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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1992)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 14, 1992 - FIVE Letters to the Editor No on Measure 9 To the Editor: Members and supporters of the Oregon Citizen’s Alliance have fallen prey to the mistaken notion that America’s right to freedom of religious expression grants them license to curtail and/or abort the civil liberties of an en tire class of human beings. Measure 9, based as it is upon deliberate misinformation, con stitutes the worst abuse of religious freedom ever witness ed in this country. For example, the OCA defines equal employment and housing rights for homosexuals as being “ special rights.” Having a job is not a special right; having a place of shelter, likewise, is not a special right. These rights are, in America, the guaranteed rights of everyone, homosexuals included, who is willing to work for them. Unfortunately, without civil rights, laws which specifically ban discrimination based on sex ual orientation, gay people can lose both their homes and their jobs, and be left with no legal recourse to reclaim them, regardless o f constitutional guarantees. The OCA contends that homosexuals are not a legitimate m inority as com pared, categorically, to race, religion, or ethnic creed. Each of these categories is, of course, separate and distinct, one from the other. The issue, however, is not one of categorical difference, but rather one of discrimination, which Measure 9 would legalize. (For the record, Webster’s dictionary defines minority as “ less than half.” ) Contrary to another OCA mistruth, homosexuality is not the same as pedophilia, sadism, or masochism. By incorrectly lum ping these phenomenon together, the OCA fosters the illusion that overt prejudice against homosex uals is necessary, in some inex plicable fashion, to the m aintenance o f traditional American values. Since when, one wonders, has the socially destructive institution of prejudice been a boon to this or any other nation? Additionally, it would well suit the OCA to have us believe the falsehood that homosexuality is a matter of choice. Given the abuse that homosexuals are subjected to in our society (witness Measure 9), who would “ choose” to be gay? Please reflect back to the time when you first became aware of your own sexual orien tation. Did this awakening re quire, on your part, a concious, sitting-down decision making process, as is necessary to the making of a choice, or was this awakening rather, for you, a mat ter of discovery? Finally, we come to the cruel OCA argument that the inclusion of the category sexualorientation in hate crime laws “ promotes” homosexuality. Statistically, homosexuals are the most fre quent victims of such crimes. Their exclusion from hate crime laws, as mandated by Measure 9, promotes the sinful idea that it is “ okay” to verbally and physical ly assault a gay man or lesbian woman. Existing laws, however strict, are not strict enough, at any level, to act as an effective deter rent to the ever-growing number of often violent gay-bashing incidents. In a recent letter to “ Newsweek” magazine, one Washington state resident made the astute and honest observation that the OCA is “ like the Ku Klux Klan without the robes.” Given that fact, and those above, there is really only one question left to ask of Oregon voters: How will you be voting “ no” on Measure 9? (s) Steven M. Moore Pomona, CA Uffelman most qualified candidate . To the Editor: Prineville Mayor Steve Uf- fleman has been a very active member of the League of Oregon Cities and of the Oregon Mayor’s Association over the past four years and I am proud to call him colleague and friend. We have served together for two years on the board of direc tors of the Oregon Mayor’s Association and I have had an op portunity to appreciate his hard work, dedication and grasp of issues facing state and local governments throughout the State o f Oregon. Steve will have the tremendous advantage as a new state legislator of already know- ing many of the policy makers throughout the State and will use his experience and knowledge well to serve residents of his district. Even though I am active in the other political party, I know the most qualified person for the job of state representative from District 59 and I suggest you cast your November 3, ballot for Steve Uffelman as your represen tative in the Oregon House of Representatives. Sincerely, (s) Bill Morrisette, President-elect Oregon Mayor’s Association Springfield Payne has ‘A’ rating with NRA To the Editor: A Portland-sponsored gun ban initiative recently failed to make the ballot. Since too many legislators from the Portland area are anti-gun, we in eastern Oregon must send a state representative to Salem who will strongly oppose the gun control lobby. As a lifelong eastern Orego nian, Michael Payne shares our values and will fight for our right to keep and bear arms. Michael has taken the time