Blue Mountain Eagle
ELECTION GUIDE
MT. VERNON CITY
COUNCIL
(Vote for two)
FRANCIS KOCIS
1. Position of Canyon City
Council is important in making
decisions/recommendations and
communications to Canyon City
residents about issues:
• involving water/sewer needs;
fi nancial/budget matters regarding
city affairs.
• future development within
city limits.
• uses involving museum, city
park, and community hall.
• safety concerns regarding
fi re, lighting, and animals.
2. • To serve all city residents
in working and communicating
openly in making sound decisions
for management of city opera-
tions.
• Provide a safe and equitable
working environment for city em-
ployees.
• Utilize past years of experi-
ence as a City Council Member to
work cooperatively with current
Council Members, Mayor, and
city employees.
3. My wife and I have owned
property in Canyon City for the
past 40 years and we have resided
at our South Humbolt residence
for 16+ years.
Prior to retiring in 2002, I en-
joyed a wonderful career as a Park
Ranger with the National Park
Service in parks in Texas, Arkan-
sas, Oregon, and Washington for
31 years. During those years I
gained immeasurable experience
in personnel matters, budgeting,
serving the public and assisting
visitors with their recreational
needs while vacationing in the
parks.
During my 16+ years residency
in Canyon City, I was involved in
the following community activi-
ties:
• served on Grant Union School
District Budget Committee.
• volunteer/member for 8 years
with the John Day/Canyon City
Lions Club.
• served for 4 years on Canyon
City Planning Commission.
• Board member for past 7
years with “Friends of Kam Wah
Chung”.
• appointed/served as Canyon
City Council Member in 2013 and
2014.
4. • Use past years experience
on City Council and by working
with current Council Members,
the Mayor, and city employees
continue to serve the needs of
Canyon City residents; maintain
integrity for sound fi scal manage-
ment for City operations; and ad-
dress future updates and needs for
the City in water/sewer and street
Public Works projects.
• Utilize the Canyon City Park
for more community sponsored
events such as the past “Summer
Music in the Park” programs.
RACHELLE SIMMONS
I am seeking reelection to the
position of city councilor repre-
senting the Town of Canyon City.
I believe that serving the people of
Canyon City as a council member
is important because it allows me
the insight to inter-workings of
our community and solving con-
cerns of our citizens.
I am running for this posi-
tion to continue helping with
current issues in our city. My
background and qualifi cations
are in making decisions in bud-
get planning, economic develop-
ments and ongoing infrastructure
projects. I have served the res-
idents of Canyon City working
with three different mayors over
multiple years. During that time
we have completed grants for
renovating the Community Cen-
ter. I have also been a part of the
decision making on bettering our
water systems, playground equip-
ment in the park, and many other
improvements.
If given the opportunity, I look
forward to continue working with
our mayor, council members and
residents of the community as
well as partnering city govern-
ments.
SHILO BURTON-HARPER
1. As an individual who strives
to give back to the community
(Grant County in general) and
be actively involved making our
community the best it can be for
its residents, and future residents,
I am running for a position on the
Mount Vernon City Council.
2. I’d like to be actively in-
volved and engaged in the hap-
penings of the community of
which I live, and where I plan
to raise my children. I want to
be able to say, “This is how I
helped…”, and “This is what you
can do …”
3. My family and I moved into
Mount Vernon in the spring of
2014. Being a city resident, I’d
like nothing more than to have
the opportunity to be involved
in what goes on in our small
town, and involved in making
it a healthier, safer, wholesome,
high-quality place to live for my
children, current residents, and
residents for the years to come.
Having been born and raised
in Mount Vernon, just outside
city limits, this is my hometown,
and I have no doubt it will be
where I live until the day I die.
Keeping this town thriving, dy-
namic and full of life, clean and
safe, functioning smoothly is a
passion I have.
I have been, and am, active-
ly engaged in numerous groups,
organizations, and boards with-
in Grant County, including the
Mount Vernon Cinnabar Moun-
tain Rendezvous, and the Cin-
nabar Mountain Playdays youth
rodeo association in Mount Ver-
non. I’ve held the positions of
President, Secretary, and Trea-
surer on these committees. To
be a member of the city council
would give me the chance to
give back and make a difference,
yet again, where it means the
most to me.
4. In September, I was elected
in to fill in a vacant position on
the Mt. Vernon City Council. If
elected again, I’d have the op-
portunity to continue working
toward solutions with items the
council is currently addressing.
