The Blue Mountain eagle., October 14, 2020, Page 7, Image 7

ELECTION 2020
MyEagleNews.com
Election
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
THE QUESTIONS
Continued from Page A6
1. Please describe the position for which you are running and its importance. (50 words or
less)
city council to give my time
and energy to help direct the
city’s vision. I want this com-
munity to be the place that I
raise a family in and want to
be involved in the process of
making it that place.
3. I moved to this valley
to begin work at BMHD as
a physical therapist in 2017.
I moved here with my wife
and we had our first child
in March of this year. In the
first months that we arrived
I started attending the John
Day city council to learn
more about the city’s projects
and soon started lending my
expertise to community com-
mittees. I was appointed to
the city council last year when
the current councilors saw my
dedication and interest in city
government.
As a physical therapist,
communication with my
patients and collaboration
with their health care provid-
ers is essential in my patient’s
care. These skills will translate
well into local government
both as a consensus builder
and a representative of the
people in the community. As
your city councilor, I would be
a thoughtful and open-minded
representative who will lis-
ten to your ideas and concerns
with the intention of under-
standing your perspective and
being your voice with the city.
4. My vision is for John
Day to be a great place to raise
a family. As a city councilor, I
will support projects that cre-
ate or maintain family wage
jobs and create healthy activ-
ities and opportunities for
kids in order to keep existing
families here and attract new
families.
Broadband is essential for
the sustainability and growth
of our community, in part
because it is vital to K-12
and post-secondary educa-
tion. As more jobs are going
remote we have the opportu-
nity to attract new people and
employment options.
As a small community it
is important that we support
each other and look for oppor-
tunities to work together.
Resources are spread thin
and development and growth
2. Why are you running for this position? (50 words or less)
3. What is your background, and what qualifications and experience would you bring to this
position? (200 words or less)
4. What issues would you like to address, and how would you do so? (200 words or less)
in one community in Grant
County benefits the whole.
John Day has initiated some
great projects but hasn’t
always been able to effec-
tively collaborate with com-
munity partners. I will help
facilitate the collaboration that
John Day needs to garner pub-
lic engagement, unify efforts,
and gain efficiencies.
CANYON CITY
CITY COUNCIL
Two vacancies
Russ Comer, Canyon City
1. I am applying for the
position of City Councilor for
the town of
Canyon City.
This posi-
tion provides
a
conduit
between the
city govern-
ment and the
Russ
community
Comer
members. As
a representa-
tive for my community, I feel
it is important to have diverse
backgrounds and viewpoints.
2. I am running for this
position to continue to serve
the community and bring a
progressive perspective to the
council. If elected this will be
my second term served with
The Town of Canyon City.
3. I have a background in
public health with an empha-
sis on community partnership
and policy development. For
7 years I was the director of
the Grant County Safe Com-
munities Coalition. Currently,
I am employed part-time with
public health. I am also a local
business owner. In addition,
I serve as a member of the
board for Families First Parent
Resource Center, an appointed
member of the Local Commu-
nity Advisory Council to the
Coordinated Care Organiza-
tions, and a board member for
Eastern Oregon Trails Alli-
ance. My goal for this position
is to increase what Canyon
City has to offer its citizens
as well as create an attrac-
tive environment for people to
want to stay and raise families.
4. In this position I would
like to foster an environment
where the public feels com-
fortable having a voice on top-
ics related to the city agenda.
I would also like to continue
to be available to community
members as a voice for them
at the table when they cannot
be present to represent them-
selves. I appreciate the oppor-
tunity to represent the Town of
Canyon City.
Rachelle Simmons,
Canyon City
I am seeking reelection to
the position of city councilor
representing
the Town of
Canon City.
I believe that
serving the
people
of
Canyon City
as a coun-
Rachelle
cil member
Simmons
is important
as it allows me the insight to
inter-workings of our commu-
nity and resolving concerns of
our citizens.
I am running for this posi-
tion to continue helping with
current issues in our city. My
background and qualifica-
tions are in making decisions
in budget planning, economic
developments and ongoing
infrastructure projects. I have
worked under three different
mayors while serving the res-
idents of Canyon City as well
as various council members
over multiple terms. During
that time, we have continued
to work on improving our cit-
ies water systems, bridges,
and city streets. In addition
to upgrading several pieces
of equipment for the city’s
workforce.
If given the opportunity,
I look forward to continue
working with our mayor,
council members and repre-
senting the residents of the
community as well as partner-
ing local city governments.
Lisa Weigum,
Canyon City
1. I am running for City
Council in Canyon City. Local
government
is
import-
ant for many
reasons but
I feel one of
the biggest
reasons
is
because peo-
Lisa
ple need to
Weigum
have access
and oppor-
tunity to talk directly to their
elected officials who have the
most impact on their everyday
lives.
2. I am running for this
position because I want to be
involved in and support my
community. I was born and
raised in Grant County; I can
understand and appreciate the
local perspective as well the
perspective of those who have
decided to make Canyon City
their home.
