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-
*