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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2018)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, October 24, 2018 Buehler would bring change as governor regon is on cruise control. The economy is humming. Jobs are plentiful in most places. The education system is showing just enough improvement to avoid setting off serious alarms. Right now, public pension costs are a warning light in the dashboard for many local budgets, but smoke isn’t billowing out from under the hood. But as the state barrels along, it’s hard to tell if the driver is paying attention. Gov. Kate Brown’s rise to governor was a surprising turn of events, both a blessing and a curse for the longtime Oregon politician. Former Governor John Kitzhaber abruptly resigned in February 2015, and Brown, then the secretary of state, stepped adeptly into the role. The transition was smooth, mostly because Brown opted to carry on Kitzhaber’s policies and direction while declining to offer her own vision for the state, especially in matters that are crucial to the state’s future. We refer again to PERS, a spike strip across the highway just around the curve with the potential to send the state into the ditch. The system is looking at more than $25 billion in unfunded obligations, and it needs to be addressed now. So far, Democrats in the governor’s office have failed to take the problem seriously even as the costs have piled up on local agencies around the state. It will take either well-placed political capital — which Brown has — or an innovative approach from someone with ambitious ideas and little to lose. Which is where Knute Buehler comes in. Buehler, a Republican representative from Bend, isn’t beholden to the public unions which make up a large portion of Brown’s base of support. While Brown has the resources and clout to tackle PERS reform head on, Oregonians are rightfully dubious she’ll do it after kicking O the can down the road for so long. It is no longer someone else’s problem. Buehler spoke candidly and thoughtfully about his views on education, health care, homelessness and the urban/rural divide. On education in particular he makes a strong point that Gov. Brown has not been the leader Oregon needs. Graduation rates are low, truancy rates are high and we fall among the worst states in nation on many other metrics. As with pension reform, it’s hard to picture the necessary changes coming under another term for Brown. Buehler’s plan to add school days to the calendar, increase funding by at least 15 percent and offer more support for teachers is a fresh and specific promise. We’re glad to have something to hold him to, if he’s elected. A Buehler governorship also carries some risk. It requires that he come through on his promise to be a moderate in the governor’s office, working with a Democrat-controlled Legislature to present and fight for his ambitious ideas on education, housing and health. It also relies on the Legislature being willing to work with Buehler. We believe Buehler is enough of a centrist to set aside the differences and focus on the big picture of Oregon’s future. Attack ads in this highly contentious and well-funded campaign would have you believe otherwise, but we find him to be a sincere candidate. The other candidate in the race — Patrick Starnes, an Independent — has staked his fate on the issue of campaign finance reform. No progress is possible, he contends, unless big money is removed from the political process. While it’s a lofty goal, Starnes isn’t convincing in his ability to accomplish that single goal, let alone the myriad other issues facing the state. We find Knute Buehler to be the best choice for governor in 2018. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Abandoned cats a problem To the Editor: Recently a friend said, “I wouldn’t want to be a cat in Grant County,” and how true that is! In the 11 years I have lived here, I have been saddened at the cal- lousness of some who are so in- different to the suffering of help- less animals, and refuse to make an effort to rid themselves of unwanted cats in a humane way, by at least making a phone call to folks who care, and would try to help. Just this summer there were four or five kittens discarded at Magone Lake, four dropped at the quarry up Canyon Creek, two dumped in a pasture near Prairie City, four found by Road De- partment workers (bless them) and taken to the vet, only two surviving, two very small kittens dumped on Summit Prairie Road just last week and I am sure, many more dumped in the woods that we never know of. Most of the time it is impossible to trap the scared kittens before they are run over or caught by predators, and so, few are rescued. I realize that some people just don’t like cats, but there is a better way to deal with the cat problem in our county than to do this sort of awful thing. Hope 4 Paws has volunteers who work hard to rescue strays, find homes for unwanted kittens and help get adult cats spayed or neutered so there aren’t unwanted litters ev- ery year. Be responsible, kinder and part of the solution, not part of the problem. Mary Brown Prairie City ‘Sam’s the man’ USPS 226-340 Blue Mountain EAGLE Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper Email: www.MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 John Day, Oregon MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION P UBLISHER E DITOR & G ENERAL M ANAGER R EPORTER C OMMUNITY N EWS S PORTS M ARKETING R EP A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT O FFICE A SSISTANT Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Richard Hanners, rick@bmeagle.com Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Makenna Adair, office@bmeagle.com Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY EO Media Group Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offices. 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .....................................$40 Everywhere else in U.S. .....................