to go door to door all over eastern Oregon- even in small rural towns like Durkee. and talk about the issues of importance to us. We need so meone with that kind of energy, dedication and commitment to counter the gun control lobby. We need Michael Payne in Salem. Michael Payne has an “ A” rating with the National Rifle Association and he will work to protect, not destroy, our Consitu- tional rights. As a life member of the NRA, I urge all concerned with our right to keep and bear arms to vote for Michael Payne for state representative. Sincerely, (s) El wood Wirth, Durkee Wallace has right kind of experience To the Editor: I would like to set the record straight concerning the upcoming district court judge race. During the primary, Jeff Wallace receiv ed 25.3% of the total vote. His opponent received 25.6%. That’s a difference of 80 votes out of a total of 11,197 ballots cast. That looks like a virtual dead heat from where I’m standing. In the recent judicial preference poll. Jeff Wallace was the choice of area attorneys by a vote of 30 to 27. It looks like a real horse race. It comes down to which candidate's experience is the most important to you. the voter. You can vote for the candidate who has 13 years of experience as a legal aid lawyer and who speaks fluent Spanish. Or you can vote for Jeff Wallace, who has been a prosecutor for 10 years, was in private practice for almost four years and who has ex perience as a military lawyer. Both of these candidates have been active in their communities and are good men. My choice is Jeff Wallace because he has the right kind of experience this posi tion calls for. That experience speaks volumes to me. I hope you’ll join me in electing Jeff Wallace as our next district court judge. Sincerely, (s) Stafford Hansel! Boardman Re-elect Judge Carlson To the Editor: I am writing this letter to ad vocate the re-election of Louis Carlson to the position of Mor row County Judge. Judge Carlson has earned le- election to that office He has been in the forefront of ad vocating much improved roads in Morrow County-for examples, working tor the completion of the scenic road from the Columbia River through the Blue Moun tains to Sumpter, which has in creased the tourist traffic through Morrow County. He lias vastly improved our two county parks-Cutsforth and Anson Wright parks. The court has been of great assistance working together with the neighboring counties for joint industrial expansion. He has ad vocated additional assistance to the senior groups in Morrow County. He is earnest and a hard worker for school improvement in Mor row County. Having been a member of the Morrow County Port Commis sion, he has never lost interest in the Boardman-Irrigon community and the improvement of roads joining those towns and ours closer together. I could mention other ac complishments such as the im provements to the fair athletics and rodeo grounds. Re-elect Louis Carlson county judge. (s) Paul M. Jones Wallace best candidate To the Editor: I am writing in support of Jeff Wallace for Umatilla-Morrow County District Court Judge. This is the court based in Her- miston which also served Mor row County one day a week. I have known Jeff for over 30 years, going back to when we were in 4-H together in the early 1960’s. Jeff was raised on a cat tle, hay and wheat ranch near Umapine. I also know Jeff as a fellow attorney who is the current Morrow County prosecutor in Heppner. Having known him both personally and professional ly, I can safely say that he is the best candidate for the district court judge position. Experience is critical to a judge in conducting the co u rt’s business. Jeff Wallace has the kind of experience which a judge needs. It’s a broad-based type of experience not only in many areas of the law (prosecutor, private at torney, military lawyer) but in many areas of this two-county district. Jeff has practiced in Milton-Freewater, Pendleton and Morrow County. He’s practiced real estate, divorce and criminal law in many different courts. He’s one of a few Eastern Oregon DA’s who has prosecuted death penalty cases. Jeff is thoughtful and well- organized in his approach to the law. He is the best candidate for the district court bench. Please elect jeff Wallace on Nov. 3. Sincerely, (s) Andy Millar Milton-Freewater Wayne Fawbush tenacious legislator To the Editor: We are approaching election time again and I want to take the opportunity to talk to my fellow voters about Wayne Fawbush, candidate for State Senate District 28. Having spent two terms as a Hood River County Commis sioner, I have seen Wayne at work. Fawbush is a tenacious legislator and one who cares deeply about the people he represents. He uses his position in Salem to serve those of us who placed him in office, and our trust in him has paid off, big time. Fawbush was bom and raised in rural Oregon, growing up in an economy that is very depen dent on agriculture and timber. He is a farmer himself and knows, very well, the hardships of earning