ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
WYATT HAUPT JR.
News Editor
JADE McDOWELL
Hermiston Editor
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Voters should
vote ‘yes’ on
Measure 107
C
ampaign finance reform seems like a
no-brainer.
Everyone says they are for it — even
the politicians and candidates who benefit from
unlimited campaign donations. Oregon voters
have approved limits by three statewide initia-
tives since 1994.
And yet, the money pours into campaign
coffers.
As reported by our Oregon Capital Bureau
last week, Gov. Kate Brown’s political action
committee donated $50,000 to the Democratic
secretary of state candidate, Shemia Fagan.
Incumbent Treasurer Tobias Read’s three larg-
est contributions are from out-of-state law firms,
totaling $60,000. Incumbent Attorney General
Ellen Rosenblum received over $138,000 from
the Democratic Attorney Generals Association,
$10,000 from Nike Inc. and a number of other
large donations from businesses, law firms and
labor unions.
There are many more examples of candidates
from both major political parties all around the
state accepting large donations.
For statewide ballot measures, there’s more
big money rolling in. Multiple hospital systems
and hospital associations have each donated
between $500,000 and $3.29 million to the polit-
ical action committees backing Measure 108,
which would raise taxes on cigarettes, cigars,
e-cigarettes and vaping devices and use that
money to fund health programs.
How can Oregon allow unlimited contribu-
tions to candidates and ballot measures, if the
voters first approved strict limits in 1994?
Well, Oregon’s Legislature never adopted
these limits. In 1997, the Oregon Supreme Court
said campaign limits violate the state’s constitu-
tional protections for free speech.
Then, in 2006, Oregon voters passed Mea-
sure 47, capping donations for statewide races
at $500 and donations for other races at $100.
But voters simultaneously rejected Measure 46,
which would have made these limits legal under
the state constitution.
Then, this April, the Oregon Supreme Court
decided that limits on campaign donations do
not violate the state constitution. This ruling ref-
erenced a 2016 vote in Multnomah County that
placed limits on contributions to candidates.
(In 2018, Portland voters passed a similar mea-
sure.) Some believe this is a clear reversal of the
court’s 1997 decision, and so allows contribution
limits. Others believe it doesn’t go that far.
Before the May election, Oregon Secretary of
State Bev Clarno and the Department of Justice
decided that candidates can continue to accept
donations that exceed the limits voters approved
in 2006, 2016 and 2018. And the money keeps
pouring in, in advance of the November general
election.
So where does this leave us? Will Oregon
continue to be without campaign finance limits,
or will the voters’ will prevail?
Oregon voters: It is up to you.
On the November ballot, Measure 107 would
amend the state constitution to allow laws limit-
ing political campaign contributions and expen-
ditures. We recommend a “yes” vote.
But that will just be the start. Then, it’s up
to the Oregon Legislature, local governments
and/or voters (by initiative) to set limits. Set-
ting those limits should be a top priority for all
Oregonians.
EDITORIALS
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.
LETTERS
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:
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
Deadline for endorsement letters
LETTERS DEADLINE
ANDREW
CUTLER
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
lections typically generate plenty
of opinions and rhetoric, but
this year the annual exercise in
democracy is already shaping up to be
one of the most contentious on record.
Years ago — before the advent of the
internet and the dominance of social
media — the place to express opinions
about an election generally was on a
local newspaper’s opinion page in its let-
ters to the editor platform.
At first glance, it would seem social
media is increasingly eclipsing that plat-
form but there is a key difference that is
hugely significant.
For a letter to the editor to be printed
it must meet certain requirements,
namely that a name is attached to it.
Social media and the internet allow mil-
lions daily to spew out opinions and
their own version of “facts” largely
anonymously. On the internet you can
generate controversy without hav-
ing the added responsibility to be held
accountable.
That isn’t the case with our letters to
the editor. While there are surely ways
to circumvent the verification process
we utilize — after all, anyone, any-
E
The East Oregonian does not run endorsements of more than 400 words.
The East Oregonian will institute a deadline for letters to the editor, so we can be fair
with all the letters we receive and allow for responses before Election Day, if neces-
sary.
We run the letters on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please submit your endorsement letters to the editor by noon Friday, Oct. 23. You
can email them to editor@eastoregonian.com, or mail them to East Oregonian, c/o
Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton, 97801.
We will publish our last letters on Saturday, Oct. 31. Any letters received after the
deadline will not run. Election Day is Nov. 3.
where, with enough time and resources
can find a work-around on just about any
platform — it isn’t as easy as turning on
a computer screen and using a made-up
handle.
