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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2017)
6 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2017 K EEPING STATE GOVERNMENT FOCUSED ON PEOPLE In 2012, when Democratic Rep. Caddy McKeown was first elected, she beat her Republican challenger by near- ly 3,300 votes. In her 2014 re- election, like most incumbents, she was able to increase her vote margin, beating her Republican opponent by more than 4,700 votes. But in the two years that fol- lowed, it appears that McKeown began to lose the trust of voters, some of whom felt she curried favor with Portland-area lawmakers and businesses. During the last two years, Portland-area Democrats have marched McKeown up the hill on legislation that has increased fees to taxpayers that I feel will harm small business. In a race where McKeown outspent me by nearly $250,000, she only won by 1,111 votes — meaning that she lost 3,562 voters in the most recent election. It’s my hope that as she heads into the next legislative session, she takes notice and remembers who she is supposed to represent. Legislators in Portland are Portland-area lawmakers but prioritize the hundreds of uncontrollable state spending. proposing everything from rent very little for the rural and thousands of Oregonians who I respect the will of voters in control to don’t make choosing Rep. McKeown environmen- Portland their again. tal policy that home. But we’re not going to sit by will make it Voters are and watch more go-along-to- B Y T ERI G RIER even harder watching. get-along politics with 2016 D ISTRICT 9 R EPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE for those in We have a Speaker Kotek’s agenda. rural Oregon need for real The session begins next to find work. Our Oregon, the coastal parts of our state. infrastructure investments and week. Let’s hope this election group that backed the failed In addition, the Senate leadership that will get our sends a strong message that Ballot Measure 97, a $6 billion President wanted millions of government spending in line. voters want its government dollar tax increase, is now try- dollars to seismically retrofit It’s unacceptable to me that in focused on the people who ing to overturn the will of vot- the Salem Capitol. Yet little a time Oregon’s outside of a elected them, not downtown ers with a $4 billion dollar tax was to be seen in proposals for recession, we have a huge Portland agendas or special increase proposal. seismic dollars to protect budget deficit caused by interests. Many of the same special coastal residents in tsunami interests that backed Measure zones. 97 also back McKeown. Will we be ignored again? The question is whether she Even more disappointing is will be able to resist her the disappearance of a com- donors’ pressure and stand with mittee dedicated to rural com- her community that opposed munities. Will McKeown con- Measure 97, or support a rev- tinue to vote for a Speaker of enue-raising package at the tax- the House who cares so little payers’ expense? for the state outside of McKeown will serve again Portland? as chair of the Transportation The Portland-metro area has Committee. plenty of representation with- 541•999•6078 In 2015, Democrats failed to out Rep. McKeown siding pass a transportation package. with them. Perhaps she should OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK The one that was proposed had consider running for Speaker, plenty of giveaways for or supporting others who will FACEBOOK.COM/PETERSENAUTODETAIL GUEST VIEWPOINT Applicants sought to fill board vacancy Siuslaw Public Library District has a vacancy on its Board of Directors due to the resignation of current Board Member Dr. Ian Jarman. Jarman shared in his resig- nation letter that “[He has] great admiration for and confi- dence in each remaining mem- ber of the board as well as the management, staff, Friends of the Library and volunteers of the library,” but that personal and professional obligations necessitated the decision. The remaining board mem- bers and current Library Director Meg Spencer extend- ed their thanks to Jarman for his years of service to the library district and the commu- nity. During his tenure, Jarman participated in the library’s expansion project and headed the search committee when Library Director Steve Skidmore retired three years ago. The board will interview applicants and appoint a replacement for Jarman’s unexpired term at a special meeting on Jan. 27. The person who is selected by the board as a replacement will be eligible to run for elec- tion in May 2017. The Library Board is com- posed of five residents of the district who are elected to four- year terms. In addition to resid- ing in the Siuslaw Public Library District, members must be qualified electors. The responsibilities of the Board of Directors include set- ting library policies, approving the annual budget, and hiring and supervising the library director. All board members serve without remuneration. Meetings are held on a monthly basis with longer planning sessions scheduled as needed. 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Siuslaw News + Individuals interested in serving on the Library Board must submit a completed application and skill inventory form no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, in person to either library location, 1460 Ninth St. in Florence or the Mapleton branch at 88148 Riverview Ave., or email it to ref@siusalwlibrary.org. Application packets are available at both locations of the Siuslaw Public Library and online at the library’s website at www.siuslawlibrary .org. +:<68,7($32%2; )/25(1&(25 &$//8672//)5(( :::-,0+2%(5*&20 Prestige Senior Living 375 Ninth Street Florence, OR 97439 541-997-6111
