Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 5, 2016 4A
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Vote Garton for
Polk County sheriff
As an ex-law enforcement
officer (retired), I am sup-
porting Sheriff Mark Garton.
Mark began his law enforce-
ment career as a cadet,
working his way through
the ranks, working the jail,
patrol, detective sergeant
overseeing the Polk County
Major Crimes Team, and su-
pervisor of the interagency
narcotics team, ultimately
to his current position as
sheriff. He has restored 24-
hour patrol to our streets, as
well as restoring the Polk
County Inter Agency Nar-
cotics Team.
Mark’s challenger, also
law enforcement, but is
from a neighboring county.
I’m supporting Mark, and
encourage a vote for Mark
Garton for sheriff.
Richard Long
Dallas
Re-elect Paul
Evans to HD 20
There are many reasons
to support Paul Evans and
re-elect him to the legisla-
ture. He kept his promises
to help out women, stu-
dents, and veterans. An
even greater reason is he
has a common sense ap-
proach to guns.
Paul, a veteran, recog-
nizes the power of weapons
and also knows legitimate
uses, like shooting for sport
or protecting one's home.
His vote demonstrated
knowledge of the dark side
of gun use. Prohibiting gun
ownership of those convict-
ed of domestic abuse/vio-
lence was the right thing to
do.
Bonnie Ross
Monmouth
Thompson will
fight for HD 23
For three terms, Jim
Thompson served as our
State Representative for Dis-
trict 23. He fought for your
private property rights, sup-
ported your small business-
es, your agriculture busi-
nesses and successfully
challenged land use issues
that inhibit your growth and
profit. Unlike Mike Near-
man, Jim faithfully attends
local city and county meet-
ings to keep current on the
issues District 23 faces. Jim
is committed and fired up
with an unwavering passion
and purpose for all of us in
District 23.
Nancie Rogers
Dallas
Advocate for
cancer patients
When I lost my Dad to
complications of lung can-
cer surgery in 2004, I had no
idea that it would lead me
to serving as an advocate
for Oregon’s cancer patients
and families. On Sept. 10, I
traveled to Washington,
D.C., with more than 700 of
my fellow American Cancer
Society Cancer Action Net-
work volunteers from all 50
states, Puerto Rico and
Guam to urge Congress to
support lifesaving policies
that prevent and better treat
cancer. We called on law-
makers to increase federal
funding for cancer research,
when it comes to doing
what is best for all living in
Dallas.
I appreciate that Gabliks
and Wilson listen to both
sides of an issue and the
voices of the citizens of
their community. They al-
ways do the homework that
goes along with making a
sound decision.
I encourage you to cast
your vote for Gabliks and
Wilson for Dallas city coun-
cil.
Nancy J. Adams
Dallas
Vote your
conscience
support legislation to im-
prove patient quality of life
and remove cost barriers to
colorectal cancer screenings
for seniors.
Our seven-member dele-
gation told Oregon’s mem-
bers of Congress that they
should seize the opportuni-
ty to put partisanship aside
and make ending cancer, as
we know it, a top national
priority.
We let our lawmakers
know that people and fami-
lies touched by cancer in
Oregon and across the
country are counting on
them to support legislation
that would help make can-
cer history. With one in two
men and one in three
women being diagnosed
with cancer in their lifetime,
we can’t let this year pass
without taking legislative
action on these important
issues.
I know our conversations
made a difference in the
halls of Congress, and I en-
courage you to add your
voice. Visit www.acscan.org
to be connected to people
like me in your community.
Kay Graven
Volunteer, American Cancer
Society Cancer Action
Network (ACS CAN)
Dallas
Leave the light on
Two of my neighbors
never use their porch lights
at night while another one
keeps theirs on 24 hours per
day. I’m just curious why
anyone would choose not to
use their porch light, espe-
cially with vehicles parked
out front and with the po-
tential for miscreants to
take advantage. Is this a
new movement of some
kind to save energy?
What ... 12 cents per
month?
Jessie Rice
Dallas
Garton’s roots run
deep in Polk County
I am a retired Oregon
State Police officer who has
known the Garton family for
many years. I worked with
his father, also a state police
officer, and Mark’s mother
served as a school teacher
for many years.
Mark has performed
nearly every function of law
enforcement available to
the sheriff, working for Polk
County his entire career. He
is well-respected by law en-
forcement, by his peers and
by the public. He is honest,
well-educated, well-trained,
experienced and well-in-
formed.
Polk County would be
well served by Mark Garton.
Randy Sitton
Dallas
Hooray for
firefighters
My wife and I have a
friend in rural Africa who is
anxious every dry season
because fire threatens his
orchard on which his family
depends for a living.
We thought of him last
summer when we had a fire
in a field near our home.
Unlike our friend, we expe-
rience little anxiety. Soon
after the fire started, fire
trucks arrived from various
locations in our county and
the black billows of smoke
quickly turned white.
I am thankful for Ben
Franklin, from whom came
the impetus leading to the
innovative and professional
fire service we enjoy in this
country. Our nation was
blessed in connection with
a world-view, the generally
held, that there is a power-
ful, loving, wise, God and
that he is relevant to one’s
life. That blessing is why we
now have so many volun-
teers and professionals in
our county who make life
better for us all.
