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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2018)
LETTERS Saturday, October 27, 2018 Murdock cares about community I first met George Murdock almost 20 years ago while I was attending Washington State University. George and his wife Donna lived on a farm just north of Walla Walla. Even though I had been friends with their son Ian for a few years, I was really introduced to them through my younger brother Sam, who was a student at Walla Walla Community College. What many folks don’t know is that George and Donna opened their home and “bunkhouse” to quite a number of young men who were attending WWCC and on the rodeo team, my brother being one of them. These 18-20 year olds would move in with trucks, horse trailers, and often a couple of horses. At one time there was even an old motorhome in the driveway that housed one or two cowboys. Money can be tight when you’re attending college, so George and Donna provided all this at no charge to any of these young men. I am sure at times it was a challenge to have these college students in and out of their home and on their property. George and Donna believed it was good investment of time and resources to help these young men and do what they could to contribute to their education and set an example of service to others. This commitment to helping others isn’t just lip service, I have seen it first hand. My brother’s family continues to benefit from the Murdocks’ investment to this day. How many of us would be willing to sacrifice our personal space and comfort to help a bunch of strangers achieve a college education? And not just for a few minutes here or there, but over several years. This is just one of the reasons I am supporting George Murdock for Umatilla County commissioner. Ben Buchert Pendleton Vote Pullen, make change in county drug services I used to have a great Norman Rockwell-like picture in my Pendleton kitchen of our friends sitting on benches in our backyard cheering on a group of little boys playing basketball. Today, three of those boys are incarcerated for heroin. Tragically in 2006, one of those young men committed suicide escaping his opioid addiction. And, in 2008, one died from heroin and whiskey overdose. Since January 2015, I have advocated mental health and addiction services for more than 10 of my former students addicted to illegal narcotics. Please do not mistake this as an ax to grind. I did this after being asked by desperate moms, sisters, aunts and grandmothers. I advocated out of love. Each of these young people battling addiction is over 26 years old and not eligible for their parent’s insurance. And, most often, their addiction started with a sports injury treated with a painkiller. These young people came from good families, schools, churches, and communities. None had committed a crime in January 2015, let alone felonies. Going to service agencies and help meetings for the past three years, I have witnessed the dysfunction of the Umatilla County Drug Treatment Program, mental health services, the turnover, the pass- the-buck attitude, the absences of staff, the frustrations of law enforcement about lack of appropriate mental health services, and Lifeways’ continuous struggles. As county leadership voted themselves outlandish salary raises, Umatilla County became the Pacific Northwest leader in sexually transmitted diseases. When commissioners fired the three supervisors of the drug treatment program, this action has resulted in an unsettled lawsuit. During these times of disrupted leadership and services, my former students’ addictions grew. Today, I have observed each go from being addicted to opioids to becoming criminal drug addicts and menaces to society in Umatilla County. All have several felonies and all are incarcerated today. It costs $94.50 daily to keep each one of them individually caged. Each time you read about a meth or heroin addict in the East Oregonian, know there is an average of 20 family or friends behind that person whose lives have suffered endless grief as they have tried to advocate services. As a Umatilla County voter, either you can choose to maintain the status quo or vote for change. Please support Rick Pullen for Umatilla County commissioner. He will not sit on his laurels and will address real issues. Sally Sundin Wall Walla Brown understands Oregon’s issues We need Gov. Kate Brown’s continuing leadership. She has been a longtime champion of working people and has led bipartisan work on education, Medicaid funding and affordable housing. Under her leadership, she has been honest about what can be done to improve the lives of Oregon citizens. Through Oregon Promise, she is leading the way for students to find affordable educations. Her goal is to keep East Oregonian Page 5A Oregon moving forward for the benefit of all Oregonians. With her background as an attorney practicing family and juvenile law, she has seen the injustices to struggling parents and worked to pass the Oregon Family Law Act making Oregon one of the first states in the nation to permit parents to stay home with ill children without fear of losing their jobs. Vote for Kate Brown for Governor of Oregon. We need her continuing leadership. Dorys C. Grover Pendleton Murdock leads with vision, integrity George Murdock is a dedicated, committed Umatilla County commissioner. His ability to see the big picture beyond the immediate easy solution