Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 19, 2016 4A
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Garton’s history
qualifies him
Jim’s past legislative
record and his heartfelt and
long-standing work to im-
prove industrial and agri-
cultural endeavors in our
area is proof that he will be
a positive representative for
our area.
It is badly needed.
His opposition, Mr. Near-
man, has done little to
nothing to improve our
economy in any way. Vote
Jim Thompson next month.
I don’t see how anyone
could be more qualified
than Mark Garton to be
Polk County Sheriff. He has
been a member of the Sher-
iff’s Office since he joined as
a cadet in 1997, and has
worked well in every facet
of the office, giving him a
perspective that few could
possibly match.
His experience as a re-
serve deputy, jail deputy,
full deputy, detective, patrol
sergeant and finally, sheriff,
make him an incomparable
asset to the office.
Ken Jacroux
Dallas
Change the cycle:
Nearman, Trump
John Hancock
Dallas
Sheriff asks for
your vote in Nov.
Over the past 11 months,
we’ve been busy transform-
ing your Sheriff’s Office
after passage of the public
safety levy.
I take this profession very
seriously. I took an oath to
uphold the Constitution,
and be assured that I’ll do
just that.
Voters gave clear and spe-
cific direction on how their
public safety system should
serve its people.
With that in mind, we
have restored 24-hour pa-
trols, POINT and created a
Mobile Crisis Response
Team to help address men-
tal illness in our communi-
ty, but the work isn’t done. I
would be honored to con-
tinue serving as your sheriff.
Thompson best
choice for HD 23
Mark Garton
Dallas
Whitlow is local,
will improve office
Rickreall footbridge
long time coming
The footbridge that is
being built across Rickreall
Creek. How long has it been
talked about? It was all talk
for many years. When the
LaCreole Junior High School
was built, we were told
there would be a footbridge
to get to the school.
I and my family lived on
the south side of the creek.
There was no bridge on
LaCreole to go by car or
bus. The only bridge was
Main Street-Levens Street
and Fir Villa in the city of
Dallas.
There was no Jefferson
Street Bridge. Jefferson was
a dead end street. Walnut
Street did not go all the way
to LaCreole Street.
To get to the junior high
school, my daughter and
son walked down Miller Av-
enue west to Main Street (it
was two-way street then)
north up to Hanbel Street
going east to LaCreole. That
was about two and a half
miles.
On days my son had
sports after school, he
would walk through the
cherry trees and wade the
creek to get home.
There was and is a pipe
in the creek he walked on
until water was too high to
cross.
My daughter will be 62
years old in January 2017.
How many years ago was
LaCreole Junior High built?
It takes a long time to get a
footbridge.
Alice Down
Dallas
It is abundantly clear that
Jim Thompson is our best
choice for state representa-
tive District 23.
We need someone who is
dedicated to good govern-
ment and service to our citi-
zens.
Jim Thompson has shown
those qualities and is willing
to serve District 23 again.
Failing to elect Jim will be
failing to have adequate
representation in the state
Legislature. We need Jim
Thompson: Our only rea-
sonable choice.
John Schoon
Rickreall
Todd Whitlow and his
family is a long-time Dallas
family. His children attend
Dallas schools, as Todd did.
Todd Whitlow has in-
depth experience in dealing
with elected and appointed
officials in his capacity, as
sergeant for management of
all contract cities’ law en-
forcement for Yamhill
County Sheriff.
Todd is for the advance-
ment of the Sheriff’s Office.
Todd will bring fresh, new
ideas to the Sheriff’s Office,
and key improvements
being from the outside.
He will serve the rural
residents and assist city pol-
icy, working collaboratively
with our professional col-
leagues and the public.
Vote Whitlow for Sheriff.
Scott Zeigler
Rickreall
Thompson hangs
with smart people
Add my voice to those
supporting Jim Thompson
for Oregon’s House District
23.
My main reason for sup-
porting Jim is the people
supporting him.
I’ve been to two of Jim’s
meetings and met intelli-
gent, thoughtful people, po-
litely discussing how we can
improve our community —
a refreshing contrast from
what we encounter when
tuning in to the 2016 Presi-
dential debates.
Integrity matters. Compe-
tence matters. This liberal
that voted for Bernie
Sanders says vote for Jim
Thompson.
Liberty and justice for all.
Don Ellingson
Dallas
Support teachers,
students, bond
Students and teachers in
Central School District are
used to making do with
what they have.
Closets become testing
centers, PE classes are de-
layed as floors dry in gyms
that are also cafeterias, and
students are taught in
portable buildings that were
discarded by other schools.
Bond Measure 27-122 will
improve the functionality
and equity of schools in our
district by adding multi-
purpose space to schools
and replacing outdated
portable classrooms.
