Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 30, 1996 - NINE
Letters to the Editor
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Reynolds for judge
To the Editor:
We are writing to urge you to
vote for Garry Reynolds for
M orrow -U m atilla
C ircuit
Judge. Having practiced law in
the two-county area for nearly
20 years each, we are familiar
with the experience and abili
ty of both judicial candidates.
Both are fine, experienced at
torneys, but Garry Reynolds
has that special integrity and
ability that makes him the bet
ter candidate for this very im
portant position.
A circuit court judge makes
decisions that have serious and
sometimes lifelong impacts on
the parties that appear before
him. The judge must unders
tand the condition of the par
ties, understand the law and
apply it in an impartial manner.
Garry Reynolds has an even
temperament and a keen un
derstanding of the law. These
qualities make him a superior
candidate for circuit judge.
Robert Ridgway wrote a let-
ter which appeared as a
political advertisement in the
Oct. 17, 19%, edition of the
East Oregonian. The letter
claims that Mr. Reynolds acted
improperly by soliciting con
tributions from local attorneys.
We are local attorneys and our
help was not solicited from
Garry Reynolds, we volunteer
ed. We are sure the situation is
the same with many other local
attorneys who have over
whelming supported Garry
Reynolds as the best judge
choice in a recent Oregon State
Barr Poll of local attorneys.
Participating in the demo
cratic process is both a right
and obligation of a citizen. We
are confident that our support
of Garry Reynolds will in no
way affect his objectivity or im
partiality towards any case or
party in which we are involv
ed if he is elected judge. Were
it otherwise, we would not be
supporting him.
(s) William J. Kuhn
(s) Annetta L. Spicer
Write in Lindsay
To the Editor:
When you vote on Nov. 5, I
would like to encourage you to
write-in Barney Lindsay for at-
large director for the Morrow
Soil and Water Conservation
District Board. Also, I encour
age you to vote for Ken Grieb,
James McElligott and Vernon
Frederickson, whose names are
printed on the ballot.
Directors for the SWCD are
elected by all votes of the coun
ty and have the responsibility
to conserve, protect and pro
vide for the sustained use of the
natural resources of the county.
(s) Chris Rauch
Lexington
John Wenholz straightforward
To the Editor:
I have lived in Boardman for
16 years and for the last eight
years I've had the pleasure of
know ing John
W enholz
through my job. John has
always given me his honest
answer on any position, not
just what he things I want to
hear. He hasn't tried to butter
me up just to get me to vote for
him, or to change my opinion
of the other candidates.
John also asks questions so
that he gets as many opinions
on different views that he is
concerned about. The one thing
• 1 know is that John is honest
about his views and that type
of honesty is something that we
need right now. Not someone
who is telling everyone "y e s ”
no matter which side of the
fence they are standing on.
With John Wenholz, he'll tell
you white is white and not try
to convince you that it's black.
If've also learned that John is
as concerned about our com
munities, and if we need some
thing, John will step up and do
his best to get it. John is a
straightforward, community-
minded person that will be a
nice change to see in a public
office.
Sincerely,
(s) Bill Ellis
Boardman
38 fooling voters
To the Editor:
Ballot Measure 38 is not
about clean stream s and
riparian improvements. It is
about fooling Oregon voters to
believe it is, so extremists and
their lawyers can take control
of thousands of acres of stream-
side property. Many acres of
land wil be locked up; income
cannot be drived from those
acres and property taxes will
still be assessed. Not a good
way for family farms to stay in
business, but of course these
extremists know this.
Let us share an example with
you. On a 640 acre piece of
private property that has a
water quality limited stream
(because of water temperature)
running through it, only 240
acres would be eligible for graz
ing after three miles of fence
were constructed. A meadow is
on this property and the fence
would have to be a 100 feet
from the edge of the meadow.
Even after the use of the land
is taken and the money is spent
on fencing and alternative
water sources, Oregon has no
guarantee that the stream's
temperature will never exceed
DEQ water quality standards.
Land and money could be lost
for nothing.