serves this county well. He is very discerning of the future effects of the commission decisions — decisions consistently meeting the needs of strong county government. There is nothing quiet about George’s leadership. He takes seriously the responsibility of his position across the whole of the county. He is an excellent communicator, and continually advocates for our county. Commissioner Murdock actively supports quality employees and quality programs to ensure the success of Umatilla County government. Vote with us to re-elect George Murdock as Umatilla County commissioner. Susan and Joe DeMarsh Pendleton Murdock a prudent, thoughtful leader You can’t beat George Murdock for what he brings to the job of Umatilla County commissioner. No matter your political orientation, he’s the demonstrated right candidate. His track record for this region started long before he became county commissioner. I first met him when he was a popular administrator for the InterMountain Education Service District in Pendleton that tackles student and teacher issues in rural communities. It is the basis for his passionate support for strong schools. His dedication to our region is long- standing. When he served as publisher of the East Oregonian from 2007-09, he showered us with well-written profiles of our towns, even the remotest of them. Indeed, he still loves nothing so much as trekking throughout the countryside, talking with its inhabitants and gaining current understanding of their needs. As county commissioner, he has prudently supported a stable level of services with available resources and a more streamlined administrative structure. A call to his office, as I have made, will demonstrate how he and his staff emphasize customer service. He is truly to be commended for his efforts as commissioner to provide much- needed mental health services, more extensive transportation plans, more road deputies, increased veterans services and county-wide economic development projects. George has personal cheerleading qualities that are keys to his success. When he chairs a service club meeting, as he does weekly as the current president of the Pendleton Rotary Club, you get caught up in his rhetoric, his humor and his absolutely contagious enthusiasm for getting good projects done. Do vote for George Murdock! Harriet Isom Pendleton McLeod-Skinner works for the things that matter February 10, 2017, was the last meeting in our area that I could find out about that was open to the general public. Greg Walden presided. Several of us carpooled to Weston to attend. This was during the time our health care coverage was in jeopardy of being destroyed. Folks tried to explain their dire situations calmly. There was no yelling or any form of disrespect toward Greg. Most of the folks were disgusted to hear him say straight-faced that he was worried too because he had to deal with the same insurance we had! He then returned to Congress and attempted to remove coverage for pre-existing conditions. Remember Sen. John McCain’s famous “thumbs down.” Since 1970 (original Earth Day), I have worked for wildlife habitat and clean air and water, as well as access women’s health care. Since the Weston meeting, I have had the opportunity to talk to (not just listen to) Jamie McLeod- Skinner in Pendleton at least four times! Jamie has the education and history of working for the things that matter most to me. Remember, the money she has raised for her campaign came from individual donors who care about our society and not from corporations and the powers that be. Please join me in voting for Jamie McLeod-Skinner to represent Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District. Marilyn Cripe Pilot Rock Measure 105 harms important part of community The tomatoes, potatoes, onions even the watermelons that we enjoy eating every summer were all picked by immigrants. Immigrants who came here to work and have a better life for their family. They work early hours in the day and finish late, but the work doesn’t stop there because once they’re home they need to take care of their family. They’re active community members. The great athletes, students, or community members that we know may be immigrants themselves or have family members that are. They all help our community thrive and be successful. If Measure 105 were to pass, it would bring so much fear to those who are part of our community. Our local law enforcement are already stretched too thin and they should be protecting and serving everyone. Innocent people, whether citizen or not, would be stopped due to being racially profiled. Many would begin to distrust our police and crimes such as domestic abuse would not be reported. We’ve had this Sanctuary law (ORS 181A.820) for 31 years now and it has never been a problem before. This law gives clear guidance to local law enforcement on complicated immigration issues and it does not protect those who commit crimes. Studies show that immigrants are less than likely to commit a crime and the sheriff in our community has stated that crimes by immigrants in our area are low. By voting NO on Measure 105, we will continue to keep our community safe and we will continue to grow stronger! I see that many of us here appreciate having a close community so we shouldn’t turn our backs against those who are a big part of our rural community. I urge you all to vote no on Measure 105 and support those who support us. Brenda Flores Stanfield