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
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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