March 11, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 3A
It’s time to ‘Cowgirl Up!’ as GOP women meet in Seaside
By Eve Marx
For Cannon Beach Gazette
Republican women are
hoping an aggressive “get in
the saddle campaign” can give
a big boost to state and national
Republican efforts in this elec-
tion year.
Oregon Federation of Re-
publican Women President
Janice Williamson said her
15 years experience with ro-
deo, gymkhana, jackpot rodeo
and barrel racing plus work-
ing horses for the track taught
her the importance of putting
shoulder to harness and sad-
dling up. “We’ve got a lot of
work to do,” Williamson said
from her home in Salem.
On March 10, the state
federation met at the Con-
vention Center in Seaside to
kick off their two-day spring
board meeting. Inspired by the
theme, “Cowgirl Up,” about
100 women are expected to
attend.
“I decided to call the meet-
ing ‘Cowgirl Up — Freedom
IS a Big Deal’ because that’s
what we need to be doing, Wil-
liamson said.
Williamson said she sees
the federation as a way to build
numbers and strength for the
state federation, National Fed-
eration of Republican Women
and the Oregon Republican
Party.
“I’m in a unique position to
help us get a voice at the table
with Oregon Republican Par-
ty,” she said. “It will make us
stronger, more prominent to in-
crease our membership.”
National president
Carrie Almond, president
of the National Federation of
Republican Women, will be
the March 11 luncheon speak-
er. Almond was elected Na-
tional Federation of Republic
Women president at the 38th
Biennial Convention in Phoe-
QL[DQGWRRNRI¿FHLQ-DQXDU\
A resident of Chillicothe,
Missouri, Almond is the for-
mer president of the Missou-
ri Federation of Republican
Women, and served as the
national federation’s second
vice president and treasurer.
“Pulling Together in an Elec-
tion Year” will be her speech
topic.
Oregon gubernatorial can-
didates Dr. Bud Pierce and Bob
Niemeyer will be the afternoon
speakers.
The Oregon Federation of
Republican Women meets at
the same time and place as the
52nd Annual Dorchester Con-
ference.
“We schedule our meeting
so that the ladies can attend
Dorchester at the same time
and participate in that,” Wil-
liamson said. “That’s where
they introduce new candidates
and sitting legislators so people
can meet them in a casual at-
mosphere.”
Policy platform
Williamson said the federa-
tion did a lot of work in 2014,
but needs to do more to get
more Republicans elected in
Oregon.
Seaside’s ‘Helping Hands’ at federation conference
North Coast Republican Women Presi-
dent Pat Roberts and District 1 Director
Coral Rose Shipley will assist with Ore-
gon Federation of Republican Women’s
“Caring for America” project: “Helping
Hands of Seaside.” The federation has se-
lected Helping Hands Reentry Outreach
Center for their philanthropy project.
As Seaside residents, both Roberts and
The primary issues for
women in the state are jobs and
high unemployment.
“What’s going on in the
capital is terrible right now for
the Oregon people,” she said.
“It’s only going to be worse
raising the minimum wage,”
“The other problem is the
health care system in this state
RQO\EHQH¿WVSHRSOHRQ0HGLF-
aid,” she continued. “They’ve
spent all the health care mon-
ey. The state isn’t going to get
any more money back from
the Feds, so we’re left to fend
for ourselves to get insurance
Shipley want the North Coast Republican
Women to know they would be welcome
as members.
Williamson declined to name a Republi-
can Presidential candidate the federation
will be supporting. “We have a policy
where there are multiple candidates not
to come out in support as a federation
until after the primaries,” she said.
and the insurance companies
are raising their rates. This is
terrible for single mothers with
children.”