Under this measure, anyone
can sue property owners who
may have an animal within 100
feet of a water quality limited
stream. A lawsuit could be fil
ed against you because your
kid's horse, 4-H lamb, or your
neighbor's llama hopped the
fence. Only the person bring
ing the lawsuit can recover
court costs and legal fees, ex
cept in rare cases.
Farmers and ranchers now
work cooperatively with other
groups and agencies to im
prove land and water condi
tions. Potential lawsuits and
costs of regulation will interfere
with these successful efforts.
Last week, one of the chief
petitioners of Measure 38 was
arrested and jailed for alleged
ly killing 11 of his neighbor's
cattle. Do we want a possible
felon writing our laws for Ore
gon? Don't follow his lead,
support cooperation, not con
frontation. Vote " n o " on Mea
sure 38.
(s) Mark Rietmann
(s) Tami Rietmann
Heppner
Wenholz has sense
To the Editor:
John Wenholz lives in Mor
row County, he makes his liv
ing in Morrow County and he
pays property taxes in Morrow
County. John is the only one of
the candidates running for the
position of Morrow County
Commissioner that can make
these three claims. John has the
ability to do a great job as our
next commissioner. John does
not want to be a career politi
cian, but instead wants to give
something back to Morrow
County. I have known John
since 1982 and believe that he
can bring a common sense ap
proach to county government.
Please join me in supporting
John Wenholz for Morrow
County Commissioner.
Sincerely,
(s) Don Russell
Boardman
McLaughlin supports Gordon Smith
To the Editor:
As a conservative Democrat
and former Pendleton mayor,
I am supporting and will vote
for Gordon Smith. Gordon has
always been involved in com
munity affairs and one way 1
came to know him well was
when he served on the city
budget committee.
While he was Oregon Senate
President, he worked with
Governor Kitzhaber and other
democrats and many times
brought the two parties
together to work on many pro
blems in a non-partisan man
ner.
I often work with many
senior citizens with their
Medicare problems and agree
with Gordon's support of and
intention to protect Medicare
and the Oregon Health Plan.
Varene, my wife, and I also
agree with Gordon's view of
public education.
We are lucky to live in
Eastern Oregon where crime
and violence are still not as
prevalent as in metropolitan
areas; however, Gordon has a
10-point anti-crime action plan,
and, as Senate President,
knows the other problems and
con cern s of O regon ians
throughout the state.
Senator Mark Hatfield has
endorsed and is actively sup
porting Gordon Smith, and I
believe Gordon will be a
senator in the mold of Senator
Hatfield.
We are fortunate to have a
man from Eastern Oregon who
is a responsible, honest and
caring individual, who honors
fam ily, runs a successful
business, providing employ
ment to hundreds, and is will
ing to stand up and serve his
state.
We often complain that good
people are not running for
elected office. We have an op
portunity to vote for someone
who has stated his position, his
beliefs, has experience and is
willing to serve.
We need an especially strong
turnout of voters outside the
metropolitan area, and I solicit
your vote on behalf of Gordon
Smith.
(s) Joe C. McLaughlin
Pendleton
Peck most qualified
To the Editor:
First I would like to say that
I support Jerry Peck for com
missioner. He is the most
qualified person for the job,
having been a commissioner for
eight years, past member of the
school board and mayor of
Boardman. He knows the job
and will be fair for all parts of
the county.
But I am puzzled by some of
the negative comments from
past supporters that now sup
port John Wenholz. Do we real
ly need this type of campaign
ing and negative attitude? No.
We need a person like Jerry
that can help bring north and
south together.
A vote for Jerry is a vote for
the future of Morrow County.
(s) Chris Rauch
Lexington
Support Wenholz
To the Editor:
Sin ce we are long-tim e
residents and supporters of
Morrow County, we feel the
need to voice our opinion on
the selection of our county
commissioners.
It has been our desire to see
the leadership unite and focus
on a balance of prosperity for
the entire county.
John Wenholz will be the
candidate to consider what
issues concern the county as a
whole, reason out a balanced
conclusion and stand firm on
his reasoning.