Give thanks for this di-
vine favor and hooray for
our firefighters.
Joseph Hoover
Monmouth
Deputy Sheriffs
say yes to Garton
The Polk County Deputy
Sheriff’s Association con-
sists of 50 non-supervisory
members from the correc-
tions, patrol and support
Services divisions. Histori-
cally, the DSA hasn’t en-
dorsed anyone running for
political office. But, this
coming election is impor-
tant to us. The members
discussed the election for
sheriff and, after weighing
all the pros and cons, they
overwhelmingly decided to
publicly endorse Sheriff
Mark Garton.
Sheriff Garton has proven
his dedication and commit-
ment to not only the citi-
zens of Polk County, but
also the men and women
who work under his direc-
tion. On Nov. 8, join us in
voting for Sheriff Mark Gar-
ton.
Vote.
George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Abraham
Lincoln, Franklin D. Roo-
sevelt.
... Donald Trump .... Are
you sure? Think and vote.
Jeff Williams
DSA President
Dallas
William M. Barber
Dallas
After last week’s debate, it
has become clear that a
Clinton or Trump presiden-
cy would be disastrous. If
you are looking for a way
out, I urge you Google Gary
Johnson.
Johnson, the Libertarian
nominee, is a former two-
term Republican governor
of heavily blue New Mexico.
With his running mate, Gov.
Bill Weld, Johnson is fiscally
conservative and socially
liberal, meaning they will
bridge the huge gap be-
tween the major parties. On
the ballot in all 50 states,
Johnson is leading in the
polls among millennials, in-
dependents, and the mili-
tary. He is the only candi-
date with integrity.
You in?
Representative like Mike
Nearman who is focused on
holding government ac-
countable. Whether it’s the
Columbia Crossing “bridge
to nowhere” or Cover Ore-
gon, we need someone with
the skill and dedication to
watch over these agencies
as they spend — and hope-
fully not waste — our pre-
cious tax dollars.
Nearman holds
Choose Johnson
state accountable
over Trump, Clinton
I’m glad we have a State
Patrick Gump
Monmouth
Garton kept
promises as sheriff
I support Mark Garton for
sheriff of Polk County. Since
beginning as a cadet at age
17, Mark has worked as re-
serve deputy, corrections
deputy, patrol deputy, de-
tective, patrol sergeant, de-
tective sergeant, and ap-
pointed sheriff in 2015.
Upon appointment as
sheriff, he hired people to
keep the promises made,
and has 24-hour patrols
again in Polk County.
Mark has never worked
or lived outside of Polk
County, and cares deeply
what happens in his home
area. I respect and appreci-
ate Mark Garton; and I urge
you to vote for him and
keep him as Polk County
Sheriff.
Frank Pender
Dallas
Gabliks, Wilson for
Dallas city council
I will be casting my vote
for Kelly Gabliks and
LaVonne Wilson to continue
to serve on the Dallas city
council.
They work tirelessly for
your community. They will-
ingly do the homework
needed to be informed
Debbie Pickering
Dallas
Kids deserve safe,
beautiful facilities
For many years, I have
seen the hope that comes
with community support. I
also have noticed the in-
equitable facilities that
make learning a challenge.
Some of our schools have
waited nearly 20 years for
any major upgrades. As one
community and one school
district let us set aside any
issues we may have with the
school district and do what’s
right for our children, and
that is to vote yes on Bond
Measure 27-122. Let us
show every child that no
matter where they live in
our school district, they de-
serve safe and beautiful fa-
cilities in which to learn.
Rebecca Salinas-Oliveros
Monmouth
Cast vote for
Thompson in D23
I believe that Jim Thomp-
son is the right person at
the right time to represent
District 23 as he has a
proven record of care and
experience to be our state
representative. He is a good
listener and has always
been one who will work
with Republicans and De-
mocrats to tackle very diffi-
cult issues. He has the time
and care to speak to anyone
at any time and is always
accessible.
I respect Jim Thompson
for being willing to talk
about the issues with any-
one. He is not afraid to be
held accountable by the
people.
LaVonne Wilson
Dallas
PUBLIC
AGENDA
WedNeSdAy, oCt. 5
• monmouth historic
Commission — 6 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St.,
Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• monmouth Planning
Commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St.,
Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of
Commissioners — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, first
floor conference room, 850
Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
moNdAy, oCt. 10
• hops and heritage fes-
tival Commission — 6 p.m.,
Independence Elks Lodge,
289 S. Main St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• dallas School Board —
6:30 p.m., Dallas School Dis-
trict office, 111 SW Ash St.,
Dallas. 503-623-5594.
• Southwest Polk fire
Protection district Board —
7:30 p.m., Rickreall Fire Sta-
tion, 275 Main St., Rickreall.
503-831-3530. (location
moves each month)
tueSdAy, oCt. 11
• independence City
Council — 7:30 p.m., Inde-
pendence Civic Center, 555 S.
Main St., Independence. 503-
838-1212.
• dallas Planning Com-
mission — 7 p.m., Dallas City
Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas.
503-831-3565.
• Polk County Board of
Commission work ses-
sion — 9 a.m., Polk County
Courthouse, BOC office, 850
Main St., Dallas. 503-623-
8173.
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