3. Being born and raised in
Grant County gives me a nat-
ural understanding and appre-
ciation of our lifestyle and
culture. I have experienced
the hardship that comes with
living in this community and
I’ve felt the utter kindness and
outpouring of love and sup-
port that you can only know if
you lived here. After graduat-
ing Grant Union in 2003 (go
Pros!), I received an undergrad
degree in Philosophy, Poli-
tics and Economic with a con-
centration in Public Adminis-
tration from Eastern Oregon
University. I have extensive
experience as a board mem-
ber for several local non-
profit boards including CASA
(Court Appointed Special
Advocate), JD/CC Parks and
Recreation, the Grant County
Community Health Improve-
ment Coalition, the Grant
County Safe Communities
Coalition and was a founding
member of Hope4Paws: Grant
County. My board experience
has allowed me to build strong
and meaningful relationships
not only with my community
but also with our local elected
officials.
4. An effective city gov-
ernment means an engaged
and approachable coun-
cil with diverse and relevant
experience, and most impor-
tantly, a willingness to lis-
ten to their constituents. Part
of that effectiveness means
new people on the council. As
it is now, nearly every single
City Councilor for the City of
Canyon City has been in their
seat for multiple 4-year terms.
With change comes new ideas,
thoughts, and perspective all
of which are essential for the
vitality of local governance
and fair representation for the
residents of Canyon City.
I would also like to address
public access of city coun-
cil meetings for residents
of Canyon City. Unfortu-
nately, COVID has changed
business as we know it. City
council meetings should be
held in-person with a virtual
option. This would not only
allow constituents to have the
opportunity to be informed
and involved but would also
ensure transparency of the
Council and accountability
of their decision-making pro-
cess. This could be accom-
plished by working in partner-
ship with other local agencies
and organizations, such as
our Economic Development
office. Collaboration and part-
nership are valuable strategies
that should be often utilized in
local government.
MT. VERNON
CITY COUNCIL
Two vacancies
Judi Bennett, Mt. Ver-
non, did not respond.
Mike Cearns, Mt. Vernon
The importance of city
council is to
see that the
residence of
Mt. Vernon
benefit from
the decision
made by the
mayor and
the city offi-
Mike
cials.
The
Cearns
A7
importance is to also hold
everyone accountable for
the decisions being made.
I have lived in Mt. Ver-
non almost 30 years and
want to see this town as a
good place and safe place
to raise your family. I also
want to continue to see good
decisions being made for the
good of the community and
Grant County as a whole.
I have been on city coun-
cil for the last 6 years. In my
time on city council we have
seen the city park be devel-
oped and improved. We also
are in the process of many
improvements on the sewer
system. I serve on the Mt.
Vernon Fire Department and
have served for almost 30
years. I have knowledge on
the sewer/water system as
well as all the current poli-
cies and procedures.
Serving the residence
of Mt. Vernon is a pleasure
and I will continue to make
sound and right decisions
for the community.
Kelly Flanagan, Mt.
Vernon, did not respond.
The questionnaire sent to
the address listed by Lori
Kerr, Mt. Vernon, was
returned to sender.
Jan Lowry, Mt. Vernon
1. I am running for a
position on the Mt. Vernon
City Council.
2. I was on the city coun-
cil once before and feel that
I can do a good job again.
3. As for my background
I worked for the City of
Mt. Vernon for 17 1/2 years
until I retired. So I pretty
well know what goes on in
daily city business. What
is needed or what isn’t.
And as stated before I had
a seat on the city council
and feel I did right by the
city and would like to do so
|again.
4. I don’t have any cer-
tain issues that need to be
addressed at this time. Just
would like to do my civic
duty and help where ever I
can.
Lowry did not provide a
photograph.
Candidates for Prairie
City City Council and Long
Creek City Council did not
respond.
OUTPATIENT EAR
AND FOOT CLINIC
422 West Main
John Day OR, 97845
Regular and High
Risk Foot Care done
by specially trained
RN or CNA.
Ears are examined
and cleaned by
Registered Nurses.
Tentative opening date:
S197702-1
Open
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8AM - 4PM
December 7th, 2020
Call to make an
appointment today!
541-575-1648
Thank You
from the BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE to
the THINK PINK SPONSORS
We at the Blue Mountain Eagle would
like to thank all of the businesses who participated
in our October 7, 2020 Think Pink publication. Without supportive
businesses like you, we wouldn’t be able to raise money for our October cause.
This year we managed to raise $1,395.00!
BIG THANKS TO:
1188 Brewing Company
1st Choice Auto Body
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Blue Mountain Hospital District
Central Oregon Pathology Consultants, PC
Cloud 9
Country Preferred Realtors
DP Home Entertainment
Driskill Memorial Chapel
Duke Warner Realty
Grant County Chamber of Commerce
Grant County Health Department
John Day Auto Parts NAPA
John Day River Veterinary Center
Land Title Company
Len’s Pharmacy
Michael B. Desjardin, PC
Nydam’s Ace Hardware
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative
OTC Connections
Pioneer Feed & Farm Supply
St. Charles Care Center
Strawberry Mountain Law, PC
Solutions, CPA
Timbers Bistro
Virginia McMillan D.D.S.
S211116-1
Will begin scheduling
patients within the
month....Recommend
obtaining copies of
medical records for
those desiring to
reestablish care.
I appreciate my patients
and their patience!
Shawna Clark, DNP, FNP
541-575-1263
235 S Canyon Blvd. John Day, Oregon 97845
S209563-1