Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1995)
EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner. Oregon Wednesday, March 8, 1995 A look at the candidates There are four county-wide of public service through com contested races in the upcom mission work should reflect a sincere public interest. Once ing March 28 mail-in election, Port of Morrow director's posi elected, I will make myself tions number one, number • available to the various com three and number 5, and Mor munities. 1 am aware of their row County School District problems and can make in formed decisions. 1 will fairly director's position zone 4. Port of Morrow Director Posi represent the county as a whole. tion no. 1 "M y background with John Grace, James Hankins and Deane Seeger are all up for G reater Eastern Oregon one spot as Port of Morrow Development Corporation has made me very aware of the Director position no. 1. tremendous resources we have available to help attract and support new business and in dustry. As a Port Commis sioner, I will continue to be an advocate of business and agriculture, responsive to the needs of our communities, and most importantly, fiscally responsible." John Grace John Grace, 38, of Board- man, has lived in Morrow County for 10 years. He and his wife Renee, who is president of the Mid Columbia Title Com pany, have a son, John Michael, 4. Grace has been in the bank ing business 16 years and has been employed as branch manager of Inland Empire Bank in Boardman for the past 10 years. He attended Fort Van couver High School and Clark College, both Vancouver, WA. He is a graduate of the Nor thwest Intermediate Banking School, Lewis and Clark Col lege, the Northwest Commer cial Lending School, Universi ty of Portland, and the Western Agricultural Credit School, Washington State University. Grace was appointed to the Port of Morrow Commission position no. 1. He is currently president of the Greater Development Corp. and has been director since 1987. He has been a member of the Morrow Coun ty Planning Commission since 1989. He was a director for the Comunity Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) from 1987 to 1992. "I have always been impress ed with the strong leadership role the Port of Morrow Com mission plays in Morrow Coun ty ," says Grace. "Their vision is what has made our county one of the most economically diverse in Oregon. I like being a part of what I feel are even more exciting times ahead for the Port of Morrow and the citizens of Morrow County. I will continue to work hard with fellow port commissioners, concerned citizens, public of ficials and business leaders to attract new businesses and capitalize on the economic op portunities still available throughout our entire county." "M y priorities for the Port District include: developing the necessary infrastructure for the creating and retention of Mor row County jobs; adding value to our existing resources- grains, potatoes, alfalfa, onions, cattle, food processing and timber. Create additional diversification by supporting spinoff industries which will use the steam generated by the Coyote Springs plant; "Creating affordable housing to serve the needs of all Mor row County residents; and "Developing an economy in south Morrow County that is diverse and responsive to the community needs, which is not as easy as it sounds. Currently the port is working on helping to develop the infrastructure for an industrial park at the airport in Lexington. The next step will be to apply for an enterprise zone for that industrial ground. While these items are being completed, the south end com munities should reach a unified consensus as to the type of in dustry they would like to have help in attracting to their communities. "Port Commissioners are im portant to the communities served and the decisions to be Deane Seeger Deane Seeger, 64, Irrigon, has lived in Morrow County 20 years. He and his wife together have five grown children. Seeger has been the Moirow County planning director for 18 years. Seeger attended Eugene High School and received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Oregon. He has been a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post commander, the chairman of the Bend Planning Commission, a Scoutmaster, and a member of Rotary, Lions Club and the American Legion. Seeger says that his role as a port commission member is "to be a part of the Port team and to represent the people in a timely and straight forward manner". Seeger says that "maintaining the river's eleva tion at a level that assures pro per navigation" is one of the major issues facing the port commissioners, along with assisting in "solving the pro blems brought on by growth and change". He says that the port should maintain and support an "ongoing program of diver sification" and sees master planning of port lands and preparing an intermodal transportation plan as direc tions the port should take. "1 will represent the county as a whole," says Seeger. "Its five cities along with the area I represent. I have the expertise to address the needs of south Morrow County and the Wil low Creek valley cities and have several ideas that would stabilize the economy." "I want to be a commissioner in order to bring my ex periences of 38 years in plann ing devlopment and public ad ministration to the port and the citzens of our county." Seeger says that his "e x perience and knowledge of the county's needs, gained as plan ning director over the last 18 years, including obtaining grants, solving land use pro blems and assisting the port and citizens with their land use problems," give him an advan tage over his opponents. "Fur thermore," adds Seeger, "I will be retired and be able to devote all the time necessary for the position." Hankins has served on city budget committees and the school advisory board. Hankins says that his role as a Port Commissioner is "to ask questions regarding the ap proaches used to bring new and assist developing businesses in Morrow County. This is to include the ways and means of attracting new businesses and helping those already here, expand and grow." Major issues confron ting the Port of Morrow