a living from the land. Fawbush faces all of the dif ficulties that you do in dealing with a government that is con trolled by metropolitan Oregon. Faced with those odds, Wayne has delivered for us time and again. I remember how Wayne helped re-open a local mill after it had been idle for several years. I remember the time he got the Salem bureaucracy off the backs of a local senior citizen’s group when they decided that they no longer wanted tax dollars to sup port them. I am thankful for the millions of dollars of lottery pro ceeds Wayne has been able to secure for our rural economies. And, I am particularly pleased with his efforts to bring affor dable health care to us all. O regon's economy is as healthy as any in the nation but we all know that major problem face us. The health of our com munities is largely dependent on the health of our local economies. Fawbush understands this and has proven his ability to solve the very difficult problems we face. I have read many things writ ten about Wayne recently which would be laughable if they weren’t so pathetically untrue. It is sad that we voters are forced to wade through all that garbage to get at the truth. I guess that’s part of the election process. My suggestion to you is that we keep Wayne Fawbush ‘in the hot seat’. He has proven his commitment to our rural communities, and he gets the job done. Sincerely, (s) Rodger Schock Hood River Cooley favors term limits To the Editor: I attended a Chamber of Com merce forum in The Dalles where the program w as a presentation by each of the two candidates for Senate District 28. Wes Cooley gave a factual presentation of his educational background, his work experience and ideas on state government including how to run it with only the available money and no big tax increase. Fawbush. on the other hand, gave his usual mixture of hokum and snake oil with “ something for everyone" benefit ideas. Not mentioning, of course, how he has always voted for tax increases and more pay for legislators. Fawbush’s real thoughts came out in a hurry when someone ask ed about term limitations. He gave the impression “ the sky would fall” in a matter of hours or days if we had term limits. The hardship on deposed legislators would be horrible to see and the newcomers would be totally in capable. Chaos would reign and no new laws would be passed, what a pity. Of course, nothing was mentioned about how Fawbush would have to look for an 8 to 5 job in the private sector- a situation he has never tried. Might be good experience for him. Wes Cooley, for his part, welcomes limited terms; gets more citizens involved in our state; will cut down on the number of state pension free loaders in the legislature, etc. For these reasons, my vote will go to Wes Cooley, and I urge every other long-suffering tax payer in District 28 to do likewise. Respectfully submitted, (s) Dr. Stan Wells Hood River Seeks Matteson school house info To the Editor: I am compiling a list of the Matteson (commonly known as Madison) School House. I am asking all who went to school there or taught there to write an account of your family's history. Please include dates, names, pic tures (duplicates or communicate with me). I will compile the history and work with the historical society with a goal of publication of our forefathers’ heritage. Stuart Dick. Rt. 3 Box 3246, Hermiston. 97838. 567-5056. (s) Stuart Dick Hermiston Fawbush not good for rural Oregon To the Editor: There has been quite a lot of in formation published recently regarding the Fawbush voting record over his 16 years in Salem. It is true that he has voted the Urban agenda almost without fail. But the urban agenda isn’t good for rural Oregon. There is a wide discrepancy between his campaign rhetoric and his long and consistent voting record. He claims to be a friend of farmers, loggers, miners and all other resource oriented in dividuals and businesses. But he has consistency voted for more bureaucratic controls, more taxes including a sales tax, and more and higher government imposed fees and fines. If he objects, as he now claims, to the stringent bureaucratic con trols and high handed methods used by DEQ, LCDC, etc., why has he not voted to cut their budget and impose legislative controls? Further, as a senator, why has he not voted against the senate confirmation of governor- appointed “ extremists” as com missioners and for heads of state departments? Obviously, he likes the way things are going. Changes he supports are not changes for our benefit. So, the signs along our coun try roads supporting Fawbush do surprise and concern me. The people who fly his banner either agree with the urban agenda for rural Oregon or believe the tiger will change his stripes. I would like to help make sure that those who do choose to sup port the re-election of Senator Fawbush understand that it is the Urban master he has faithfully served, not rural Oregon. Sincerely, (s) Donald E. Coombes Baker City McElligott best for Morrow County To the