From her home in Missouri,
Almond said there are 23 mil-
lion unregistered voters in the
U.S. who lean Republican. “In
2014 the National Federation
of Republican Women logged
over 4.2 million volunteer cam-
paign hours,” she said. “If you
put that at $10 an hour, that
means Republican women gave
$42 million worth of our time
for our candidates across the
country. There are 65 million
Dorchester Conference aiming beyond GOP
Republicans
take on the
tough issues at
gathering
Tom
Simpson
Tucker
Carlson
By R.J. Marx
Cannon Beach Gazette
Seventeen days, 14 hours 20
minutes and 49 seconds. At the
time of this writing that is how
much time remains before the
52 nd annual Dorchester Confer-
ence.
The ticking clock online
heralds the tradition-rich, Re-
publican gathering, started by
U.S. Sen. Bob Packwood 52
years ago “as a vehicle to get
the senator elected,” Dorches-
ter’s 2016 President Tom Simp-
son said recently. Most of the
years, the conference has con-
vened in Seaside, except for a
few when the group met in cen-
tral Oregon.
While traditionally associat-
ed with the GOP, Simpson said
the conference is aimed at the
“moderate-middle, especially
the moderate side of the Oregon
electorate.”
“It is ‘Participatory Democ-
racy 101,’ a way for people to
come together and chat with
people they just met, (be) chal-
lenged on the beliefs they have,
and go away hopefully smarter
and having met some people
they might not normally have
met,” Simpson said. “That’s
what we set out to do.”
Opening ceremonies begin
March 11. Tucker Carlson of
Fox News appears as keynote
speaker Saturday morning, fol-
lowed by a Q&A. State Sen. Ted
Ferrioli, R-John Day, and Rep.
Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte,
share the dais Saturday, After
lunch, state treasurer candidates
from the Democratic, Republi-
can and Independent parties de-
bate. Breakout sessions, social
hour and a tent show follow.
For $40, guests can have their
photo taken with Carlson, with
SURFHHGVJRLQJWRWKHQRQSUR¿W
Returning Veterans Project.
A presidential straw poll
Sunday will provide a glimpse
at the state’s November lean-
ings, although they do not serve
as an endorsement, Simpson
said.
While associated with the
Republican Party, Simpson en-
couraged Oregonians of all po-
OLWLFDODI¿OLDWLRQVWRDWWHQG
“We like to think we’re al-
lowing conversations that aren’t
taking place,” Simpson said.
“There were certain conversa-
tions that weren’t taking place
in the Republican Party. If
you’re a one-party state, what’s
not being talked about? We try
to set it up in such a way that we
can have that conversation.”
Simpson said he hoped to
challenge the beliefs of those
attending the conference.
What does it mean, for ex-
ample, if Oregon’s ranchers are
¿JKWLQJWRSULYDWL]HVRPHSXE-
lic lands?
“We want people to consider
what it means to have a public
land,” Simpson said. “Could
EHDFKHVEHSULYDWL]HGDVDQXQ-
intended consequence?”
Gun control was an issue
originally considered “off the
table” for the conference, he
said.
Simpson fought to bring it
back in.. “We were told that
it’s not an issue open to debate.
Which says to me that’s why we
should be debating it. If you’re
closing off argument on a topic
because you believe it’s settled,
I can guarantee in Oregon, it’s
not settled.
“We shouldn’t be throw-
ing bombs at each other,” he
added. “It needs to be talked
about. Reasonable people can
disagree.”
When he’s not involved
with the Dorchester Conference
Simpson, 53, works as director
of government affairs for Stan-
dard Insurance.
The conference is an event,
the Lake Oswego resident said,
he’s been involved with all his
life.
“I have pictures of my
mother Josephine running the
forums,” Simpson said. “A lot
of my peers would go skiing
or play golf — I would go to
Dorchester.”
Those interested in signing
up for the Dorchester Confer-
ence may do so through Satur-
day, March 12.
women belonging to the Na-
tional Federation. Working side
by side with the Republican Na-
tional Committee, we will take
back the White House.”
Williamson said the federa-
tion chose Seaside to hold their
event because that’s where its
been held for at least 30 years.
“You have to have some-
place the ladies like to go and a
venue large enough to accom-
modate the crowd,” she said.
Sixty to 80 attendees is the
norm but because this is an
election year, Williamson said
she anticipates at least 100.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Tuesday, March 15
Cannon Beach Public Works,
9 a.m., City Hall 163 E. Gower St.
