ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
SATuRdAy, NOveMBeR 27, 2021
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Ignoring
the divide
must not
continue
O
regon House Republican Leader
Christine Drazan announced
recently she plans to run for gover-
nor. And she will join a growing list of
potential candidates for the state’s job, but
whoever is elected to the state’s top post
next year should make bridging the divide
between Salem and Eastern Oregon a top
priority.
Now there are four Republicans running
for the governor’s slot, four Democrats and
one Independent. Current House Speaker
Tina Kotek is probably the front-run-
ner among all the candidates, and she has
shown interest in the eastern side of the
state in the past.
That’s good news if she is elected.
The bad news is the divide between
Eastern Oregon — and most rural areas of
the state — and the prosperous Willamette
Valley continues to grow. That’s not good
news for the future of the state. The biggest
example of the frustration felt by many
in the eastern portion of the state is the
effort by a grassroots group dubbed Move
Oregon’s Border to essentially break off
from the state and become part of Idaho.
The effort may be a long shot — it faces
several hurdles, including approval by both
the Idaho and Oregon Legislatures and
Congress — but it is indicative of the views
of many on the eastern fringes of Oregon.
Most of Oregon’s population rests in the
Willamette Valley — especially Portland
— where the prevalent political views are
opposite of most in Eastern Oregon. It is
essentially a cultural divide, and over the
years it has manifested itself in a grow-
ing distrust and frustration in the eastern
enclaves of Oregon with Salem.
The gap can be fixed. With the right
kind of leadership, the divisions between
the two sections of the state could be
mended. Yet it will not be easy and anyone
who takes on that responsibility faces a
long, long haul.
That shouldn’t, though, be a reason to
ignore the issue. Such division isn’t good
for the state’s future.
There is not doubt that Eastern — and
rural — Oregon faces a disadvantage in
the Legislature. That’s because most rural
and Eastern Oregon politics centers on the
Republican side of the political fence and
the Democrats control the House and the
Senate.
Yet a governor who can rise above parti-
san lines and do what is best for the state
would have the opportunity to make lasting
change.
The divide cannot continue to be
ignored.
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. Letter
writers are limited to one letter every two weeks.
SEND LETTERS TO:
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801
YOUR VIEWS
Wolves are a burden
to the economy
Mr. Aney, in your recent column
(“Making a place for predators, Thurs-
day,” Nov. 4) you conveniently fail to
mention that with the introduction of
wolves, Idaho was to maintain 100
wolves or 10 breeding pairs. Idaho’s wolf
population now exceeds 1,500 wolves.
When any game population exceeds
the carrying capacity of a given range
their numbers have to be reduced to
achieve balance, and so it is with wolves.
Liberalizing hunting seasons is the
usual method, but this is not an effective
option with wolves and has forced Idaho
to take a more aggressive approach.
You state that killing wolves to
increase elk numbers is “selfish.” This
is a cavalier attitude that you can afford
having held a government job with good
pay and benefits while you have no
regard for those whose livelihoods have
been adversely impacted by introduction
of wolves. Every elk harvested in Idaho
generates thousand of dollars for Idaho’s
economy, while wolves are a burden to
the economy.
You state, we should “encour-
age” wolves “to live as wolves were
intended.” Get real.
You also state your willing to give
wolves their “fair share.” Would that be
what they actually need to survive or
does it include the animals they kill just
for sport and don’t eat?
Running computer models for
National Environmental Policy Act
report does not make you an expert on
wolves. I would suggest that your energy
would be better served focusing on
subjects you actually have some knowl-
edge of and leave Idaho’s wolf problems
to the experts with actual experience.
Dwight Clift
Pinehurst, Idaho
Pendleton City Hall to stop
frivolous spending
This change in direction came to light
in a casual conversation with an anony-
mous source familiar with the inter-work-
ings of city hall one morning during
coffee hour at the Rainbow Cafe. It’s one
of the few places in town, along with
Zimmerman’s, where you can get the
latest news before it’s two or three days
old.
This new concept being discussed will
limit all future discretionary spending
to projects deemed beneficial to nearly
all residents. As an example, a proj-
ect that’s received no publicity, but is
sure to improve the quality of life for all
residents including the homeless, is the
replacement of those old vintage looking
lampposts on Main Street with brand new
vintage looking lampposts that appears
to be identical except for the light bulbs.
Evidently simply replacing the old bulbs
just won’t achieve the desired results.
In a thoughtful approach, since those
new lampposts run $6,000 a pop, our
public works director has elected to shield
taxpayers from any undue financial strain
by replacing only four a year, limiting
overall costs to $24,000 annually. Consid-
ering the size of current budget, city
officials feel the additional cost is of no
consequence, just a drop in the bucket.
Hopefully, the current wave of infla-
tion won’t upset the schedule.
Another project that’s gaining great
favor with the Pendleton Development
Commission’s assistant executive direc-
tor is construction of some sort of “gate
to the city” setup on both east and west
entrances to the city, with an additional
gate at the intersection of South Main
Street and Goodwin Avenue. The PDC
feels these proposed gates are essential
due to the complexity of navigating our
city’s streets and are needed to guide
both residents and visitors alike though
blighted areas to our downtown area.
These two projects in themselves are
positive proof that city management and
the various committees and commissions
appointed by the mayor are truly in tune
with the needs of the general public and
will finally put to rest, once-and-for-all,
that undeserved reputation for frivolous
spending.
Rick Rhode
Pendleton
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
REPRESENTATIVES
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford office: 541-776-4646
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us