Murdock an intelligent leader George Murdock is the right choice for county commissioner. We have read that people say George appears to be “coasting” in his job as county commissioner. This could not be further from the truth. George is very good at his job so it may appear that tasks look easy, but he is thorough and does not waste time when getting things done. This is what Commissioner Murdock does: he asks the right questions, listens to his constituents, compiles the data and moves forward without a lot of fanfare. This is what we call “getting things done and making things happen” without getting on the soap box. George has been active in our community for years and we have had the opportunity to serve with and observe him in action. George is an active member of Rotary, and has been active serving with the PDC and city council. He brings great ideas, is always willing to help if not taking the lead, and you can count on him to follow through until it is done. So, make the right choice: Vote for George Murdock for Umatilla County commissioner. Neil and Sherri Brown Pendleton Walden not in touch with 2nd District While reading the EO, I was disappointed when I discovered that the editorial board had decided to endorse Greg Walden over Jamie McLeod- Skinner for the Congressional District 2 position. The reasons that the editorial board put forth to support their choice ranged from Walden’s seniority in the Congress to his connections with local officials related to issues that might benefit the residents of the district. While it is admirable that Walden has risen to the chair position on the Congressional Energy and Commerce Committee, one must ask, how has his position on this committee benefited the residents of his district? The district has not been the recipient of any meaningful federal projects related to either energy or commerce that might bring family wage jobs to the district. In the meantime, the district suffers from a lack of family wage jobs, resulting in 50 percent of its residents living at or below the poverty line. Walden’s commitment when he took his oath of office was not to a minority of officials and wealthy donors, but to the people who live in the district. How can a representative have any knowledge of the trials and tribulations of his constituency if he does not communicate with his constituents? In their endorsement of Walden, the EO editorial board does not seem to place much importance on a representative’s responsibility to hold regular town halls and communicate in a meaningful manner with the residence of his district. Jamie McLeod-Skinner may not have Walden’s experience in Congress, but she has taken it upon herself to connect with as many individuals in CD 2 as she can. She has traveled thousands of miles from one end of this vast district to another to listen to people and understand their concerns. Jamie, thank goodness, is not one of the Washington elite like Walden, who have a record of doing little or nothing for the American people. Two more years of Greg Walden in office equals two more years wherein Oregon CD 2 will be under-represented in Congress. The EO editorial board should be endorsing the candidate who has the desire and energy to go to Washington D.C., and fight every day for the benefit of the people of CD 2; the EO editorial board should be endorsing Jamie McLeod-Skinner. Sue Petersen Pendleton Greg Walden stands up for our health care How is it possible that blatant lies are passing as news today? I am tired of people spewing absolute nonsense about our representative, Greg Walden, especially when it comes to health care. Rep. Greg Walden has been active in fighting for our health care since he has been in office. Greg Walden has fought to protect those with pre-existing conditions. While many like to attack the AHCA, this legislation would have prohibited insurance companies from denying, not renewing, or rescinding coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Additionally, insurance companies could not exclude benefits based on a pre- existing coverage. Another famous liberal line is that “1 in 5 people in our district would lose health care” — another rhetoric-induced lie. This number comes from the number of people on Medicaid. If the legislation said “we will completely eliminate Medicaid” the above statement may be an accurate statement, but completely removing Medicaid was never on the table, and was never an option. This is a blatant lie being used to create fear and confusion. Greg Walden has fought for those with pre-existing conditions, he has passed the longest extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (no thanks to the Democrats that held up the passage of the bill), and he was the only member of the Oregon delegation to vote for CHIP on the House floor every time. He has funded community health centers, he has opened up rural health care, and he has fought for veteran’s health care. I know this because I was an RN for almost 50 years, with over 40 years in emergency rooms. And, my husband is a Vietnam veteran who has benefited from Greg Walden’s work. Greg Walden is working for us. Can we please get back to the truth? I am sick and tired of seeing this nonsense on a daily basis. Pam Wilcox Hermiston This is the last of the endorsement letters to the editor received before deadline. Any endorsements received from this point forward will be published at www.eastoregonian.com