Support John Wenholz for
Morrow County Commission
er.
(s) Dan and Jeannie Creamer
Irrigon
Wenholz only real candidate
To the Editor:
John Wenholz is the only real
candidate for Morrow County
Commissioner. John has lived
and owned his own business in
Morrow County since moving
to Morrow County 23 years
ago. He has always been will
ing to help others in any way
he could. When something
needs to be done, he gets it
done. John has a very open
mind and will always listen to
all sides of an issue.
Vote for John Wenholz. You
will not be sorry.
Sincerely,
(s) Bud Wilson
Lexington
Gutierrez reasons clear
To the Editor:
When we go to the polls this
November, we will cast our
votes for Morrow County
Treasurer for Gayle Gutierrez.
Our reasons are clear.
1) Gayle does have the ex
perience for the office. She has
been involved with county
governm ent in the Public
Works Dept., the Tax Collec
tor's office, the Assessor's of
fice and the Accounting office.
She has seen how and why our
tax dollars are spent.
2) Gayle has been involved
with employee public relations
Yes on term limits
To the Editor:
Rotation of office was a cor
nerstone of our framers' inten
tion for government. At the
time, it was not necessary to in
clude a provision in the Con
stitution for term limits because
each party refused to renomin
ate incumbents because of their
b elief in rotation . They
thought-and rightfully so-that
the longer one spent in office,
the less responsive one would
be to the people. This under
standing led Jefferson to write,
"T he second feature I dislike,
(in regards to the Constitution)
and greatly dislike, is the aban
donment in every instance of
the necessity of rotation in of
fice, and most particularly in
the case of the President."
Our founding fathers simply
I
Money can't buy vote
To the Editor:
The Oregon Education Asso-
ciation/People for Improve
ment of Education's (OEA/PIE)
"in your face" attitude toward
the new campaign finance laws
is unacceptable. They are put
ting hundreds of thousands of
dollars into independent ex
penditures in order to "b u y ”
the Oregon legislature. It is a
sad day in Oregon politics
when OEA/PIE is able to spend
more money on a race than the
candidates themselves.
I protest. Join me in the
protest-invest in stamps and
envelopes. Put the indepen
dent expenditure direct mail
pieces in envelopes marked
"m y vote is not for sale" and
send them back to OEA/PIE at
the address on the mailer. Se
cond, send a letter of complaint
to the Secretary of State, Elec
tions Division asking that this
"loophole" in Ballot Measure
9 be investigated and closed.
Talk about special interests
buying politicians...
Sincerely,
(s) Camille Hukari
Hood River
Wenholz chose Morrow County
located his businesses in a
To the Editor:
I have known John Wenholz larger metropolitan area, or at
since 1973. During this time, I least closer to his customers,
have found John to be a very but he chose to locate in Irri
gon, because, like many of us,
resourceful person.
John lives in Morrow Coun he wanted to raise his family in
ty because that is where he Morrow County.
wants to live, not because it is
John deserves a chance to be
where he makes his living. our next Morrow County Com
Since I have known John, he missioner. Please join me in
has been self-employed as a supporting John Wenholz for
hay broker and as a truck sales commissioner.
man. John could probably have
(s) Vernon L. Russell
done better financially if he
Boardman
Campbell has respect, experience
To the Editor:
The need for rural Eastern
Oregon to have actively quali
fied, skilled representation in
the legislature is critical.
Many people run for the
legislature. Term limits will
deny the successful candidate
the time to serve an appren
ticeship and really learn the
job. Having experience in
governance at the local and
state level is an asset. It gives
the successful candidate a head
start on our behalf in Salem.
Knowing who to talk to and
how the process works can
mean the difference between
representing a region well and
leaving the problems still on
the table at the end of a term.
Kevin Campbell is the can
didate that meets the criteria.
He has the experience and has
demonstrated his ability to
work advantageously with
state and federal agencies.
Kevin Campbell will hit the
ground running. He is the can
didate for our communities that
already has name recognition
and respect in Salem.
I encourage your support for
Kevin Campbell.
