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East Oregonian
Morrow:
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bring energy and passion to
work for Morrow County.
It is important that we vote,
by May 17. Your votes are
important. Your vote for me
wont be taken for granted and
I am thankful for your vote to
reelect Melissa Lindsay.
Jeff Wenholz, 53,
business owner
What is the county’s
most pressing need or
issue?
One of the most pressing
issues for Morrow County is
the break down in the rela-
tionships between county
commissioners, county
employees and other enti-
ties the commissioners work
with, such as cities and the
Port of Morrow.
The fi rst step to repair the
relationships with the county
employees is
to treat them
fairly and
with respect
for being the
profession-
als they are
and let them
do their
Wenholz
jobs with-
out interference from the
commissioners. The county
has seen a complete turn-
over of non-elected depart-
ment leaders during the last
six years. To repair rela-
tionships with cities and the
port, I would listen to their
concerns and work collab-
oratively with them for a
mutually benefi cial outcome
for all. This may require
compromise by all parties.
In these instances, the county
commissioners are dealing
either directly with fellow
elected commissioners,
councilors or their appointed
representatives.
So, these people need to
be treated respectfully and
as equals. These relation-
ships should not be viewed
as a “County vs…” mental-
ity but one where everyone
works for the betterment
of the citizens of Morrow
County. After all, we are all
there representing and serv-
ing the residents of Morrow
County.
List and discuss your top
three goals if you are to be
elected.
My top goal is the
improvement of relationships
as discussed earlier. The
next priority is to continue
to promote and encourage
responsible economic growth
and development in all of
Morrow County. The growth
the county has seen has
brought a lot of good family
wage jobs, a diversifi cation
of industry and an increased
tax base which has benefi ted
all of Morrow County. When
it comes to economic devel-
opment, the commission-
er’s role is to set policy that
promotes economic growth
and development while at
the same time looking out for
the interests of the residents
and existing businesses. The
next goal is to promote fi scal
responsibility. Currently, the
county has a large unfunded
pension obligation which was
a carry over from when the
county did not have the reve-
nue it has had the last few
years. With the increase in
property tax revenue, Stra-
tegic investment program
money and enterprise zone
money now is the time to
fund this obligation instead
of continuing to “kick the can
down the road.” The increase
in SIP and enterprise zone
money should also be used to
tackle infrastructure projects
such as roads and bridges that
general fund tax dollars can
not be used for.
These should be taken
care of fi rst instead of adding
new personnel or programs.
First priority should be taking
care of what we already have.
Position 3 candidates
Mike McNamee,
business operator
What is the county’s
most pressing need or
issue?
A commissioner’s duties
are to; approve ordinances
(county laws); adopt the
county budget; setting stan-
dards for the use of county
property; overseeing the
operation of county depart-
ments with appointed
department heads; and being
the spokesman of the citi-
zens. There
cur rently
appears to be
a tendency
to m icro -
manage
departments
heads and
McNamee
employees,
which has
caused a turnover in county
employees. In my opinion
we are to support and advise
the department heads. My
approach to this issue is to
diligently keep the current
qualifi ed administrators; hire
qualifi ed people at a compet-
itive wage, support them,
monitor their performance,
and let them do the jobs.
List and discuss your top
three goals if you are to be
elected.
My top goals if elected
would be to meet and be
available to as many Morrow
County residents as possible,
in as many locations as possi-
ble, not just in my home area
of Irrigon, I plan to represent
the entire county. We must
get together, to become a
county unit, to strive to over-
come the north-south divi-
sion for the betterment of the
entire county. I would strive
to build a cohesiveness with
the other two commissioners
so that each could bring our
own ideas to the table which
certainly will not always
match, but through mutual
respect strive to come to a
tolerable solution to the issue
at hand.
The infrastructure needs
attention as our county
continues to grow, roads for
transporting our goods, hous-
ing needs, water sustainabil-
ity, and to continue to work
with the other entities in
the county regarding these
issues.
Gus Peterson, 26,
wheat farmer
What is the county’s
most pressing need or
issue?
I see the most pressing
needs for Morrow County
to be twofold and interre-
lated: The world is changing
quickly, and we as a county
are divided. Because of the
rapid changes that have
occurred in technology, our
society is changing with it,
this change can be good or
bad, but it is far more likely to
be change for good if we face
the future with open eyes and
careful planning together.
Which leads to the second
interrelated issue. Morrow
County is divided and wastes
energy and resources fi ght-
ing with itself. If we wish
to create a future where we
are not taken advantage of,
but rather take advantage of
the opportunities that come
with change, we must work
together.
My plan to address this
is to work with the commu-
nities and partners in this
county to ensure that we are
creating a long term plan
that benefits the whole of
Morrow County. We have an
abundance of resources and
advantages in this county,
managed wisely they can be
used to ensure that Morrow
County is better for every-
one.