Seaside School District, 6 p.m.,
1801 S. Franklin St.
Thursday, March 17
Cannon Beach Design Review
Board, City Hall, 6 p.m. 163 E.
Gower St.
Thursday, March 24
Cannon Beach Planning Com-
mission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E.
Gower St.
Friday, March 25
Cannon Beach Emergency
Preparedness Committee, 10
a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Tuesday, April 19
Cannon Beach Public Works,
9 a.m., City Hall 163 E. Gower St.
Seaside School District, 6 p.m.,
1801 S. Franklin St.
Thursday, April 21
Cannon Beach Design Review
Board, City Hall, 6 p.m. 163 E.
Gower St.
Cannon Beach Planning Com-
mission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E.
Gower St.
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED
ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Treats for the Little (or Big)
Leprechauns in your life!
GRAND OPENING
REDUC E D 20 - 70 % OFF
• 2 LOCATIONS •
(Easy & Convenient)
Downtown
Cannon Beach
SALES EVENT GOING ON NOW
M A T T RES S P RIC ES
256 N. Hemlock St
&
Seaside
Outlet Mall
WE CAN
SHIP CANDY
DIRECTLY
TO YOU!
perfect sleeper
HOT BUY
$ 299
Queen
Mattress
CB: 503-436-2641
Seaside: 503-738-7828
www.brucescandy.com
OF PLACES YOU CAN PICK UP A
COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THE
LOTS G
CANNON BEACH
AZETTE
CANNON BEACH
Cannon Beach Bakery
Cannon Beach Book Company
Cannon Beach Beach Store
Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce
Cannon Beach City Hall
Cannon Beach Conference Center
Cannon Beach Family Market
Cannon Beach Historical Center
Cannon Beach Hotel
Cannon Beach Liquor Store
Cannon Beach Property Management
Cannon Beach RV Resort
Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals
Cascade Sotheby’s Realty
Duane Johnson Real Estate
Ecola Creek Lodge
EVOO
Hallmark Inns & Resorts
Inn at Cannon Beach
Inn at Haystack Rock
Mariner Market
Martin Hospitality
Mo’s Restaurant
Picnic Basket
Pig ‘N Pancake
Purple Moon/Morris’ Fireside Restaurant
RE/MAX Coastal Advantage
Sea Ranch RV Park
Sea Sprite at Haystack RockSea Sprite on the Estuary
Surfcrest Market
Sweet Basil’s Cafe & The Wine Bar
The Land’s End Motel
The Ocean Lodge
The Stephanie Inn
The Waves Motel
Tolovana Inn
US Bank/La Luna Loca
Windermere Stellar Real Estate
SEASIDE
Providence Seaside Hospital
Rite Aid
Safeway
Seaside Outlet Center
Seaside Signal/Cannon Beach Gazette Office
GEARHART
Windermere Stellar Real Estate
4,000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EACH MONTH
Limit 2 per
customer
S HEEP
L OCAL
N ew es t L oc a tion: C OOS B A Y
Twin
B A C K R E LIE F
Mattress
only
O N S A L E!
$ 94
Adjustable memory foam
$ 999
queen set for only
Foxfield ea. pc.
Euro Top
REG. $1,799
36 M O N T H S 0% F IN AN C IN G
Cotton • Bamboo • Microfiber
Buy 1 sheet and 2nd sheet is
1/2 OFF
LOWEST PRICE OF TWO SETS IS HALF OFF
F R E E B OX S P R IN G
with purchase of any premium
mattress set of $899 or more
T HE S LEEP Y OU N EED
GUARANTEED
Located next to Big 5
and Fred Meyer
Warrenton
503-861-6085
FREE DELIVERY
FREE SET-UP
w/minimum purchase,
local delivery
HOURS : M-F 10-7; SAT 10-6; SUN 11-6
www.americasmattress.com
With 4 convenient locations NEWPORT | COOS BAY | LINCOLN CITY | WARRENTON