Our students and teach-
ers have done well with
what they have.
Vote yes on Bond Meas-
ure 27-122 and give them
the opportunity to elevate
education available in our
community.
Jessica Steed
Monmouth
Bond would
improve safety
I was invited to serve on
the Bond Committee for the
Central School District. Be-
fore saying yes, I checked it
out, and I agree with all the
improvements for safety,
upgrades, growth, and fu-
ture use by the Monmouth
and Independence commu-
nity.
I was on the school board
several years and volun-
teered for eight years at In-
dependence elementary. I
know these improvements
are necessary at Talmadge
Middle School, Monmouth
elementary, and Independ-
ence elementary.
There is no increase in
taxes expected. This is a win
for us all.
Betty Plude
Independence
Thompson will
represent us again
I am supporting Jim
Thompson for District 23
State Representative.
As a rural Polk County
resident, I have a keen in-
terest in the few elected po-
sitions that closely repre-
sent us.
We do not have a city
council to hear our direct
concerns, so we count more
on the next layer of govern-
ment to be our voice. Un-
fortunately, for the past two
years, we have been cast
into the wilderness, without
open-minded representa-
tion at the state level.
Jim Thompson will
change that. Jim Thompson
will work for all residents
within the district, and not
just those with a specific
agenda.
Danny Jaffer
Independence
Thompson would
help county thrive
There is no question for
me who will serve this Dis-
trict and provide enhanced
economic support needed
to make our counties thrive.
Political change will
never happen if we keep
voting for career politi-
cians, Republicans and De-
mocrats, who have crafted
the art of telling us what we
want to hear and promise
to “work for us,” and when
elected, just “go along to
get along.” Americans are
losing jobs, income, wealth,
affordable health care and
education, peace and secu-
rity, our moral compass
and unique American cul-
ture.
Real change can come
only if we elect “outsider”
candidates with ability, in-
tegrity and courage, com-
mitted to fighting for the
American people: for you.
Vote Donald Trump and
re-elect State Rep. Mike
Nearman.
Ron Finster
Independence
Nearman slows
Salem’s agenda
Keep Nearman for Dis-
trict 23. Mike is for small
business and stands with
Republicans and conserva-
tives. He won’t cave into
the progressives in Salem.
We must slow down
Salem’s agenda. We don’t
need a representative who
changes parties so he can
work with big spenders.
Jim Thompson has been
in and on the PERS system
long enough.
We don’t need any more
longtime Legislators. We
need fresh ideas to get gov-
ernment off our backs.
Legislators are supposed
to control the PERS system,
but most are on PERS (Mike
is not). We cannot afford the
growth of government. Vote
for Mike.
Larry Sundberg
Dallas
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Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box
108, Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email:
ionews@polkio.com.
Office: 147 SE Court St., Dal-
las.
Garton clear
choice for sheriff
Read Jolene Guzman’s ex-
cellent article on sheriff
candidates.
Mr. Whitlow never volun-
teered in Polk County,
(check his website) he
worked reserve for De-
schutes County driving 2-3
hours on weekends. What
was wrong with volunteer-
ing with a local agency?
He worked a reserve posi-
tion with Yamhill County
and then was hired as a
deputy.
He didn’t work on the
public safety levy.
Where was he when we
needed him?
Now that we have stable
funding, he wants be in-
volved.
He has never been one of
us.
Gary Weis
Dallas
Volunteers can
rescue lost chicks
Who’re you gonna call?
The program allowing
city chickens in Monmouth
and Independence has been
very successful and chicken
owners compliant with the
regulations, but chicks can
escape or be abandoned
and just left to wander and
either starve or be killed by
cars or dogs.
Doesn’t have to happen.
Your police department
can put you in touch with a
Chicken Revolution volun-
teer who can trap and re-
home the chicks.
Please call.
Sue Barker
Independence Riverview
Farmer’s Market manager
Independence
How much is PERS
costing us, anyway
It would be interesting to
know what the total cost of
PERS is for Polk County
since taxes are coming out.
Bill J. Kluting
Monmouth
Garton proved
leadership skills
Garton passed the test.
Upon his appointment,
Sheriff Garton stepped in
and immediately started
finding solutions.
Under his management,
many of the vital services
we expect from our Sheriff’s
Office have been restored.
His many years of service
working in every facet of the
department has proven to
be invaluable; his leader-
ship has earned the respect
of the deputies.
He’s committed to the
community, and fulfilling
the promises he made re-
garding the Public Safety
Levy funding.
We have had an opportu-
nity to put Sheriff Garton to
the test before casting a
vote; he’s exceeded expecta-
tions.
Vote yes for Sheriff Gar-
ton.
Micky Garus
City Councilor
Dallas
See LETTERS,
Page 10A
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