A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
VOTE
Self-governance in action
I
n the course of human
history, it was not long
ago when most people had
very little say in the decisions
by rulers that affected their
livelihood.
Fast forward to today, and
many people who have the right
to democratically choose their
leaders don’t even take the time
to cast a ballot.
Our Founding Fathers,
who fought a war to secure
our freedom and the ability to
govern ourselves, probably roll
over in their graves when voter
turnout is announced after each
election.
How could people waive
this right to exercise their
political freedom? Have they no
opinions about the world around
them? Would they prefer that a
king take over and make their
decisions for them?
Given the multitude of
comments on a multitude of
issues online and in person
throughout this county and the
entire nation, a lack of opinions
or a desire to divest the power to
make personal decisions seems
highly unlikely.
Perhaps the size of the system
— 327 million in the United
States and counting — makes
one vote seem unimportant.
Perhaps people feel they can
make no impact.
Many people speak of our
government as if it was a foreign
entity controlling their lives,
much the way our Founding
Fathers must have felt before
declaring our independence.
But our government is not
foreign. It was established here
by our ancestors, giving us a
voice in the decisions that affect
us.
We are our government.
If we are dissatisfied with the
public systems established so we
could govern ourselves, it is our
responsibility to engage in the
processes we have established to
improve them.
It may be easy to be fatigued
by the constant negativity that
engulfs national politics, but our
ballots also offer the chance to
have far greater say on the local
issues that have far more impact
on our day-to-day lives.
Through elections, we shape
our communities by approving
measures and selecting the
people who will represent us in
our government. It is our choice,
collectively, if we use our voice.
Now is the time to express
your opinions — in a
constructive way that can bring
about actual changes — on the
ballot. This is your chance to
participate in our system of self-
governance our ancestors fought
for.
So, please, vote. It is the
American way.
W HERE TO W RITE
GRANT COUNTY
• Grant County Courthouse — 201
S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City
97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541-
575-2248.
• Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon
City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509. Fax:
541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centu-
rylink.net.
• Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville
97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541-
987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net
• John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day,
97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541-
575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net.
• Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long
Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax:
541-421-3075. Email: info@cityoflong-
creek.com.
• Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument
97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025.
Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.net.
• Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt.
Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax:
541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net.
• Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie
City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax:
820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net.
• Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca
97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161.
Email: senecaoregon@gmail.com.
SALEM
• Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State
Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378-
3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www.
governor.state.or.us/governor.html.
• Oregon Legislature — State Capitol,
Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180.
Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes
Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised
Statutes).
• Oregon Legislative Information —
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
P UBLISHED EVERY
W EDNESDAY BY
(For updates on bills, services, capitol or
messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313.
• Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900
Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone:
503-986-1730. Website: www.oregonlegis-
lature.gov/Bentz. Email: Sen.CliffBentz@
oregonlegislature.gov.
• Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale – 900 Court
St. NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-
986-1460. Website: www.oregonlegislature.
gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@
oregonlegislature.gov.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
• The White House, 1600 Pennsylva-
nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500;
Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch-
board: 202-456-1414.
• U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 Hart
Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Email:
wayne_kinney@wyden.senate.gov Website:
http://wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717.
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 Hart
Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email:
senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202-
228-3997. Oregon offices include One
World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St.,
Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; and 310
S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR
97801. Phone: 503-326-3386; 541-278-
1129. Fax: 503-326-2990.
• U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R — (Second
District) 1404 Longworth Building, Wash-
ington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730.
No direct email because of spam. Website:
www.walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225-5774.
Medford office: 14 North Central, Suite 112,
Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646.
Fax: 541-779-0204.
• Pending Bills: For information on bills in
Congress, Phone: 202-225-1772.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
Neahring for
Congress
To the Editor:
I know there is support for Dem-
ocratic candidates who can connect
with rural voters, because I ran two
strong races for state representative
in north central Oregon as a “fair
frugal farmer” in 2002 and 2006.
I am happy to see a palliative care
physician, Dr. Jenni Neahring from
Bend, running in this year’s Demo-
cratic congressional primary.
Dr. Neahring stopped by my
farm near Culver recently, and we
had a good visit. She is passionate
about expanding health care access,
quality and affordability. The Af-
fordable (Health) Care Act might
not be perfect, but it has helped
families in Eastern Oregon as much
as any part of our state.
The number of Americans with-
out health care was almost cut in
half from 2010 to 2016: 48 million
to 28 million. States like Oregon
that chose to expand Medicaid saw
the percent of uninsured cut in half
from 18 percent in 2013 to 9 per-
cent in 2016.
Despite this, Greg Walden
played a leading role gutting ACA
and replacing it with “Trumpcare,”
which will take away insurance
from millions of Americans.
Dr. Jenni Neahring, on the oth-
er hand, wants to help improve the
Affordable Care Act that has im-
proved the financial and health
of so many rural Oregonians. She
has my vote in the Democratic pri-
mary!
