ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
SATuRDAY, JuLY 23, 2022
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
No one
is above
the law
D
emocracy matters and how our
elected leaders conduct them-
selves even in the seemingly most
remote corner of the nation is crucial to
the strength of the Republic.
Now, six of seven Boardman City
Council members are under investiga-
tion by the Oregon Government Ethics
Commission for violations of execu-
tive session provisions under the state’s
public meetings law. Executive sessions
— closed door meetings of local lawmak-
ers — are regulated with certain provi-
sions under Oregon law. For example,
local elected leaders can’t just decide out
of the blue to meet together out of public
view and then vote on a specific issue.
An executive session is held under strict
guidelines and while lawmakers can
discuss or debate, they cannot vote. That
must be done in public.
On the face of it, a minor violation of
the executive session proviso of the public
meetings law could appear to be much
ado about nothing. Truth is, though, any
violation of the state’s public meetings
law, however minor, is serious.
That’s because our nation is built upon
a foundation of openness and Oregon has
led the way for decades in a concerted
effort to promote transparency with
elected leaders and government. Some-
times — especially in rural areas — local
lawmakers are not as enthusiastic about
such openness as they should be. There
can be a tendency to believe, as an elected
leader, that a mandate has been issued
during the election and they can do what
they want.
That’s not how democracy works. And
it isn’t how Oregon law works.
Why is such a seemingly minor issue
as open and transparent public meet-
ings of local elected leaders a big deal?
Because when voters elect someone to an
office, they are bestowing, or delegating,
to them the responsibility to be stewards
of public money. Your money. Those who
are elected do not get a free pass to do
whatever they choose. They are beholden
to the people, to the voters. When the law
is not followed that sends the message
to voters those who have been elected
cannot be trusted.
Hopefully the dust up with the Board-
man City Council will be easily resolved
and can evolve into a teaching moment
for rural lawmakers. After all, we want
to support our local elected leaders and
believe, generally, they have the best
interest of their community at heart.
But they must follow the law. Regard-
less of their personal opinions.
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
YOUR VIEWS
Let’s stand up for
Melissa Lindsay
I write this letter after just leaving
another funeral meal that Melissa Lind-
say is organizing. This may be the 10th
one that I have observed her helping the
families that need help. I see her every-
where doing this. That is the person that
she is.
My thought as I pass the people
manning the tables to spread half-
truths and misinformation so that they
can waste our county’s resources on an
unnecessary recall action, is that I have
never seen them helping, organizing
or volunteering. This may be why they
have time to do this horrible thing. I say
horrible because it is unfair and presents
an inaccurate picture.
As a long-time resident of our
community, I have witnessed the hard
work Melissa Lindsay has undertaken
to assist the efforts of our local organi-
zations. I can speak for Heppner Day
Care. She approached Amazon regard-
ing its community outreach program
and directed them to this struggling
nonprofit. Her efforts brought Heppner
Day Care enough money to reopen after
the pandemic, but to also improve staff-
ing and many programs. She encour-
aged them to apply for pandemic relief
funding and other available dollars that
helped to continue operations.
The Heppner Community Founda-
tion also was a recipient of her encour-
agement. As a board member I can say
that opening the Gilliam and Bisbee
Building weeks before the coronavirus
shut us down was discouraging. Melissa
found ways for this organization to find
funding to finish the projects and offer a
valuable gathering spot for our area resi-
dents. I hope that the people that have
benefited from this spot remember that
Melissa is a key factor that made it is
available for us.
Funerals, weddings, proms, so many
things have been celebrated there. None
of these things would have been possible
without the foresight of Melissa Lindsay.
This is just the beginning of my list
of reasons that we need to fight against
this horrible injustice to one of our best
residents. I hope that many of you think
back — have you been touched by the day
care, preschool (children, grandchildren?)
Have you had a reason to use or attend
an event at the Gilliam and Bisbee Build-
ing? If yes, then please stop and thank
Melissa. Let’s stand up for the person
that has helped so many. We truly need
people like her, here.
Kim Cutsforth
Heppner
Thank you for publishing
letters like these
I loved reading the three letters in
the “Your Views” section of the East
Oregonian last Saturday, July 16. Each
was thoughtful, well written, and in my
view positive.
Hal McCune’s letter provided
insights on our current political divide,
Michael Minthorn’s support of Joe
Yetter for Congress based on the answer
to his question regarding financing
was well answered and Bertha Keith’s
thanks for support from strangers in her
time of need was beautiful.
Thank you, EO, for publishing letters
like these.
Barbara Clark
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