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.
January
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