A specif ic example
would be to set up zoning
and funding opportunities
using current renewable
energy projects to allow for
solar panels to be installed
on residents homes, with
grant money lowering the
cost. We do not have to be a
county where change bene-
fi ts a few lucky landowners,
that is a policy choice, and as
a commissioner, I will work
to ensure that county policies
benefi t us all.
List and discuss your top
three goals if you are to be
elected.
My top three goals
if elected are housing,
economic g row th and
education. I will discuss
these separately, but they are
interrelated and to a certain
degree inseparable.
As mentioned, I grew up
on a farm in Morrow County.
As far as I am concerned, it
was an ideal place to grow
up, and I came back largely
because of the rural life-
style. Because of this, I want
to do my part to ensure that
others who want that life-
style can have it in Morrow
County. There is plenty of
room in Morrow County for
growth, and if we plan wisely
for it, we can ensure that our
communities are places that
our young people wish to
return to.
If we are to have young
people stay in Morrow
County, if we are to have a
place we are proud to call
home, the reality is economic
growth is necessary. Being in
support of growth does not
mean that I support uncon-
trolled growth, but rather I
want to ensure that we live
in a place that is rich with
opportunity. The poten-
tial areas for growth in
Morrow County go beyond
just concentrating in the
Port, though it is absolutely
important, and with vision
and leadership we can make
Morrow County whatever we
wish it to be.
The control that the board
of commissioners has over
education is limited, I want
to make that clear right out
of the gate, I will make no
promises that I cannot keep.
The board of commission-
ers can play a role however
in creating opportunities,
we need schools that prepare
our young people not only
for college but also for enter-
ing the workforce after
high school. We can work
with schools and local busi-
nesses to create the kinds of
opportunities that change
kids’ lives. College isn’t for
everyone, and our educa-
tion system should work for
everyone.
We as a county are truly
blessed, but with that bless-
Saturday, May 14, 2022
ing comes responsibility. I
hope to have your vote this
May 17 as a commissioner
you can trust as a steward
over these resources. Let’s
grow together.
David Sykes, 72,
newspaper owner
What is the county’s
most pressing need or
issue?
Mor row County has
a diverse, growing econ-
omy, including renewable
energy production, agricul-
ture and industry, which is a
positive thing as it provides
good, above average wage
jobs. We are
experiencing
tremendous
industrial
grow th in
t he nor t h
part of the
county and,
Sykes
along with
this prog-
ress, comes growing pains.
County government must
do its part to ensure this
growth is done responsi-
bly, with good planning,
proper construction and
proper operation of these
new and expanding busi-
nesses. I support a strong,
diversifi ed economy and the
jobs not only for ourselves,
but for our young people, so
they can stay, fi nd jobs and
one day call Morrow County
home. As a newspaper
reporter I have attended and
written hundreds of articles
about county government as
well as the Columbia River
Enterprise Zone. I know
the workings of our county
government very well and
if elected I will bring this
knowledge with me on the
very fi rst day on the job.
Another current need is
the county must work hard
to attract and retain a good
work force, which will
provide the best possible
government services to its
citizens. We need to ensure
we are paying competi-
tive wages but also foster-
ing a work environment
that encourages employees
to care about their jobs and
give their best for the county.
We can have the best build-
ings, computers and equip-
ment, but without a decent
work force we will not have
the best county government
possible.
List and discuss your top
three goals if you are to be
elected.
Goal No. 1 — Encourage
good relations between the
people in all regions of the
county. We have different
economies, demographics
and needs across the county.
People will have differing
opinions and strong discus-
sions over county govern-
ment, but I believe if we
respect each other’s needs
and intentions, we can work
out those diff erences. I have
lived and built businesses in
Morrow County during the
past 42 years, during which I
have made contacts and rela-
tionships in all regions and
cities of the county. I will
work hard to understand and
represent these areas.
Goal No. 2 — Promote
openness so the citizens
can see what their county
government is doing and why
it is being done. To accom-
plish this, I plan on staying
in contact with people all
across the county, ensuring
their concerns and opinions
are heard and considered,
during the decision making
process of their elected repre-
sentatives.
Goal No 3. — Make sure
the county taxpayers’ dollars
are being spent prudently
while providing the best
services possible to the citi-
zens of Morrow County.
HIV isn’t
just a big city issue.
More than half of Oregonians with HIV
live outside of Portland, often in suburbs and
small towns like this one.
Good neighbors chip in to get the job done. And we’ve got
work to do on HIV prevention. People in rural Oregon are
more likely to get a late-stage diagnosis, and a lack of HIV
treatment may harm your health, or your partner’s. Detected
early, HIV is more easily managed and you can live a long,
healthy life. Getting tested is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Learn more and find free testing at endhivoregon.org
.