Jim Gilbertson
Culver
Larson has
leadership and
experience
To the Editor:
Gordon Larson has 22 plus years
of living, working and serving
county residents. Gordon was born
on a dairy farm and grew up with a
multi-family ranching background
and over the years has developed
knowledge about numerous rural is-
sues in Eastern Oregon.
Gordon has received education,
training and experience from 27 years
on the job for the Oregon State Police.
His position has provided him with
many attributes and options at his
disposal to use in being an effective
commissioner. His objectivity and
ability to communicate with an indi-
vidual and/or with a group, make him
the right person to listen, evaluate and
bring parties to the table to discuss the
issues and to work on reaching a mu-
tually, agreeable resolution.
Gordon is aware about the divi-
siveness that exists in the county, and
with this understanding, he will bring
about the best positive approach and
direction to take in improving com-
munity relationships.
I value his approach and outlook
towards dealing with Grant County
issues. I trust in his decision-making
ability and the integrity that he would
bring to the commissioner position.
With a work ethic developed over
the years of 24-7, he has expressed
an attitude for a holistic and collab-
orative approach for the management
of county issues that will result in
success.
Given Gordon’s proven leadership
abilities; professionalism for the com-
missioner position that he has shown
from past jobs and from community
service years; a common sense ap-
proach in dealing with issues; and his
attitude in working/serving with all
individuals and groups in the public
sector, I will vote for Gordon Larson
for Grant County commissioner.
Francis Kocis
Canyon City
3 million Americans
stutter
To the Editor:
This week is National Stuttering
Awareness Week. Did you know
more than 3 million Americans stut-
ter? That’s more than the popula-
tions of Wyoming, Vermont, Alas-
ka, North Dakota and Washington,
D.C. — combined.
One percent of all people stut-
ter, and up to 5 percent of children
stutter for a time during their early
developmental years.
In the spirit of spreading aware-
ness, the most important thing you
can do for someone who stutters —
or for anyone you are speaking with
— is listen. Listen to what they have
to say, rather than how they say it.
For more information, visit stut-
teringhelp.org.
Jane Fraser, president
The Stuttering Foundation
Elect Hamsher,
Palmer
To the Editor:
I have been an active citizen
in county politics for many years
working with many county com-
missioners and county judges, ad-
vocating for the ranching and oth-
er natural resource uses on lands
within Grant County to preserve
our way of life. I have seen many
changes, and the last decade or so
the downhill trend in the ranching
and logging industries is alarming.
How can we fix this? We need
to elect good people to represent
us, people with fresh ideas and new
ways of tackling problems. Men
willing to listen to citizens courte-
ously, and willing to roll up their
sleeves and do some of the heavy
lifting.
Jim Hamsher has proved to be
just such a person, both in his posi-
tion as Prairie City mayor and also
as our current county commissioner.
He has the ability and knowledge to
perform well as our county judge.
Sam Palmer would be a great
county commissioner as he has the
ability to listen to concerns and ed-
ucate himself on the issues before
making decisions that will affect the
taxpayers of this county.
Two young men with a heart for
this county, fresh ideas and enthu-
siasm and willingness to serve the
people to the best of their ability
will begin to make the changes we
need.
This election year we have an
opportunity to change the status
quo and begin the return to common
sense and economic stability for our
community.
I am voting for Jim Hamsher for
Grant County judge and Sam Palm-
er for Grant County commissioner.
Roger McKinley
Prairie City
‘I’m from Prairie
City’
To the Editor:
I saw with my own eyes what
can be accomplished when we work
together, not against each other. I
appreciate every one of the city and
townspeople for the help on Prairie
City cleanup day. I love this town,
and I’m very proud to say, “I’m
from Prairie City.”
Carol Purvis
Prairie City
Vote for Jim
Hamsher
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter in hopes
that voters will realize, if they vote
for Jim Hamsher, they are voting
for the people.
Jim truly cares about the mem-
bers of this community. He does not
look down on people for what they
are unable to accomplish on their
own, but rather extends a hand to
help.
Last Friday there was a commu-
nity cleanup day in Prairie City. Jim
contacted me and offered to go onto
my mom’s property with the city
crew, volunteers and equipment
and remove things that I could not
haul away on my own. I felt like I
had just won the lottery. My mom
passed away recently. I am sim-
ply overwhelmed by the work that
needs to be done, and I don’t have
the resources to do what needs to
be done to get my childhood home
back in good condition. It is also
a struggle to do what needs to be
done while I am grieving the loss of
my mom.
Jim is down to earth. He under-
stands what this community needs
and he is not afraid to jump in and
work with the community. He does
not just sit back and expect all of us
to put in the effort by ourselves.
I did not attend the candidate fo-
rum, but I have watched the videos.
Jim spoke from the heart. He was
sincere and honest in everything
that he said. He did not have to have
a script to read from, and he looked
everyone in the eye while he spoke.
I urge you to vote for Jim Ham-
sher for county judge. It truly is a
vote for the people of this commu-
nity.
Danetta Lewis
Prairie City
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