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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2020)
SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020 | 5A Opinion Continued from A4 LETTERS Impressed with write-in Wisniewski I have been watching the prog- ress of Margaret Wisniewski with much interest. Ms. Wisniewski is running as a nonpartisan candi- date for the Florence city council. She said she was inspired to run when a conservative candidate was bullied into withdrawing his candidacy. I met Ms. Wisniewski at a can- didate forum and later talked with her in greater detail at the local post office. I was impressed with her depth of understanding of local issues that impact daily living here in Florence. Issues like public safety, the recent increases in property crimes and the need to help our business community recover from restrictions imposed by COVID-19. I was happy to learn that Ms. Wisniewski views these as local issues to be solved locally without being constrained by party agen- da or some of the divisiveness that seems to have overtaken our community lately. Ms. Wisniews- ki’s team-based, can-do attitude is no doubt due to her financial management and leadership ex- perience gained from her very full professional and volunteer life. In contrast to the other wom- en running for city council, Ms. Wisniewski is focused on prag- matic issues effecting everyday living here in Florence. The other women running use vague terms about “inclusion” or “Climate Cri- sis Awareness” which I don’t see as pressing problems for Florence. Ms. Wisniewski sees tangible issues like community recov- ery from the financial effects of COVID or adding affordable housing for the working people trying to house their families as more pressing issues for Florence. I truly admire Ms. Wisniewski’s courage and will proudly write in M. Wisniewski for Florence city council. —Bruce Jarvis Florence Unleash our better judgement for election We live in a very unusual time here in Florence, when represen- tatives for all of us can’t get along, when a beautiful professional mural is called “graffiti” and a woman who dresses colorfully in feminine attire is called “a clown.” I am hopeful people will un- leash their better judgements and requirements in selecting a May- or, and not resort to callous and shallow statements as in a recent Letter to the Editor from Lori Straley (“Henry Takes His Job As Mayor Seriously,” Oct. 14) and others. Jo Beaudreau is a successful Florence business owner, is an ac- tive participant in a wide range of civic, business and creative artis- tic activities. She is highly respect- ed throughout the community, unique in bringing people togeth- er, has a friendly attitude, has ex- citement and vision for the future of Florence and will work closely and creatively with our wonderful City staff. Jo Beaudreau will bring inspi- ration and new ideas, a friendly community attitude and the skills to bring people together to work together. I will be voting for Jo Beau- dreau for Florence mayor. —Gene Olson Florence Appreciative for Farmer’s Market The Florence Farmers Market was a brilliant cooperative com- munity function this summer. Every Tuesday, with one excep- tion, from May through last week, farmers, bakers, mushroomers, fish and meat suppliers offered us local products. A multitude of volunteers in all weather adapted the market for social distancing and masks. While it was difficult to say thank you at the time, I want to express my appreciation to everyone in- volved with this well-organized event that added richness and healthy choices to me and others. Thank you for your work. —Mary Lehman Florence Mayor Henry still excellent choice despite ‘Series’ During the course of a recent virtual city council meeting [July 20], the wife of one of the council- ors could be clearly heard to say: “F--- you Joe (Henry)!” The comment directed at the Mayor came after a vote had not gone her husband’s way. After reading the investigative series about our local political divide, I think the epithet could have been the theme running through the entire series. The community is divided po- litically, and has become much more so after the election of Pres- ident Trump. It may be an inter- esting exercise to “investigate” a complex topic such as this. How- ever, in the end it is nearly impos- sible to accomplish because your own human biases creep in. Most of the events discussed occurred one to three years ago, and this series could have run some time previously. Notwithstanding the “COVID-19” rationale, I find it curious that this lengthy series would go literally up to the arrival of ballots, while unfairly portray- ing the incumbent office holders in a negative light. The series simply relitigated a number of previous judgement calls on things such as public art, committee assignments and the role of the city council. The pub- lic art discussion tended to por- tray those opposed to the Quince Street mural as “knuckle drag- gers,” but in the end the work is up and the PAC moves on. There was much ado about committee assignments, but in checking with the City of Flor- ence, I was informed that the Mayor has the final say on these members. Apparently, this has been the case for at least the last 20 years. As to the role of the council, there are those that be- lieve it is a combination of the UN, the EPA, the U.S. Congress, NATO, the WHO and more. This is inaccurate and unfortu- nate. Things may have been in up- heaval after the 2016 election, but they really ramped up after the 3-2 liberal majority on the council reversed to 3-2 in favor of more conservative-leaning councilors. There was no illegal or immoral activity cited in the series, but it certainly seemed heavy on innu- endo. Victory parties, emails, Elks Club attendance, etc. could all become the stuff of conspiracies. Conservatives were coming out of manholes like “The Walking Dead.” Finally, my sense is that Mayor Joe Henry did an admirable job in steering the city government fair- ly smoothly, even though it was being pulled hard by both liberal and conservative constituencies over the last few years. In examining his many accom- plishments, I feel he remains an excellent choice to be reelected. —Ralph Nichols Florence Beaudreau is a mayor for possibilities, vision The people of Florence and the surrounding area are fortunate to have an intelligent, energetic, committed, youthful person step forward to take on the responsi- bilities of Mayor. Jo Beaudreau is up to the task. She has a background in ad- ministration. She will listen and take action to do what is best for community. Jo Beaudreau is a business woman, a volunteer, a community leader and is dedicat- ed to Florence. She is active in the schools and personally helped me to assist the art program during the initial days of online teaching. Her photography skills have enhanced the Rhody Days cel- ebration. She has experienced city government through several years working on the Public Art Committee, where she has taken a leadership role. She looks for partnerships and is concerned with unity rather than division. We need a Mayor who believes in possibilities and has the vision to make our town even better. —Nancy Archer Florence NAME BRAND In Honor of All Veterans T he staff at the Siuslaw News is preparing to publish the annual Veterans Day publication, which is a special supplement that is devoted to all military veterans who currently are Florence-area residents or have a connection to this area. It will be printed in the Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 edition, before Veterans Day, annually held each Nov. 11. If you are interested in sharing your military background information in the annual tribute publication, or in updating information that we have published previously, please complete this form and submit it to the Siuslaw News. Service photographs are also welcome. Submit forms and photos by email to mberg@thesiuslawnews.com, by regular mail to Siuslaw News, Attn: Misty Berg, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; or drop off materials at the Siuslaw News office in Historic Old Town Florence, 148 Maple St. If your profile was published previously in the Veterans tribute and you do not wish to make any changes to the profile, there is no need to resubmit this form or your military information. Please be sure that all materials are carefully labeled with your name and phone number and are submitted by Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. Thank you for participating in this project to remember and honor our veterans. Name: ___________________________________________________________ Contact Phone Number: _____________________________________________ Branch of Service: __________________________________________________ TIRES FOR LESS OCTOBER TIRE SALE! ALL TIRES UP TO Select brands also have rebates. 15% OFF FREE ALIGNMENT WITH A SET OF 4 OR MORE TIRES. WE ALSO OFFER ROAD HAZARD $30 FOR A SET OF 4 TIRES . A GREAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF FLORENCE. 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