Editor: I want what’s best for Morrow County, therefore I want to see Don McElligott elected as coun ty commissioner. When Don was judge, I dealt with him many times from my position on Heppner City Coun cil. I found him to be a person of integrity, who wanted what was best for the citizens of Morrow County. Don is not a “ fence rider," but a person that does his homework and makes wise deci sions. He’ll go the extra mile. We need Don McElligott on our county court and I would en courage you to support him at the polls. It’s in your best interest as a tax-payer. Sincerely, (s) Bob Ployhar Fels has ability to do job well To the Editor: Judge Peter Fels is doing a great job as district judge in the Hermiston area. He has rapport with people of all walks of life and a concern for the welfare of all. It is significant that Judge Fels can speak directly with those in the growing Spanish-speaking community, a real advantage in bringing about justice for all. It was gratifying to me that Judge Fels received the most votes in the primary election and I would urge his election in November. Judge Fels will serve very well in the future just as he is doing at the present time. Sincerely, (s) Evelyn Hanks Pendleton Vote no on measure 9 To the Editor: Ballot Measure 9 would amend the Oregon Constitution to ex clude homosexuals from equal treatment under the constitution and laws of this state. I for one don’t believe a per son’s sexual orientation should make any difference as far as equal protection under the con stitution is concerned. Nor do I think the government has any business sticking its nose into a pèrson's bedroom, whether that person is heterosexual or homosexual. This measure should be defeated because it is an outrageous intrusion into an in dividual’s private life and a frightening attack on the fun damental freedoms and values this country is based on. Does anybody remember “ with liber ty and justice for all” ? Vote no on 9. (s) Mike Persons Pendleton Fels has efficient courtroom To the Editor: We are writing in support of Judge Peter Fels. Judge Fels has been district court judge since January and was a part-time tribal judge prior to his appointment. We are voting for Judge Fels because he is the only candidate with experience and he has shown an ability to do the job well. Since taking office, he has worked hard to be sure that his court is run efficiently. He has imposed stiffer sentences for drunk drivers and he insist^ that victims be allowed to testify at every sentencing. We have known Judge Fels for over 10 years. He is honest hard working and intelligent. We know that he is dedicated to mak ing our court run fairly and effi ciently. Please v^te to keep Judge Peter Fels. (s) Sue Petcisor Mark Peterson, PhD. Pendleton Ag-Pac explored To the Editor: Ag-Pac made its last primary decisions as to which political candidates it wished to support at Hood River Oct. 7, 1992. for the 1992 elections. Now that the selections have been made it is important to at tempt to analyze, as the OWGL trustee and chairman of Ag-Pac this year, what this political ac tion of the agricultural communi ty means. First of all it is important to understand the process, as defin ed by the by-laws. A trustee, or voting member, is there either because they individually in vested $3000 or their organiza tion or the members of their organization came up with $3000. (An additional $5000 buys an ad ditional vote.) At present there are 22, or ic it 24, we are con tinually growing. Our main ac tivities have been receptions, field trips and contributions to political candidates It takes a three quarters majority to determine which candidate is supported financially or with an endorsement. What then influences that vote? In that the meetings are open, can be attended by anyone interested in agriculture issues, who so far have had the opportunity to speak, therefore can influence the trustees vote. Can overriding concerns be expressed for the welfare of the organizations represented? That has come about with the open expression of the trustees. The trustees that repre sent organizations serve at the pleasure of lhat organization, and yet are only one vote out of the 22 present eligible voters. While your candidate, out of the 60 House races or 30 Senate races, may not have been endors ed, the overall makeup of the legislature is considered by Ag- Pac. and in some cases that over riding concern may influence the vote on a particular candidate. In that the legislative commit tee chairmanships are determin ed by the majority party, that has to be one of the considerations. This has resulted in placing some funds in the hands of party chairpersons, who actively par ticipate in the process. Here again the opportunity to participate is open and your influence is welcome. With all this accomplishment it still is only part of the process, citizen involvement is required and is enhanced with your con tribution to Ag-Pac. Sincerely, (s) Don Peterson Chairman Ag-Pac lone
