Wednesday, September 7, 2022
A4
OPINION
VOICE of the CHIEFTAIN
Your
votes
are more
important
than ever
T
he upcoming race for Ore-
gon governor will be histori-
cal in a number of aspects, not
the least of which is the notion that
for the fi rst time in a long time, there
appears to be real competition on all
sides. While that is problematic for
the candidates, it is good news for
voters.
Yet for the state, the key piece of
the election will be a simple one —
voters must vote.
The three candidates — former
state House Speaker Tina Kotek, a
Democrat; former House Minority
Leader Christine Drazan, a Repub-
lican; and former state Sen. Betsy
Johnson, running unaffi liated — all
bring diff erent elements to the elec-
toral table. They also present vot-
ers with a choice. In a Republi-
can bastion such as Eastern Oregon,
the choice, of course, for most will
be Drazan. Typically, for voters in
a Republican stronghold the candi-
date’s credentials — whether they can
govern eff ectively — means little as
long as they have a “R” behind their
name.
That’s not unprecedented or
unusual. Certain areas of the nation
are known to have strong ties to
either party.
The hard part, though, for voters
will be the very act of fi lling out the
ballot. We, as a nation, face a dwin-
dling interest in participating in the
democratic process. There are surely
many reasons for this circumstance,
but the reality is when those who are
eligible do not exercise their right to
vote, democracy is weakened.
The governor’s race will also be
signifi cant because it is already begin-
ning to tighten up. Where months
ago, Kotek could easily appear to be
a shoo-in, that scenario has changed.
Right now, many political pundits see
the governors race as a toss-up.
That means your vote will count
more than ever this November. It
is easy to be disenchanted with our
political process. One glance at the
national news is usually enough to
drop one’s confi dence in our system,
but it is important to remember that
our democracy remains vibrant. It
will not remain energetic, though, if
voters don’t participate.
So, when that ballot arrives in the
mail this year, don’t put it off to the
side. Instead, fi nd time to review the
candidates — even if you are cer-
tain you have picked one already —
and think carefully about what your
choice will mean for our great state.
And vote.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
‘Digital only’ savings at
Safeway are unfair
Today I went to Safeway and the fi rst
thing I saw was a notice that the sale
prices of everything in this fruit display
was “digital only.” This leaves out many
of our visitors and regulars to this store.
A friend of mine has been walking to the
store to get small amounts of groceries.
He does not have a cellphone. He has an
old rotary phone, he doesn’t get the bene-
fi t of these ads.
The paper ads have taken the $10 for
$50 benefi t away. In small print in the
paper is a $5 for $25 but it is digital only.
In a time when groceries are getting more
expensive for less merchandising, people
are having a hard time paying their rent
(if they are lucky to have a place to live),
pay their utilities and other bills, buy gas.
Every day the media mentions the prob-
lems with food needs yet Safeway/Alb-
ertsons has chosen to ignore these peo-
ple. In the ad Aug. 17 there was cheese
for $.74, blueberries for $.97, orange
juice for $1.83. These are just examples
of the “digital only off ers.” These foods
are nutritional especially for children. I
get SNAP, which I am grateful for, but
that doesn’t cover the basic cost of living.
Everything has gone up in price, utilities,
rent, gas, etc.
I have another friend who drives out
of town to do her shopping. She doesn’t
want to encourage Safeway/Albertsons
markets to make more money on the
backs of the poor while the entitled get
the benefi ts. I have gone to Safeway for
years. If there was another big grocery
store in our area, I would change. I am
thoroughly disgusted with this trend to
help the rich and step on the poor. Shame
on you! Are you going to “digital” oat-
meal, bread, vegetables, meat, eggs?
Look around you and see the poverty, talk
to some of the people, see how they feel
about the changes.
I may have SNAP dollars but I still
look for the buys. It is time to take back
our benefi ts and tell the CEOs we will not
sit around and let the rich tell us we must
have a cellphone to get special prices. I
for one do not want “big brother” know-
ing every step I take, where I am and
where I am going. So far we haven’t lost
our “Just For You.” There is little privacy
left in this world. At least let the grocery
store be safe.