In a sense, letters to the editor, should
be a solid and dependable sounding
board for the community. Whether it
is elections or some other important
issue, letters to the editor provides read-
ers with a reliable way to gauge what
their fellow residents have to say about
important subjects, including a national
election.
I understand the importance of this
forum and believe it is a good way to
keep up a community dialogue that may
be at times vigorous, but, in the end, is a
healthy piece of our overall democracy.
Letters to the editor are also a way
for the newspaper to evaluate a mood of
the community. That, in turn, can help
guide our coverage plans as we perceive
an issue that should be reviewed and
reported on.
Letters to the editor have proved to be
popular in the past. Unfortunately, the
sheer number of letters — and our ver-
ification process — precludes us from
accepting letters right up to election day.
The deadline for letters to the editor
submission is Friday, Oct. 23. So, if you
want to scribble out an opinion about the
election make sure you make that date.
The last day the East Oregonian will
publish endorsement letters to the editor
is Saturday, Oct. 31.
Letters to the editor are a good way
for the community to interact and I
know we will receive plenty of them in
the coming days.
———
Andrew Cutler is the publisher/editor
of the East Oregonian.
Please join me in voting yes on Mea-
sure 110. It’s a more humane and effec-
tive approach.
Jorja Culley
La Grande
among us who need help. He has
assisted the Boardman Food Pantry in
the beginning stages of its establish-
ment by advocating and seeking funds
for a permanent location. In May, when
the windstorm ripped through Board-
man, Commissioner Doherty stepped
up to the plate when residents needed
help not only getting out from under the
chaos that ensued, but also a voice.
My family and I have lived down
the road from the Doherty family for
about 10 years. We have done business
with them and admire the ethics that
Jim Doherty has exhibited. As neigh-
bors, we have called on them when we
needed help. Jim has always shown
up when we needed him. He was also
a 4-H leader when our oldest son first
ventured into the show arena at the
fair. Through our experiences with Jim
Doherty over the years, we have seen
compassion, responsibility, and a strong
belief that each of us needs to do our
part to make Morrow County the best
it can be.
Morrow County is experienc-
ing rapid growth and change. Deci-
sions are being made that will impact
every single one of us for many years.
Jim Doherty has the vision and integ-
rity to carry Morrow County through
the growth and changes while preserv-
ing the honor of our county. His com-
mitment to our way of life and the
insight he brings to the development
of our county is worthy of our vote in
November.
Please join me in voting for Jim
Doherty in November.
Mary A. Killion
Boardman
YOUR VIEWS
Vote yes on Measure 110
I want your readers to know that I
can hold my 230 pound, 6-foot-2 son in
the palm of my hand. Why? Because
what’s left of him fills half of a ziplock
bag.
On April 13, 2015, my son, Ryan
Culley, was successful in his suicide
attempt. He had run out of hope. He
had no job, no prospects of finding even
a minimal employment, had lost con-
tact with his children and lived by the
grace of his parents and friends.
Many parents in Oregon have chil-
dren who have lost hope and chosen
to make such a drastic decision. I still
wonder today if my son would be alive
if Oregon had stopped stigmatizing
people with mental health and addiction
issues, and instead had provided better
access to services. That’s why I support
Measure 110.
Oregon’s drug laws are antiquated.
Instead of helping people who strug-
gle with addiction, we punish them,
give them criminal records, send them
to jail, stigmatize them. It’s cruel, inef-
fective and expensive. Criminal records
and punishments only make it harder
for people with serious mental health
and addiction issues.
Measure 110 on the November bal-
lot is a way to help address the imbal-
ance or Oregon’s current drug laws.
Measure 110 won’t legalize drugs, but it
will shift us to a health-based approach,
where people are offered treatment
instead of jail. Measure 110 doesn’t
create a new tax. The money to pay
for it will come from existing taxes on
marijuana.
Doherty committed to
residents of Morrow
County
I confidently endorse Jim Doherty
for reelection as Morrow County
commissioner.
During his first term serving Mor-
row County, Commissioner Doherty
has proven his leadership ability not
only for Morrow County, but as serv-
ing as president of the Association of
Oregon Counties. The last time a first-
term commissioner served in that role
was 1905. The ability to lead his peers
shows Commissioner Doherty’s assets
in areas critical to that role — orga-
nization, mediator and strength of
character.
Commissioner Doherty serves Mor-
row County from the viewpoint of care-
taker. He was born and raised in the
south end of the county. Jim and Kelly
have raised their family and built a life
in the north end. Morrow County holds
their family history, memories and
hearts. Their lives revolve around this
beautiful corner of Oregon that we all
call home. If something impacts Mor-
row County, it impacts Commissioner
Doherty.
Commissioner Doherty has demon-
strated his deep love and concern for
our residents by seeking out those