Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 2, 1994 - THREE
Candidates Forum
County Commissioners
Three
people,
Jackie
Bergstrom, incumbent Ray
French, and Art Kegler, will vie
for one four-year position as
Morrow County Commis
sioner.
changes, we need to look close
ly at "Preferred Providerships"
with various HMO's (health
management organizations) in
order to meet the needs of
more of the people, not just a
select few ."
Special Projects, Programs,
Changes: " I have addressed a
few of my goals and interests
in this article already. I do feel,
however, that we should look
into forming a law enforcement
district and take the county
sheriff's department out of the
general fund. We need the fine
officers that we have at the time
and I feel that in order to retain
them we need to offer them
more job security that they
presently have. If the general
fund is voted down, their jobs
are in jeopardy and we cannot
afford to lose them. We need to
assure them of positions and
also we need to be able to at
tract more of the qualified of
ficers available in the state to
come to our county. The largest
population is definitely in the
north county, however, with
the rapid changing of times, the
south county needs to have the
knowledge that they are also
protected at all times."
Issues/Challenges: "Being
elected in the first place. I have
not actively sought contribu
tions. I don't want to seem to
be beholden to any particular
group or persons. My cam
paign has suffered in this
respect, i.e., lack of profes
sional signs and posters. The
people in all of the county need
to be aware that I would repre
sent each and every one of
them. A goal of mine is to make
more of the general population
more aware of the issues con
stantly facing the county and
getting more of their opinions
on how they want their coun
ty operated."
Jacqueline Bergstrom
Jacqueline Bergstrom, 57, of
lone, has lived in Morrow
County since 1974 when the
family moved to the area to
ranch on Gooseberry Road.
She and her husband, Rudy,
have three children, two grown
sons and a 19 year-old
daughter.
In addition to being co-owner
of the family wheat ranch,
Bergstrom is a part-time statisti
cian with Oregon Agriculture
Statistics Service, associated
with the National Dept, of
Agriculture.
Bergstrom was chairman of
the Morrow County Medical
Board from 1987 to 1992. She is
a past member of Soroptimist
International Club of Heppner
and the Valby Lutheran
Church Council.
Following are Bergstrom's
thoughts on county issues:
Role as County Commis
sioner: " I see my role as com
missioner as a representative of
the whole county, all of the
people, not just the area where
I happen to live. I think that
special consideration for the
needs of Boardman and Irrigon
would be one of my main
responsibilities. In this day of
computers and modems, I can
be readily available to anyone
in the county, via FAX,
telephone or mail. I feel that
during my term on the Medical
Board, I addressed the needs of
the North County as much as,
if not more than the rest of the
county.”
"Growth in the north coun
ty is an ongoing process, with
the fantastic work that Gary
Raymond French
Neal and his people are doing
Ray French, 67, Heppner, a
with the Port of Morrow. I feel
lifelong resident of Morrow
that by working closely with
County, has been a livestock
Gary that some of the economic rancher for 40 years. He and his
development could also be wife, Norma, have three grown
directed towards the south
daughters. French is a graduate
county. The completion of the
of Heppner High School and
Ione-Boardman road is a must
attended the Montana School
to facilitate any kind of growth
of Mines and Colorado College.
betw een those two com
Incumbent French has been
munities. Stress has to be put county commissioner since
on all of our county com 1991 and was a state represen
munities to work together to at tative from 1985 to 1989. He is
tract com m ercial, retail,
a former member of the school
agriculture and any other board and has been a member
businesses to our county. We of the Soil and Water Conser
have many diverse attractions vation District for the past 16
in Morrow County, and only years, serving 12 of those years
by working together and
as chairman. He is currently a
especially having a strong,
member of the the National
open line of communication
Association of Counties Public
with all of the popluation of the Lands Committee. He has been
county, can this county resolve a member of the Board of
any of its differences. I feel that Equalization and served with
the "Rivalry” is more of a the U.S. Navy.
media term and not an accurate
French is a member of the
one at that. Too much stress
Heppner, Boardman and Ir
has been placed on this ter rigon Chambers of Commerce
minology in the past. We need
and the lone Community Agri-
to ignore the term and proceed Business Organization. He is a
forward with the matters at member of the Heppner Elks
hand."