Additionally, I would provide
my support to address any other
issues that may arise, as well as
bring forward proposals to ben-
efit the community and its resi-
dents.
I would engage in the city’s
finances, assist in finding and
securing funds for updated city
park playground equipment, ad-
dress and mitigate issues with
current “curb appeal” throughout
the city, find and secure grants
in general to further support the
city’s need for an updated wa-
ter/sewer system, infrastructure
updates, propose ideas to create
further revenue within the city,
seek ways to make the city a saf-
er and healthier place for people
of all ages, and to be a voice for
residents.
MIKE CEARNS SR.
I am Mike Cearns Sr. I am run-
ning for city council in Mt. Ver-
non. I have served on the Budget
Committee for 3 years and city
council for 2 years in Mt. Vernon.
I have been married to Joyce
for 37 years we have 2 children
and 8 grandchildren that all live
in Grant County. I am semi retired
and work parttime for Dakom
Logging. I am planning to contin-
ue to live in Mt. Vernon as Joyce
and I own two homes there. I have
also served on the Volunteer Fire
Dept. for 30 yrs.
I am running for Council be-
cause I want to see Mt. Vernon to
be a safe place to live and raise
your children. I also would like to
continue to work on sewer plant
update and the city park update.
Being semi retired I can also
assist with problems that happen
with daily workings of the city of
Mt. Vernon.
EVA DOUGHARITY
1. City Council Position
I want to be a member of a
great group of people working
together with goals and projects
to improve our city
2. As a city councilor I would
like to keep Mt Vernon going
forward in a positive direction.
3. Currently Interim May-
or, served on council since
2011,Budget Committee
3
years. Long time resident Mt
Vernon for over 30 years
Been active in our commu-
nity, Cinnabar Mt Rendezvous
volunteer, numerous charity
events
4. I would like to see projects
through to completion
• Waste water project
• City Park Improvement
plan
• Bringing back communi-
ty pride to our city and homes
through clean up projects. Up-
dating city policies and proce-
dures.
Candidates DREW HARM-
ER and JUSTIN A. MAY did
not submit answers to the ques-
tions.
LONG CREEK
MAYOR
DANIEL MORROW
1. The Mayor shall be a civ-
ic leader and chairman of the
Council, presiding over the
council members as they fulfill
their responsibility and authority
to assign Councilors/Mayor for
the following responsibilities:
Fire Department, City Buildings,
Streets & Signs, Water, Sewer,
City Parks, Grounds-Keeping,
and City Transfer Station.
2. I wish to reclaim a sense of
pride in this community through
a spirit of teamwork with con-
sideration to the individual opin-
ions and personal rights of the
citizens. Having grown up and
enjoyed the positives of Long
Creek, I want to give back to the
community.
3. I have a lifetime awareness
of life in Grant County. Stories
of my great grandfather running
a freight train into Canyon City
and livelihood challenges were
observed first hand as I grew up
in Long Creek, graduating high
school in 1963. Four years of
military service, becoming a
Vietnam Veteran, marriage and
raising four children required
relocation. During these years,
I coached Little League and
Babe Ruth teams, and had em-
ployment that involved oversite
of fifty employees. Family re-
sponsibilities, employment and
a metropolitan lifestyle; while
providing an education in deal-
ing with a diverse population,
exemplified the desire to return
to the rural Long Creek Commu-
nity. Upon retirement in 2002my
wife, Dianna, and I returned to
Long Creek and built our home
that we are able to share with our
nine grandchildren, friends and
neighbors. I have been an active
participant in City Government,
Long Creek Historical Society,
and Allovars Community House.
4. A. Population Decrease:
resulting in social and economic
decline.
a. Focus on what we
have to offer as opposed to what
used to be. Seek individuals and
agencies within the county and
state that are in a position to
assist with building a desirable
community.
B. Inequality of Voting Priv-
ileges: resulting in individuals
with economic investment in
city having no representation.
b. Review charter and
ordinance with view to amend
voter limitations.
C. Limited Communication
between City Government and
Individual Citizens: resulting in
non-inclusive, non-productive
and sometimes adversarial out-
looks.
c. Initiate more town
hall type gatherings. Outreach by
all city officials to citizenry on
individual one on one basis. Pro-
vide clear and available charter/
ordinance information utilizing
internet/social media. Increase
participation in city meetings.
