KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Elections are
crucial to a
democracy
O
regon voters may well secure one
of those rare election moments in
November when they can choose
from three candidates for governor, but
the key, as always, is that all residents
take advantage of the opportunity to vote.
That may prove to be quite a challenge,
though we hope not.
Now, three candidates — Betsy John-
son, Tina Kotek and Christian Drazan
— are vying for the state’s top political
position.
Kotek is on the Democratic ticket
while Drazan is the GOP front-runner.
Johnson, who is unaffiliated with any
party, recently turned in enough signa-
tures to get a spot on the Nov. 8 election
ballot.
While there will be plenty of bombast
and wide sweeping proclamations by all
the candidates between now and Novem-
ber, what is really key about the election
is that enough Oregonians vote.
The right to vote is more than just a
nice, quaint concept about America. It is
the key element to our democracy.
Multitudes of people have died on
distant battlefields for us to enjoy that
right. Many brave souls during the Civil
Rights era marched and faced danger to
ensure everyone held the ability to vote.
As voters we owe them all a great debt,
but if we do not use what is the key tool
of our democracy then our very future is
at risk.
Sure, at least for now there isn’t a
whole lot of variety within the candi-
dates. Kotek is as solidly Democrat as
Drazan is Republican. Johnson is trying
to capitalize on her role as a political
outlier to get elected.
In other words, this election doesn’t
appear to be one that will be needlessly
complicated. The battle lines are drawn.
The issues are familiar. Now all that
needs to happen is that eligible voters
actually vote.
Regardless of what one reads or hears,
every vote does count. We, as Ameri-
cans, enjoy a specific ability to peacefully
complete a process that selects those who
will represent us during every election.
Our right and privilege to vote — and it is
a privilege — is only as effective as those
who chose to use it.
We must guard against apathy and the
dissonance created by modern day pop
culture, toxic social media and political
sound bites to focus on exercising our
right to vote.
The state faces many challenges, no
doubt about it. Yet we have the opportu-
nity to do something about those chal-
lenges by voting. Every election is crucial
in a democracy. Let’s not allow our great
privilege to be wasted.
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
Moving with the rhythm of life
REGINA
BRAKER
ANOTHER MILE
T
he last few weeks have seen kids
enjoying last opportunities to get
in the best of summer, following
their passions for sports, venturing off
to church camp, or staying in town to
join their peers in Rock and Roll Camp
at the Pendleton Center for the Arts
Center, theater camp at Blue Mountain
Community College, music camp spon-
sored by the Oregon East Symphony.
They’ve been showing up at a local
church for VBS, the acronym a better
label because it leaves unsaid the last
word (vacation Bible school).
Or they were busy preparing their
pride and joy 4-H project to show by
summer’s end. And still others made a
habit of some daily time with siblings
or friends at the splash park, waterpark
or local swimming hole during the heat
waves rolling through August.
Maybe work was top of the agenda,
in a local business, as a farm hand, or
learning the skills of a trade in construc-
tion or house painting. As they inter-
act with the adults around them, young
folks learn so much more than just the
job they’re doing.
Highlights of summer include
cultural offerings bringing outdoor plea-
sure to audiences on pavements and in
parks, in concerts, outdoor theater and
powwow competitions. The events of
the season are a whirlwind of activity
also brought on by the needs of produc-
ing our food supply, the results of the
last planting, while the repair of damage
from unexpected weather continues in
the juggle of urgent tasks.
Local events showcase the best of the
harvest coming in at farmers’ markets
and county fairs, and folks show off
their skills at rodeos and stampedes.
Some find themselves focused on
completing home repairs and do-it-your-
self improvements while the weather
cooperates and then can look forward
to a break to take in the local entertain-
ment filling the calendar.
This year also includes a ramp-up
in political activity as candidates in
mid-term elections ready themselves
for the final stretch in the months ahead,
put in the miles for town halls or seek
visibility in local parades, while local
volunteers show up to talk with prospec-
tive voters. This year is particularly
challenging in having conversations
across the political divide.
How do we respond when someone’s
energy turns into a violation of personal
space? When a friend recently experi-
enced a repeatedly wagging finger in his
face, he remained calm, and quietly kept
the conversation going, asking questions
to know more about what informed the
claims shouted at him.
Sometimes there was negativity
in a dismissive comment about the
wrong party, when a couple real-
ized they were talking with members
outside of their political bubble, and
quickly backed away. This was at a
political party booth, but productive
conversations were also possible at the
Umatilla County Fair.
The most successful interactions
were not necessarily with folks who
stated their support for candidate X, Y
or Z. It was the give and take with indi-
viduals who approached the booth to
state opposition that led to an exchange
about something we had in common,
followed by some willingness to learn
more about a new candidate making the
rounds. Though rare, they were valued
all the more when they came about.
Even when we know that our neigh-
bors vote differently than we do, we still
share many of the same rhythms of life,
the simple pleasures of summer, and
the patterns and traditions of the other
seasons.
Perhaps we share in supporting
those youth programs that help our kids
thrive. Or we have faced a difficult chal-
lenge, lived through a medical problem
that they experienced too. And where
there are problems to solve, we recog-
nize that we can come together in our
communities and rely on one another to
create the solutions we need.
The rhythm of life during summer
brings special moments for all of us,
whatever our age. There is lazy relax-
ation combined with projects and events
that offer a chance to recreate ourselves,
learn new skills, meet new people and
add new sparkle to our multi-faceted
personalities. Some of it is difficult,
perhaps frustrating too, much of it a
pleasure, yet all of it essential to healthy
living.
———
Regina Braker, of Pendleton, is a
retired educator with journeys through
many places and experiences who enjoys
getting to know people along the way.
YOUR VIEWS
Bentz’s actions show little support for
veterans, while Joe Yetter’s show care
“Thank you for your service,” is a glib statement many
make when supposedly demonstrating their appreciation of
and concern for veterans. I suppose Rep. Cliff Bentz has said it
a time or two. But Bentz’s actions, his votes in Congress show
only disregard for our veterans.
Bentz has voted against four pieces of legislation that
would support veterans in real and important ways. One such
measure provides health care for those soldiers exposed to
toxic chemical waste at various military bases. Can you imag-
ine? The very housing the Army and Marines place their men
and women in are contaminated from burn pits. Many suffer
from cancer and other diseases due to exposure to chemical
waste.
What reason can Rep. Bentz have to vote against the means
to care for these veterans? He only follows the party line. That
is not the way to support Oregonians who have served this
nation.
Joe Yetter, his opponent, has served in the military himself.
He has cared for other soldiers as a surgeon in the Army.
Yetter has demonstrated his care for our country and his fellow
soldiers. He won’t vote no on such critical measures that actu-
ally do thank veterans for their service.
Joette Storm
Bend
The bus barn saga continues
The recent article on Pendleton’s proposed bus barn high-
lights the various funding sources for the project, once again
short-changing one fund to bolster someone’s pet project.
Usually when the city takes on a project of this magnitude, city
officials are tripping over each other praising its advantages
and how residents will prosper once the project is completed.
That seems to be missing.
They have yet to provide a plausible explanation as to how
the construction of this facility, so far away from the center
of town, is going to increase and improve bus service for our
city’s residents. Seems the only one applauding the effort is
Byrnes Oil Company, provider of the city’s fuel.
Rick Rohde
Pendleton
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
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
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us