Lodge, where he currently
Home Rule: "Hiring a bus serves on the board of trustees,
iness administrator to run the and the St. Patrick Catholic
financial services of the coun Church. He is a member of the
ty and having five commis Morrow County Livestock
sioners, one each elected from Growers and the Oregon Cat
each of the communities would tlemen's Association of which
be a tremendous help in taking he was president from 1980-81.
" P o litic s " out of county ► Role as County Commis
government. "Politics" is one sioner: "From past experience
of the coun ty's largest as both a county commisioner
drawbacks at the moment and and state legislator, I find it
is a matter that needs to be ad necessary to represent the
dressed immediately."
whole county. Any divisive
Medical Services: "W e have
ness will be perceived by out
a trem endous reputation
siders as a definite weakness to
throughout the state of Oregon
be
exploited. As a state legis
because of our excellent
lator I was able to represent a
medical services in our county.
These services need to be main district composed of a vast sec
tained and expanded upon as tion of eastern Oregon and ap
much as possible. With the proximately 45,000 people.
ongoing health insurance From this experience I learned
to deal with individual pro
blems facing any group of peo
ple or area of Morrow Coun
ty ”
Home Rule: "The Morrow
County Court has appointed a
committee to study home rule
and is presently awaiting its
recommendations. When these
recommendations are for
thcoming, the court will hold
public hearings and prepare to
present the issue to the voters
of Morrow County for their
decision."
Medical Services: "Morrow
County Court has formed a
medical district by decree in
dependent of county govern
ment. This was done at the re
quest of the petitioners of two
proposed medical districts. A
board of directors will be
elected at the Nov. 8 election to
manage the new district.
Issues/Challenges: "It will be
necessary for county govern
ment to be involved in main
taining and improving the in
frastructure of Morrow Coun
ty and also maintain the quali
ty of life for all citizens of Mor
row County. Presently I am
serving on a committee to
study the possibility of a
regional jail. We can no longer
depend on out-of-county
facilities to house county
prisoners as in the past. With
a regional jail, county law
breakers could be forced to
serve their sentences without
early release because of a lack
of space. With continuing
growth it is necessary criminals
be made to realize their ac
tivities will not be tolerated in
Morrow County. During the
last session of the Oregon
Legislature a bill was introduc
ed to completely eliminate
justice court judges in the state
of Oregon. With the help of
other eastern Oregon counties
I was instrumental in defeating
this bill. A justice court judge
is the only judicial judge
residing in Morrow County."
"Legislative issues will con
tinué to be bf concern tod, and
I expect to be involved on
behalf of Morrow County in
supporting legislation that is to
our benefit and helping defeat
bills that may be detrimental to
the citizens of our county."
Art Kegler
Art Kegler, no age given,
Boardman, has been self
employed, first as a grocer and
then as a realtor since 1983. He
and his wife, Roseann, have
three sons and a daughter.
Kegler, who moved to Mor
row County in 1983, is a former
Boardman mayor, city council
member and planning commis
sion member. He is a member
of the Community Church, the
Chamber of Commerce and
trade organizations.
Role of County Commis
sioner: "Presently the county
has county-wide elections for
the commissioners' positions.
This has presented a problem
at the present time, because, as
I have previously stated, the
county is split by our
geography and not by choice."
"This natural fact is then
multiplied as a problem in the
minds of the residents when
there is no representation from
one of the areas. It doesn't
make any difference which area
is not represented. Either area
would not feel fairly treated
without a representative. It is
particularly im portant to
recognize this fact now con
sidering the changes occurring
in our county."
