose the legislator. Mike Mehren Hermiston Done voting for Walden I voted for Greg Walden every election since 1999. No longer. Greg Walden voted more than 50 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement, endangering coverage for 1 in 5 people in his district. He promised to protect people with pre-existing conditions, and then supported legislation allowing insurance companies to charge exorbitant rates for coverage. His health care proposals would be a disaster for the district but great for his friends in the pharmaceutical and health care industries. Walden’s true constituents are big corporations and lobbyists — not the Second District. He has received more drug company donations than any other member of Congress: $851,000 since 2007! Surprised that he doesn’t support legislation to lower drug prices? Walden has forgotten about his district. He refuses to hold town halls or public forums. He is clearly more comfortable at Washington or Portland fundraisers. Jamie McLeod Skinner has traveled over 40,000 miles and held or attended over 500 events and discussions with voters. She will work to protect our health care. She will listen to the people of the Second Congressional District — not big money lobbyists. I urge you to vote for Jamie McLeod- Skinner for Congress. Gene Hallman Pendleton Pullen, Davis get nod in local races I attended the forum Oct. 10 and listened to all the candidates who spoke for why they were running for office. Right off, I will vote for Pullen over George Murdock. Pullen has more experience, more vision for our county and the personality that will help pull people together. Now, it was sad to see someone who wants to serve the public, who already sits on many very important seats in Hermiston, to open his campaign coming out like a raging bull! I’m not alone in being caught off guard. Mark Gomolski came out accusing Lori Davis of being weak and a follower of other council members, not autonomous. He attacked her integrity, her experience, while voicing the many achievements he has built in his long career in politics. In the missing voters pamphlet insert for Umatilla County Gomolski states his experience clearly. Well, at least his position as vice-chair of the Hispanic Advisory Committee. And, I thank him for his volunteer work in our community. A big difference from the life he led growing up and serving the community of Chicago and outlying areas. But what are your references you speak of? With who and where and when Time in office does not equate to suitability The East Oregonian’s endorsement of Mr. Walden contradicts many of the facts they presented in their own column. They acknowledge the monumental effort Jamie McLeod-Skinner has made to speak with District 2 residents — yet Mr. Walden is more “in-tuned” with his district? They acknowledge Mr. Walden’s efforts to undo the ACA (Affordable Care Act), yet minimize the horrendous effects his success would have had on its residents. Mr. Walden is revered because he chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Yet who does he represent while in that position? Almost 80 percent of his campaign donations come from out-of-district sources, including significant amounts from the health care, insurance, telecom, and fossil fuel industries. Thus, Walden accepts donations from the very people and companies he and his committee are supposed to oversee and regulate. Money buys a representative’s ear — who has the loudest voice for Mr. Walden? Jamie is a bridge builder, not a wall- builder. Her roots run deep in Eastern Oregon and she cares deeply about its residents: their right to affordable health care, their need for a voice in how our forests are managed, their veterans’ need for easily accessible resources, the rights of gun owners balanced with the need for safety for our children and schools, the need for affordable higher education. Shame on you, East Oregonian, for not factoring in Mr. Walden’s questionable loyalties in light of his donor record; for minimizing the harm he sought to inflict by taking away affordable health care for our low-income citizens and those with pre-existing conditions; and for falling for the trap of believing time in office equates to suitability. Your endorsement minimizes Jamie’s commitment, integrity, creative thinking, and openness to fresh ideas garnered from months speaking to the citizens of District 2. Vote for Jamie McLeod-Skinner! Lezlee Flagg Pendleton Gomolski won’t let Hermiston down It gives me great pleasure to let you, the people of Hermiston, know about my friend Mark Gomolski. I have known Mark Gomolski for about four years. He volunteers so much for Hermiston and the community, plus the Catholic Church. He volunteers at the Agape House and the soup kitchen on Fri- days at the Catholic Church. He is on the Hispanic Advisory Committee, and also he is on the Hermiston School Board. He is a Knight of Columbus and the Grand Knight. Whenever someone needs a volunteer they can count on Mark. The East Orego- nian made a comment when he was [run- ning] for city council that he volunteers so much, what is his motive? His motive is, he likes helping others. We need more people like Mark in this world. Mark loves Hermiston and whatever he can do to make Hermiston better for the community, you can count on Mark Gomolski. Mark will make a great coun- cilman. He will listen and he will get the job done. He would never let you down. Some people running for politics will get in and forget where they came from; Mark Gomolski will never, I mean never, let the people of Hermiston down. So please cast your vote for my friend Mark Gomolski for city council Ward 1 in Hermiston. Jack McWhinnie Umatilla 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. 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.