Establish an arbitration council
to address potential issues.
D. City government operating
on Reactive as opposed to Pro-
active basis: resulting in ‘putting
fires out, instead of preventing
them’.
d. Pursue education
program for all elected/appoint-
ed officials. Encourage individ-
ual council members to exercise
their duties/responsibilities as
leaders. Provide opportunities
for each councilman to be ful-
ly informed of any issues via
pre-meeting agenda and infor-
mation packet, and encourage
individual council member ex-
pression.
DON PORTER
I’ve been the mayor of Long
Creek for over ten years and
I’m running for reelection so
that I can continue to serve this
small community and keep do-
ing all I can for its citizens.
Being mayor of a small town
means I’m usually the first per-
son townspeople call on when
they need help. Whether it’s a
water or sewer issue, an animal
control problem, hazardous
weather or some sort of safety
concern, I work to assure our
town runs smoothly. A lot of
times that means dealing with
regulatory agencies like DEQ,
EPA and ODOT, and over the
years I’ve built good relation-
ships with all of them and a
have solid understanding of
their requirements.
The City of Long Creek is
comprised of seven divisions –
streets; parks; fire; buildings;
sewer; water; and transfer sta-
tion. While council members
oversee each division, I have
professional experience that al-
lows me to provide them with
the support they need. I did
roadwork with ODOT for sev-
eral years, and have been fire
chief for quite some time with
many hours of training. In col-
lege I worked in parks and rec-
reation, and in the 1980s and
90s I was the water and sewer
operator for Long Creek.
I care about what happens
to Long Creek and the good
people who live here. I want
to keep doing all I can to at-
tract new residents and new
businesses, while continuing to
support all the great things we
already have going for us.
Our combined residential
water, sewer and dump rates are
just $60 per month, with many
other small towns charging
$90 or more. I will continue
working to keep our utilities
the lowest in the area. I’ll also
keep working with the Oregon
State Fire Marshall’s office on
our smoke detector program,
which has placed over 150 free
smoke detectors in Long Creek
homes. The goal is to have an-
other 350 installed over the
next 18 months.
I have deep roots in Long
Creek and I’m just as deeply
committed to its future.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
A11
PRAIRIE CITY
CITY COUNCIL
(Vote for two)
PHILIP “JOE” PHIPPEN
1. I’m running for the position
of city councilman for Prairie
City. This position is very import-
ant because you have a hand in
helping make Prairie City a better
place to live by working with the
mayor, fellow council members
and the citizens.
2. I’m running for councilman
to help the people of Prairie City.
The community has its problems
and I want to help solve them.
3. I received my social security
card when I was twelve years old,
working for the Island Ranch in
Harney County. After four years
in the navy, 1969-1973, I was a
buckaroo for a few years. With a
young family to support, I went to
Alaska to work in the logging in-
dustry. In 1989, I became a devout
Christian and still am to this day.
I was a co-owner for sev-
en years of an adult foster care
home. I learned the meaning of
really caring and being devoted to
the elderly. Prairie City has a lot
of retired and needy folks; and I
believe I can help them being on
the city council. I was president
for approximately one year of the
Prairie City Senior Citizens and
had direct contact with folks ev-
ery week. Also, I am a member of
the Prairie City budget committee,
and a member of the Senior Cit-
izens Advisory Board for Grant
County.
4. Prairie City is a great city
with a lot of community spirit,
good schools and caring people.
However; there are issues that
need to be addressed. People want
to know the status of the water and
sewer projects. Also, there is a se-
rious dog problem that needs to be
dealth with. I would work with the
mayor and council to be more in-
formative to citizens. I am really
proud of our museum, parks and
our many community events.
If elected; I am looking foward
to serving on the Prairie City’s
council.
Candidates GEORGIA PAT-
TERSON and FRANK PRI-
MOZIC did not submit answers
to the questions.
GRANITE CITY COUNCIL
(Vote for two)
Candidates MIKE JAQUES,
DAVID MOSTEIT, KATHY
MOSTEIT and STEVE D.
SMITH did not submit answers
to the questions.
LONG CREEK
CITY COUNCIL
(Vote for one)
Candidates JOSEPH GIB-
SON and BRENT M. NEAR did
not submit answers to the ques-
tions.
LONG CREEK
MEASURE 12-64
Should Long Creek prohibit
production, processing, wholesal-
ing, dispensing and retailing of
marijuana within city limits?
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