"To balance this situation
and respond to the growth in
the north and continue to pro
vide the necessary services to
the southern portion of our
county there needs to be a
blend on the county court of
representatives from each area.
It is not up to any one in
dividual to represent all the
county, it is the blend of
representation that will be the
most effective for all the coun
ty. This blend will reduce the
conflicts and division within
our county. It is the blend of ex
perience by the different com
missioners that will create a
balance for the good of the
county. I would not expect total
agreement between the com
missioners representing the dif
ference areas. It is then their
responsibility to find the best
course for all.
Home Rule: " I do support
home rule-five commissioners
and a manager elected by area
or population districts and non
partisan."
Medical Services: "I served
on the committee to develop a
county-wide health district,
avoiding the north/south split.
The health care is now the
responsibility of the district, not
the county."
Special Projects: "There are
areas needing attention and a
long term goal. First of all this
past year has seen more asphalt
being put in the north end of
the county than in many of the
recent years. There is still some
work to be done in this area.
This can only be done in turn
with other needs as funds are
available, however there is
some heavy traffic on roads
around the Port of Morrow that
need repair."
"A goal that needs attention
is the stability of industry and
jobs in the Heppner-Lexington-
Ione area. The restart of the
Kinzua mill has been a god
send, but the continual opera
tion is not a given. We cannot
sit around waiting for the other
shoe to drop, we need to ag
gressively seek industry and
economic stability in the area.
In the past I have served on
economic development com
mittees for the Columbia Basin
and that experience is available
it ’elected."
Issues/Challenges: "To get
elected."
County Health Dist. Directors
Two people, Tom McElligott,
Heppner, and Cara Osmin,
Heppner area, will vie for one
position as zone 5 director of
the newly established Morrow
county Health District 25-10
Zone 5 is comprised of the area
including precincts 10 and 11
and all of Heppner.
C ara Osmin
Cara Osmin, 46, is a third
grade teacher at Heppner
Elementary School. She has a
bachelor of science degree from
Western Michigan University
and has over 60 hours above
this degree in graduate credits.
Osmin and her husband,
Frank, together have two sons,
both 20, and a daughter, 25.
Osmin, who was mayor of
Heppner from 1984 to 1991, is
a member of the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce, a
member and lay leader of the
Heppner United Methodist
Church and chair of the Hepp
ner Elementary School site
council. She has also worked
on the Heppner St. Patrick's
celebration and Morrow Coun
ty Fair and Rodeo as well as
other community activities.
Role as Morrow County
Health District Director: "I feel
I can represent the entire coun
ty as a health district director.
In my past capacity as mayor of
Heppner I have made many
contacts with those around the
county and state. I believe the
rural health issue is a growing
concern for our area and one
which needs to be addressed
continuously. One of my
strengths which I have
developed over the past years
in my political and professional
life is that I am a consensus
builder. With a new district for
mation, this skill is needed."
Special Projects, Programs,
Changes: "Since this is a new
medical district being formed,
I would go into it wanting an
assessment of the present
facilities, contracts, contacts be
ing made, and an overview of
specific needs of the county
prior to any changes taking
place.
Only with this
knowledge, can an evaluation
be made and goals set for
future development.
Issues/Challeges: "O ne of
the biggest issues and
challenges which I believe is
facing us is the increase in the
Hispanic population at the
north end of the county and
creating as well as maintaining
the health care needed. We
need to expand and become a
more bilingual community in
order to meet the needs of all
people in the county."
"Another challenge which
faces Morrow County is being
able to keep the current medical
facility and personnel in the
south end of the county, which
is more remote than the north
end. This is not to say that the
north end does not need health
care facilities it currently has in
place, however, being on 1-84
does give the Boardman and Ir
rigon communities faster access
to large hospitals, which is
limited in the south end of the
county."
tual implementation and for
mation of the bylaws and rules
of the district. This will be more
important than any other issue
facing the first board."