Sincerely,
(s) Laura M. Pryor
Gilliam County Judge
Condon
Agriculture not to blame
To the Editor:
I feel compelled to write you
in this election year, as I see a
great deal of unfairness and un
just criticism being waged at
one section of our Oregon com
munity, agriculture.
M easure 38 sup porters
would argue that cows are the
only blame for poor salmon
runs. But cows didn't build all
the dams along the Columbia
River. And cows didn't affect
silt runoff from the high moun
tains into spawning beds.
Cows didn't cause the devasta
ting floods we saw earlier this
year, w reaking havoc on
streams and banks. And cows
are not the cause of Portland's
sewer systems overflowing in-
as an officer in the Workers'
Union. She has the integrity to
work alongside other officials
and employees to assure a
smoothly-run county govern To the Editor:
John is a long-time resident
ment.
of
3)
Gayle has the commitment the county and has a proven
to our county government, its economic track record as a
small business owner. He has
citizen s and its business
associates to fulfull the office of been very active in communi
Morrow County Treasurer in a ty and school activities and has
productive manner.
Join us in voting for Gayle
Gutierrez for Morrow County
Treasurer.
(s) Tom Gates To the Editor:
(s) Arlynda Gates
The Predator Defense In
lone stitute (PDI) recently released a
comprehensive investigative re
port on the cougar controver
sy
in Oregon. Here are its ma
could not imagine a govern
jor
findings:
ment full of career politicians.
More
than 93 percent of all
Unfortunately, their worst fears
cougar
"incidents"
recorded by
have come true. Congress is
the
Oregon
Department
of fish
full of professional politicians
and
Wildlife
(ODFW)
from
intent on lining their pockets at
January
1994
to
May
19%
were
taxpayer expense. Goverment
unconfirmed. The majority of
money is viewed as free money
the
reports were based on
for them to distribute at whim.
nothing
more than phone calls
We need politicians who will
to
district
offices of the ODFW.
return to live under the regula
Of
the
832 cougar incident
tions and taxes which they
rep
orts
provided by the
enact. The only way to do this
ODFW,
644
were recorded as
is through term limits. Voting
sightings
and
188 as damage
" y e s ” op Measure 48 for term
complaints,
but
only 3.25 per
limits on Congress is a step
cent
of
the
sightings
and only
towards an ethical and respon
10.10
percent
of
the
damage
sive Congress. Vote " y e s " on
complaints
were
confirmed.
Measure 48 and return the
These percentages represent
government to the people.
only 21 confirmed sightings
Sincerely,
and 19 confirmed damage pro
(s) Charlie Donoti
blems
statewide in well over
Cottage Grove
to the Willamette River during
high water.
But what Measure 38 will ac
complish is to drive a wedge in-
between agriculture and sup
porters of the measure, so that
confrontation rather than
cooperation results. The gover
nor's office did not support
listing coho salmon as endan
gered; they feel a "voluntary
approach can be more effective
than the heavy hand of federal
regulation," as Paula Burgess,
governor's assistant for natural
resources, states. I agree;
cooperation rather than con
frontation will accom plish
more.
Please vote no on 38.
(s) John Herkner
Bend
Wenholz has integrity
a well deserved reputation for
being very fair-minded with
outstanding integrity.
Please join us in voting for
John W enholz for county
commissioner.
(s) Larry and Betty Mills
Heppner
Oppose 34
\
two years.
There has never been a do
cumented attack by a cougar on
a person in Oregon history.
The PDI report invalidates
the trophy hunter's claim that
cougar incidents are rampant.
It also demonstrates that a
trophy hunting season does
nothing to reduce the remote
risk of an encounter between
people and cougars.
Existing law allows private
landowners and state and
federal damage control agents
to eliminate individual nui
sance cougars. It simply bars
trophy hunters from harassing
and killing cougars in the wild
erness with the aid of packs of
radio-collared hounds. Voters
should oppose Measure 34 and
prevent cruel and unsports
manlike m eans of cougar
hunting.
(s) Brooks Fahy
Executive Director, PDI
Eugene
I