I know our store here in Enterprise
can’t do anything about this but if enough
people get together and let the big guys
know that they can’t get away with rob-
bing the poor, maybe we can get some-
thing done.
Diana A. Bolin
Enterprise
We need to know the
people we are voting for
Everyone knows that it is the right and
the duty of American citizens to vote for
their choices to represent us in all aspects
of government whether it be city, county,
state or national. It is the way we choose
the kind of city, county, state or national
governments that aff ect our lives. We
know how important it is to vote, but we
also need to know and have a relation-
ship with the individuals we vote to rep-
resent us.
We need to know the persons we vote
for. We ought to know what their val-
ues are, what they have done in the past
and the goals they want to achieve for us
if they are elected. They should know us
and our expectations of our representa-
tives. And it takes our eff ort to make this
happen.
For instance, Joe Yetter is a candidate
for U.S. representative and he is expected
to be here in the county on Sunday,
Sept. 11. Our district, which he will repre-
sent if elected, includes about half of Ore-
gon and he is spending all of his time now
getting around the district to meet the vot-
ers. His opponent was here recently and
also met with some voters.
I believe it is our responsibility to get
to know and to decide which of these can-
didates will better represent us. I want
to vote for the person whose values and
goals and abilities will serve the people in
Oregon’s Congressional District 2. I hope
you do, too.
I hope you will meet Joe Yetter next
Sunday at the Enterprise City Park at 6 p.m.
Wallowa County’s Newspaper Since 1884
MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
VOLUME 134
USPS No. 665-100
P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828
Offi ce: 209 NW First St., Enterprise, Ore.
Phone: 541-426-4567 • Fax: 541-426-3921
Contents copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
General Manager, Karrine Brogoitti, kbrogoitti@eomediagroup.com
Editor, editor@wallowa.com
Reporter, Bill Bradshaw, bbradshaw@wallowa.com
News Assistant, Cheryl Jenkins, cjenkins@wallowa.com
Classifi eds/Inside Sales, Julie Ferdig, jferdig@bakercityherald.com
Advertising Assistant, Devi Mathson, dmathson@lagrandeobserver.com
• • •
To submit news tips and press releases, call 541-426-4567
or email editor@wallowa.com
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on and
enjoy dessert with Joe. For more informa-
tion, you can call me at 541-432-3252 or
email me at evelynswart@gmail.com.
Evelyn Swart
Joseph
Appreciative of
Carper’s expression
of American pride
My wife and I have attended Chief
Joseph Days for many years and attended
the rodeo this year on Saturday night
after vising with friends in the Hospital-
ity Room. In addition to being an elected
offi cial in Washington state, a retired
Army lieutenant colonel, competing in
many rodeo arenas, owning a second
business and home in Wallowa County,
our Wallowa County business has been a
Chief Joseph Days sponsor for years.
We appreciated and understood the
need for announcer Jody Carper’s words
of support for those who served this
country and his expression of American
pride and patriotism. After giving many
talks on the American fl ag and patrio-
tism, writing a booklet on fl ag etiquette,
explaining the meaning of and leading the
Pledge of Allegiance, my children placing
my words in a booklet, I receive apprecia-
tion from many people for my words, just
as we appreciated Jody Carper’s patriotic
words.
We were appalled reading some were
not appreciative, nor apparently under-
stood, Jody Carper’s words of patriotism
and thanksgiving for living in a country
founded on God-given values where free-
doms are taken for granted. Today forces
work to divide us. Jody Carper’s words
off ered encouragement to come together,
overcoming all that tries to divide and
destroy us.
To those who object to his words of
pride for living in the greatest country
the world as ever known, we ask that you
think of the freedoms you take for granted
and how you would feel if you did not
have those freedoms.
Skip Novakovich
Kennewick, Washington
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