include "What if any advertising, or in centives have been set to follow the co-generation plant in Boardman? What if any adver tising or incentives have been put into place to attract new business in South Morrow County?" " I feel the Port should be the main advertising agency for Morrow County," said Han kins. "The Port should be out front in attracting new business to all of Morrow County. The port should also be helping ex isting businesses expand in our county. The port must also be realistic and attract not only large business, but also the smaller cottage type business which may not initially hire hundreds of workers, but by the same token, if something goes wrong, then the county does not have to try to absorb a major loss to the economy. " I feel all commissioners should represent the whole of Morrow County, not any one area, regardless of where they live or work. The Port is a tax- ing district supported by the whole county, not any one por tion and, as such, deserves a position representing the whole county. As to increasing the role of the port in South Morrow County, Hankins says, "Again this must be done expanding the business already in place in both ends of the county. Also using incentives for any business to expand in the south, such as land or building contracts, possible tax incen tives through talks with the county court. Hankins says he wishes to be a commissioner "To be able to have a solid impact of the future of this county in which I live, work, and plan to stay in for the forseeable future. I would like to see enough good jobs for the children of the residents of the county to be able to stay in this county without having to try to subsist on a minimum wage or slight ly high pay scale. "The only change I could personally guarantee is an open door policy for anyone, and the guarantee that questions will be asked about all issues that come before the commission." Hankins says that he has an advantage because, " I owe no one any favors and I am not af filiated with any particular group or organization. Also, because I am not afraid to ask questions, nor will I back off from getting answers to those questions." Port of Morrow Director Posi tion number 3 Jerry Healy and Ray Michael will vie for Port of Morrow Director Position number 3 The role of a Port Commis sioner is to provide the necessary policy, direction and tools to the management and staff of the Port so they can carry out the long and short term missions and goals of the Port of Morrow." "The major issue facing the Port, as we move into the new global economy, is increased competition for new and ex panding business,” said Hea ly. " I believe the Port of Mor row's number one problem, in this new competitive world, will be water. As the possibili ty of a draw-down on the John Day Pool becomes more of a reality, the effect on barge traf fic irrigation, energy rates, food processors, and the availability/price of water for Port tenants will become addi tional problems. "The Port, in its long range p la n n in g ," Healy added, "believes diversification of Port business is the direction of the future. The historic reliance on food processing and agricul tural based business has forc ed the Port to suffer in bad times and flourish in good time. With the present (Coyote Spring) and future diversifica tion on the drawing board, the Port of Morrow should be in a better position to weather downturns in our ag-based industries. "The Port of Morrow is a county wide district and com missioners are elected in coun ty wide elections. It is im perative that commissioners represent the entire Port District for the good of all areas of the county. Healy says that "South Mor row County is a tough problem for the Port. Because of transportation, land, water, flood plain and distance pro blems, it has, and will continue to be, very difficult to attract new business and industry to South Morrow County. The best opportunity to help in South Morrow County will be to expand and enhance existing business. "A s a life long resident of Morrow County, I wish to con tinue my residence here and ensure opportunities for others to continue to enjoy the life style we have in Morrow Coun ty ," said Healy. "The best way to provide these opportunities is to provide family wage jobs st) that people can afford to stay or move to Morrow County. There are not any major changes that I believe need to be made at the Port of Mor- Jerry M. Healy Jerry M. Healy, 44, Heppner, has lived all of his life in Mor row County. He and his wife, Carmen, who is a clerk at Cen tral Red Apple Market in Hepp ner, have three children, Joseph, 18, Jonas, 14, and Janelle, 13. He has been employed as an office manager at Columbia Basin Electric for the past 14 years. Healy attended Heppner High School and Eastern Oregon State College. He received a bachelor of science degree in business administra- tion/finance at the University of Oregon in 1973. He completed a management internship pro gram through the University of Nebraska in 1994. Healy has been a member of the Morrow County School District Budget Committee since July of 1984, a member of the Morrow County School District Talented and Gifted Coordinating Committee, the Morrow County School District Growth Committee, the Mor row County Compensation Committee since 1989, and a member of the Heppner City Planning Commission for two years. He has been a Pioneer Memorial Hospital volunteer ambulance driver since 1985, an Air Life (air ambulance) membership team member since 1991, a member of the Heppner St. Patrick's Day Auc tion Committee for the past two James H. Hankins years and a member of the James H. H ankins, 44, Willow Creek Little League Boardman, has lived in Mor Board of Directors from 1987 to row County for 11 years. He 1992. He was also co-chairman and his wife, Jeanette, have for the Heppner Little League two children, Bryon, 11, and Field Development committee Jasmine, 7. Hankins has been and the Heppner High School employed with Morrow Coun Baseball Field Development ty as a deputy sheriff for 11 Committee, in addition to years. He attended Grants Pass assisting with Heppner Colt High School and received