Lexington City Council
Voters will select two coun
cil members from three can
didates, Pat Baker, Shirley
McCarl and John Ripple, run
ning for Lexington City Coun
cil Persons.
Shirley McCarl
Shirley McCarl, 59, is a ■Mor
row County native, graduating
from high school locally. She
has been the chief deputy for
the Morrow County Clerk's Of
fice for the past eight years and
has served 12 years on the Lex
ington City Council. She and
her husband, Morris, have
three grown children.
Why do you want to be
elected to this office? Why
would a voter select you over
your opponent?: "I am current
ly on the city council, so I bring
experience to this position. I
believe in being honest and fair
to all citizens of the city of Lex
ington."
(Baker and Ripple did not
respond
to
a
G-T
questionnaire.)
lone City Counil Position
Four people are on the ballot
for three four-year terms as
lone City Council Persons,
Harvey Childers, Gale Gray,
Dennis Stefani and Dennis
Thompson.
Harvey Childers, 36, has liv
ed 34 years in Morrow Coun
ty, with 24 of those in the city
of lone. He is a graduate of lone
High School and attended two
years at Bates Vo-Tech. He has
Tom McElligott
been a mechanic for 16 years.
Tom McElligott, 43, Hepp Childers and his wife, Bobbi,
ner, has owned Morrow Coun have three children, 15,14, and
ty Title and Abstract for the last 12 .
Childers has served on the ci
14 years. He graduated from
lone High School and received ty council for eight years. He is
bachelor's and m aster's a Morrow County EMT and is
degrees in business administra a member of the Morrow
tion from Gonzaga University County Gun Club and the Her-
at Spokane, WA. He and his miston Rod and Gun Club.
Issues/Challenges: "All the
wife, Laura, have five sons, 17,
16, 14, 7 and 5, and a daughter, state and federal laws coming
down to city level," and "keep
2 .
McElligott is a member of the ing the city operating in the
local Trauma Board No. 9, black."
Dennis Thompson, 35, has
which is comprised of Morrow,
Umatilla, Union, Baker, lived 20 years in the city of
Wallowa and Malheur coun lone. A graduate of lone High
ties. He has been a volunteer School, Thompson has been a
ambulance driver for the past truck driver for the past 15
10 years and is a member of the years. He and his wife, Janet,
Heppner Elks Club, Willow have a daughter, 11, and a son,
Creek Country Club and St. eight, and are expecting a third
child in Feb. He has been on
Patrick's Catholic Church.
Role as Morrow County the lone City Council for two
Health District Director: "The years and is a 10 year member
function of the Morrow Coun of the lone Volunteer Fire
ty Medical District is to serve Department. He is a member of
the needs of the Morrow Coun the lone Booster Club and for
ty area, not necessarily just the 10 years has done lawn
wants of any individual or maintenance for the lone
group of individuals within the United Church of Christ.
Special Projects, Programs,
county. The board should be a
Changes:
" I would really like
positive influence, looking and
to
see
the
water system up
planning for the future as it
dated.
I
would
also like to see
relates to the changing outside
influences on the local, regional the lone Community Agri-
O rganization
and national medical environ Business
ment. I feel that with the enact (ICABO) project on the Emert
ment of the tax base there will addition grow and improve
be sufficient resources to care and be annexed into the city."
Issues/Challenge: "Financing
for all of Morrow County's
medical needs. As certain and building a water storage
segments of the medical ser system for lone."
Why do you want to be
vices generate profits, these
elected
to this office? "T o do
profits can be applied to pro
whatever
I can to improve
jects and services that attention
things."
Why
would a voter
to promote long term con
select
you
over
your oppo
tinued quality service to the
nent?:
"Hopefully
they would
people of Morrow County. We
feel
I
would
do
the
best job
should try to retain as much
possible.”
money within the county as
(Gray and Stefani did not res
possible, so that local persons
pond to the G-T questionnaire.)
benefit from our tax dollars.
Issues/Challenges: "The big
gest initial issues will be the ac
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