4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ APRIL 26, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting the free exer-
cise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press, or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
LETTERS
S UPPORT B ILL M EYER
I will be voting for Bill Meyer for Port of
Siuslaw Commissioner Position 5. He has has a
background of public service as a board mem-
ber for the Three Rivers School District in the
Grants Pass Area.
He and his wife have lived here in Florence
for the past 10 years. Meyer understands how an
effective board is supposed to operate and has
no preconceived agenda — I believe he just
wants the Port of Siuslaw to be the best it can be
and has the skill set to help guide the port in
achieving that goal.
As a former mayor of both Florence and
Dunes City, I encourage others to join me in
voting for Bill Meyer for Port of Siuslaw
Commissioner Position 5.
Rob Ward
Florence
P ORT IS AN
EMBARRASSMENT
If it weren’t such a serious matter, I would
find it comical how the current Port of Siuslaw
board “super majority” apparently manipulated
the bidding process for its insurance agent of
record.
Now the port is being asked to shell out thou-
sands of dollars in damages. Here’s a bit of his-
tory demonstrating how this came about:
In the 2013 special election, there were 4
seats up for election, which is very unusual, but
was a result of a temporary appointee replacing
Sally Owens, who decided to not run for elec-
tion. In that election, Ron Caputo, Terry Duman
and Jay Cable were all elected on a pro-com-
mercial fishing platform, thus becoming the
board majority — with Nancy Rickard elected
on a more global economic development plat-
form.
Then-commissioner Bill Fleenor was the
only commissioner not up for re-election.
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Subsequent to their election, the new board
majority refused to take required training
regarding board governance and other port-
related activities.
Commissioner Fleenor resigned during the
last part of his term to avoid a potential conflict
of interest. At that point, David Huntington was
appointed to the board to finish out Fleenor’s
term.
In essence, this created a 4-commissioner
pro-commercial fishing “super board majority.”
Commissioner Cable resigned shortly after
Fleenor’s departure (for personal reasons) and
the board then appointed Terry Duman’s broth-
er-in-law, Mike Buckwald, to succeed Cable.
This preserved a pro-commercial fishing
majority.
The port has been losing money, with no real
plan or hope in sight for a financial turnaround
despite their campaign promises.
Instead of representing the people of the Port
District’s interest, I feel the super majority has
been catering to its own self-interests by ignor-
ing policies and rules affecting themselves and
their friends. In addition, they have been
appointing relatives to serve and further their
own interests.
Now, finally, they have been caught red
handed rigging the bidding process for a vital
port service, resulting in the direct benefit to
one port commissioner.
Unfortunately, this is what happens when
power is consolidated in a very narrow-minded
and focused special interest group.
On May 16, the people of the district have a
chance to change the rigged system at the port
by voting out incumbents Duman and
Buckwald and electing a new slate of candi-
dates to help turn our port away from hitting the
shoals and sinking the ship.
I will be voting for Shayne Burnem, Frank
Eisele and Bill Fleenor.
Jay Nefcy
Florence
P ET PARK NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS
Maybe not so much here on the coast because
of the accessibility of so much wooded and
beach acreage, but to cities like Eugene and
Portland the local dog park is a godsend. To our
education for young people in Oregon is start-
ing to become more affordable because of the
2015 Oregon Promise Bill, supported by both
State Senator Arnie Roblan and State
Representative Caddy McKeown.
Students who qualify can attend a communi-
ty college for only $50 in tuition per term.
Currently there are more than 300 students in
this program at LCC.
Sharon Stiles, who recently retired from the
LCC Board of Education, deserves our grati-
tude for her years of work on the board, and
especially for her advocacy of the Florence
campus and its programs.
She understood the importance of access to a
community college in a town such as Florence,
outside the Eugene urban area.
Fortunately, Melanie Muenzer has been
appointed to fill the remaining few months of
Stiles’ term, and is hoping to continue in this
position (LCC Board, Zone 1) after the May 16
Special Election. In my opinion, this could not
be a better fit for continuity in representation of
the Florence campus on the LCC Board. Among
other things, Muenzer has worked as an
appointee to the U.S. Department of Education
to increase funding for career and technical edu-
cation, student aid, and other programs support-
ing low-income students.
Karin Radtke
Yachats
O NE HAS TO WONDER
Florence wants to be a number one place to
vacation. But when I read the police reports
published in Siuslaw News I have to wonder
why anyone would come here?
Del Riesenhuber
Dunes City
F OR M UENZER ON
LCC B OARD
Most people in Florence know that there is a
branch campus of Lane Community College,
located next to Siuslaw High School, that offers
wonderful opportunities for young and old to
take credit courses or community education
classes.
Not so well known is that access to higher
E DITOR ’ S
NOTE :
We at Siuslaw News feel it is partic-
ularly important during this special
election to be as unbiased and trans-
parent as possible on our Opinion
page. To that end, we have revised the
“political letters” portion of our
“Letters to the Editor” policy in an
effort to improve clarity and consistan-
cy with our guidelines.
As always, feel free to email, call or
stop in to our office with questions or
concerns.
— Ned Hickson
Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News
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John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
canine companions, a walk on the beach is like
Disneyland.
For the rest of us, it’s like training for a
triathlon.
Singing Pines Dog Park is a perfect compro-
mise — except that the abundance of rain this
winter and spring has produced a mud hole right
down the center of the park that never drains.
My dog loves mud; she’s a Lab. However,
this particular mud isn’t great In fact, it stinks.
Literally.
That’s because, being in the middle of the
park, dogs leave their mark in all sorts of ways
in it. It resembles something more akin to a
cesspool than a European mud bath as urine,
feces and other bodily fluids have created a pri-
mordial sludge rather than mud.
There’s no telling how the bacteria are paying
for such luxury accommodations.
My question is why this hasn’t been fixed? If
funds are an issue, I’ve spoken with many of the
regulars to the park and they agree that paying a
reasonable monthly fee would be worth it if it
meant keeping the park properly maintained.
Holding fundraisers are an option. Some
have mentioned putting in agility equipment;
jumps and weaves (this might require adding a
little more space — if possible).
Though summer is coming, it’s an issue that’s
going to return before we know it.
Mark Elliott
Mapleton
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line 503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
West Lane County Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us