a Basketball. bachelor of science degree in Healy says, "M y role as a criminology from Southern Port Commissioner is not to Oregon State College in 1983. micro-manage Port business. row," he said. "Change for the sake of change is not produc tive in any business. Instead, I would continue to support the management and staff of the Port so they can continue to recruit business diversification and improve existing business. " I believe I have the ex perience, education and management skills to help guide the Port into the 21st cen tury," concluded Healy. " I have broad county wide sup port from years on county wide boards, commissions and com mittees. Also as a Port Com missioner,! have the basic knowledge of where the Port has been, where it is at today and where we want to be in the future." Raymond D. Michael Raymond D. Michael, 54, Boardman, has lived in the county for 17 years. Michael, who is married to Carol Michael-Bennett, staff chair for the Morrow County Extension, has four grown children. He has been a pharmacist for 31 years and is the phar- macist/owner of Boardman Pharmacy and Hardware. Michael attended Newberg High School and Portland State University and has a bachelor of science degree from the Oregon State University School of Pharmacy. Michael was appointed to the Health District Budget Commit tee this year. He served on the Medical Board from 1991 to the present, the Health Council from 1990-91, has been chair man for the Solid Waste Com mittee since 1990, served on the Parks Committee since 1986, and was on the school district population and growth com mittee from 1986 to 1987. He has served on the Board- man Park and Recreation District since 1979, was a member of the Good Shepherd Hospital Foundation Board from 1985 to 1986, and was the chairman of the North Morrow County Medical Board from 1979 to 1986. Michael also serv ed on the Tree Committee since 1994, the Coordinating Coun cil since 1993, and the city council since 1990. He was a member of the Planning Com mission from 1979 to 1983. He has been president and secretary of the Boardman Lions Club and president and board member of the Board- man Chamber of Commerce (Commercial Club), is a member of the Classrooms for Kids Committee and the Mor row County Historical Society. " I feel my role as Port Com missioner would be to supply business management skills and experience with a real in terest in the growth and development of the Port of Morrow," says Michael. "In tergovernmental communica tion skills would be of utmost importance." Michael says that the major issues confronting the Port of Morrow are "th e effective utilization of water resources and development of strategies for the treatment and disposal of the waste stream of the port." "Since the thrust of the port is in the agricultural field, that should continue, but the effort to diversity should broaden to include other areas of in d u stry ," added M ichael. "When the co-gen plant comes on line, it will open a wide variety of opportunities in other industries which can utilize process steam." Michael says that his record of service in the county "reflects an effort to support county wide representation with service on the Health Council, Medical Board, Parks Committee, Solid Waste Com- mitte or the school district population and growth com mittee." "The continuation of the Port's efforts in assisting the economic development of south Morrow County is of prime importance whether it is related to tourism or assistance in siting a timber-related enti ty. I would like to touch on something that has bothered me for quite some time. We, Morrow County residents, need to get away from the at titude of 'what's in it for me?'. This includes both north and south county people. I can assure you that if the existing industry at the Port of Morrow is not competitive and viable, the whole county will suffer, not just the north part of the county." Michael says that he can bring "some business manage ment experience to the com mission. The prime reason I want to be a commissioner is because I want to help the Port of Morrow become the most viable and successful port on the Columbia-Snake River system, thereby improving the economies throughout the county." Michael adds that "better inter-governmental relations are of utmost importance. An attitude of openness in public matters would improve how the Port of Morrow is viewed by their constituents." Besides having 25 years of business and personnel man agement experience, Michael says that his ability to regular ly attend port meetings is also of value. Port of Morrow Director Posi tion number 5 Larry Lindsay, Lexington, and Terry Tallman, Boardman, are competing for one spot on the Port Morrow Board. Larry Lindsay Larry Lindsay, 58, Lex ington, has been a life long Morrow County resident. He and his wife, Corrine,’ who is the manager of Lindsday Feedlot, have seven grown children. Lindsay is a rancher. Lindsay attended high school at St. Joseph Academy at Pendleton. He received a bachelor of business ad ministration degree in 1959 from the University of Portland. He attended Georgetown University Law Center and was an accounting and finance officer for the U.S. Air Force. He has been a member of the Port of Morrow Commission since 1967. He is a member of the St. Patrick's Church Parish Council, the Morrow County Wheat League, is a former president of the Morrow Coun ty Livestock Growers, is a member of the the American Legion and BPOE. He was a 19 year member of the Morrow County Grain Growers board. Lindsay says that furthering the "economic development and job growth of Morrow County" is his role as commis sioner. "Fierce competition from the local region to the global market" is a major issure confronting him. Lindsay says that he will continue efforts to attract utilities to the area and believes that the port should become a transportation hub, primarily for ag-related in dustries, while working for diversification." Lindsay says that he feels he represents the county as a whole. "I am proud to repre sent the entire county," he said. Lindsay said that he believes the port's role in south Morrow County could be in- *