$51 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery POSTMASTER — send address changes to Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 Copyright © 2018 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this publication cov- ered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission of the publisher. www.facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews To the Editor: Sam’s the man! Honesty, in- tegrity, stellar ethics and each of those attributes welded to a solid foundation of pristine scruples are what make Sam Palmer’s character beyond reproach for any elected po- sition. Add to that the fact he’s run- ning on doing what the vast major- ity of Grant County residents want and will remain entirely indepen- dent of any other U.S. government entity or person make Mr. Palmer the clear-cut choice for Grant Coun- ty’s next elected commissioner. All of these attributes make any other allusions to anyone else’s manage- ment experience simply evaporate in comparison. I endorse Sam Palmer for coun- ty commissioner and look forward to him working tirelessly to lead the county forward for his constituents’ benefit, rather than the commission- er position merely being a stepping stone in a personal agenda of attaining another higher office in the state on Grant County’s residents’ backs. Vote Sam for Grant County commissioner. Tom Olson John Day Larson has ‘honesty, integrity and experience’ To the Editor: Carolyn and I are supporting Gordon Larson for county com- missioner. When you vote for Gor- don, you will get honesty, integrity and experience. He is committed to helping Grant County grow and prosper. So get your ballots in by Nov. 6 and vote for Gordon Larson for county commissioner. Gale and Carolyn Wall Canyon City Palmer committed to local voice in federal land management To the Editor: Understanding the history, cus- toms and culture of a rural com- munity is critical to maintaining a stable economy and preserving the moral and ethical standards that this community holds. The Organic Act of 1897 estab- lished the U.S. Forest Service with the intention to improve and protect the forest — securing favorable conditions of water flows, and to furnish a continuous supply of tim- ber for the citizens. This communi- ty was here before the Organic Act. Some of the early water rights were filed in the 1860s. We all have family and friends that have jobs dependent on access- ing our national forest. Some are USFS employees, and all are a re- spected and productive part of this community and must be considered and represented fairly as well. As a community, we are to have a seat at the table in decisions af- fecting the lands within the borders of Grant County, and we must elect someone who understands this. A county commissioner is to repre- sent the people of this county, not the bureaucrats from the west side of Oregon. This understanding is so much more important than connec- tions and influence with friends in high places. Please consider voting for Sam Palmer. He is committed to giving the local people a voice in federal land management at the local level. Elaine Smith Prairie City Larson listens and has experience To the Editor: An important election is ap- proaching, and I feel the need to ad- vocate for a qualified candidate that reflects many of my main views (in reality, none will match my views 100 percent). I will have lived here in Dayville 26 years. I don’t plan on leaving this wonderful region of Oregon. Many of you know me well, so here is my opinion that I hope you will consider. During the last county fair, I got the chance to talk with both Sam Palmer and Gordon Larson. I found them both likable and earnest in their desire to work for the people of our county. With further research, I also found that Mr. Larson is much more qualified and has the appropri- ate previous experience, to, in my opinion, perform the work of coun- ty commissioner better and quicker than Mr. Palmer would be able to do. And, Mr. Larson’s recent open meetings show that he also seems to be willing to listen to the people of the county and sincerely take note of their concerns. As he said at the meeting I attended, he wants to end harsh rhetoric and encourage each of us to voice our opinions in a neighborly manner, and he wants to work hard for the best outcome for the people of the county. In my opinion, Gordon Larson is the bet- ter of the two men to do these things over the next four years. Mr. Larson has my vote, and I urge you to vote for him. John Fiedor Dayville Larson ‘believes in cooperation’ To the Editor: I’m sure Sam Palmer is a good guy, but being a good guy is not the sole requirement for a county commissioner. Experience would be nice. From what I’ve heard, Gordon Larson has experience. Further, Mr. Larson talked to me while I was at the Democrats’ booth at the Grant County Fair; Mr. Palmer must have seen that I was a Democrat and had already spoken with Larson be- cause Palmer didn’t have two words for me. I don’t have a vote for him so we’ll call it good. Using a Bible verse in your cam- paign materials is a cheap move to garner the religious vote because you have no foot to stand on of your own! Furthermore, in the U.S.A. we have practiced separation of church and state. It’s worked so far here, why change the American way to cater to Palmer? Larson doesn’t require accommodation for his personal be- liefs, and I have reason to believe he’ll keep his personal beliefs per- sonal. One of the first things Larson told me was that he was a Repub- lican that believes in cooperation across the aisle. I have no reason to believe that Palmer believes the same thing. No sane Democrat believes that Grant County is going to mirac- ulously turn blue so let’s have the next best thing with a county com- missioner that will cooperate with whomever he must: Vote Gordon Larson! James Tibbets Mt. Vernon Tom Sharp supports Walden To the Editor: Incorrect information has re- cently been circulated from Harney County regarding which candidate I support in the upcoming Oregon Congressional District 2 election between Greg Walden and his op- ponents. Let there be no misunderstand- ing, I continue to support Represen- tative Greg Walden. I am a lifelong registered Republican, have always voted for, have donated to and have no intention in disrupting the good working relationship between the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, cattle producers of Harney County and within the state of Oregon as enjoyed with Rep. Greg Walden. Please join me in your support of Greg and also for our gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler in this No- vember’s election. Vote! Tom Sharp Burns Larson is ethical To the Editor: As a longtime resident of Prai- rie City, I have known Gordon Lar- son since shortly after he moved to Grant County about 20 years ago. I know him to be a man of honesty and integrity. I know that his behavior is al- ways strongly ethical in both per- sonal and public situations. I be- lieve he will help lead Grant County in the right direction. Jean Kline Prairie City Prairie City class of 2019 impresses To the Editor: I would like to give a little shout- out to the kids of Prairie City class of 2019. They did one of the better jobs on the rocks on the hillside the other day than I’ve seen for quite a while! Good job! Cliff Franklin Prairie City
