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SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner. Oregon Wednesday. May 13.1998
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M orrow County Candidates' Forum
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D ouglas C . Rath bun
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Democratic candidate for Mor
row County Judge Douglas C.
Rathbun. 55, is from Heppner. He
and his wife, Georgia, have three
grown children, Carllena, 32,
Christy, 29, and Charles, 24.
Rathbun came to M orrow
County in 1975. He graduated
from North Eugene High School
and from Blue Mountain Com
munity College with a degree in
law enforcement. Rathbun served
with the U.S. Navy for four years
overseas. Rathbun has been em
ployed with the city of Heppner
as chief of police for 14 years. He
has been the chairman o f the
board of trustees of the Nazarene
Church for two years, co-chair of
Oregon Together for three years
and on the Criminal Justice Ad
visory Board for 10 years. Prior
to being ch ie f o f police o f
Heppner, Rathbun was chief of
police at Powers for five years
and chief of police at Gaston for
one year. He spent four years in
the U.S. Navy as paymaster and
one year Oregon Cummins Die
sel paymaster and bookkeeping.
Why would a voter select you
over your opponent? I worked
27 years in law enforcement, 20
years as chief doing budgets and
working juvenile and court issues,
providing a foster home and shel
ter home for all Morrow County
kids, working with the public ev
eryday. 1 am the most qualified
candidate.
If elected, what is the biggest
challenge facing you? CSEPP
funds. Where is the money going?
Keeping them on track and make
Morrow County safe; promoting
all Morrow County; having the
county ready for the year 2000;
communicating with all Morrow
County.
What major project would
you like to see accomplished?
What is your first priority?
Communication with all Morrow
County. We need to unify differ
ing needs by bridging the gaps
and creating a full spectrum of
public service for all Morrow
County.
Please outline a brief plan to
help North Morrow County ac
commodate growth: We need
growth in all Morrow County.
The Port of Morrow is doing an
excellent job of helping with this.
The county needs to help in any
way they can.
How can you assist South
Morrow County in retaining
and creating jobs? The same as
the North end needs to be done.
What is the major problem
created by the plan to inciner
ate chemicals at the Army De
pot? How would yon address
this problem? Money for safety
items is the major problem. The
county needs to stay right on this
problem, get the items and stay
right on track with this, keeping
Morrow County safe.
Outline a brief plan to allo
cate Morrow County’s tippage
fees, or if yon are satisfied with
the present plan, explain that:
I am not satisfied with the tippage
fees. They need to go back with
the first years where communities
got a plan together and turned it
into the county.
Briefly outline a plan to allo
cate coanty services, snch as
road construction and mainte
nance, among the communities:
I am for growth in all Morrow
County. This will mean more
housing all over the county. We
need a full spectrum o f public
services, no division between any
part of Morrow County. I will
work for the common goal for all
Morrow County.
Are you in favor of establish
ing a road between lone and
Boardman? Why or why not? I
believe we need that road as the
county grows. We can get state
funds and grant money for this
like the Mam Street project in
Heppner.
Do you agree with the cur
rent county system of two com
missioners and a judge elected
at large? Why or why not? If
not, what system would you
propose? I agree with the current
system of government. If it’s not
broke, why fix it?
Do yon think the present
Morrow County juvenile court
system should be retained or
should jurisdiction be trans
ferred over to circuit court?
Why? What are your qualifica
tions for serving as juvenile
court judge? Begin the chief of
police right now and for the past
20 years, in law enforcement over
27 years, working with the Juve
nile Dept, and Services to Fam
ily and Children all the time, and
having a foster home and shelter
home, it is not complex to a per
son who works in the system. I
would not consider abolishing the
Morrow County Juvenile Court to
Morrow County Circuit Court.
They are only in Morrow County
two days a week and sometimes
not at all, and not one of them live
in Morrow County.
John F. Mollahan
John F. Mollahan, 62, Democrat
candidate for Morrow County
Judge, lives in Lexington with
his wife, Christina Sharp
Mollahan. He has a grown son
and daughter, seven grown step
children, six grandchildren and
13 step-grandchildren.
Mollahan was bom in Morrow
County and graduated from
Heppner High School. He
attended Gonzaga University,
WA, and Blue Mountain
Community College and is
several credits short of a degree
in criminology at Blue Mountain
Community College. Mollahan
served in the U.S. Army from
1958-1960 as a payroll clerk,
earning the rank of SP4. He was
honorably discharged with a
Good Conduct Medal.
Mollahan is retired, working as
a part time farm worker. He is a
member of St. Patrick's Church
in Heppner and BPOE #358. He
was city policeman of Heppner
from 1964 -1968 and was elected
twice as Morrow County Sheriff,
from 1969 - 1976.
* I have knowledge of the
juvenile code, the procedure of
the courthouse, the duties o f the
judge. Among my other duties as
sheriff, other than those of law
enforcement, were tax collecting
and civil defense. I had
budgeting and payroll duties. I
am familiar with die role of the
county commissioner."
Why would a voter select you
over your opponent?: I enter
this candidacy with ability and
background; a strong, sense of
the democratic process; a belief
that good government is based on
having a consensus on the issues;
a willingness to listen and seek
resolutions of issues affecting the
citizens; that I take the future of
Morrow County very seriously.
If elected, what is the biggest
challenge facing you?: The
major challenge facing Morrow
County will be the great effort
that must be made towards
maintaining
its
livability,
lowering die crime rate, child
abuse and maintaining our
medical services. Effort should
go towards providing family-
wage jobs in the area.
What major project would
you like to see accomplished.
What is your first priority?:
My first priority and major
project would be towards the
diversification
of
county
economy. I would put heavy
emphasis on recreation and a
safe, healthy environment. The
need for an "assisted living"
facility for the county would
greatly benefit the senior citizens
and this facility would provide
more job opportunities.
Please outline a brief plan to
help North Morrow County
accommodate growth: The
county should participate in
planning
for growth and
expansion of services to North
Morrow County. This would
include
maintaining
and
improvements to infrastructure.
How can you assist South
Morrow County in retaining
and creating jobs?: South
Morrow County needs to engage
in vigorous planning to meet the
challenge o f Kinzua reductions
or closure. Cooperative retaining
programs will need to be
available from BMCC, EOSU
and private industry.
Invite
diversification by attracting new
business and industry to South
Morrow County.
What is the major problem
created by the plan to
incinerate chemicals at the
Army Depot. How would you
address
this
problem?
Department of Defense is in
charge of this project and if
problems do arise, the county
will have full and complete
federal and state participation.
The county court should act in an
over-sight role to protect safety
and health of out residents.
Outline a brief plan to
allocate Morrow County's
tippage fees, or if you are
satisfied with the present plan,
explain that: The tippage fees
should be managed as all county
funds are managed. They should
not be held as a slush fund of the
county court. Citizens need to be
consulted on the use of the funds
before they are allocated or
pledged as these fees concern all
of Morrow County.
Briefly outline a plan to
allocate county services, such
as road construction and
maintenance,
among
the
communities: All road work
should be allocated on a "real
need" basis. The necessity for
farm
to
market
roads,
recreational access, safe bus
routes
and
economic
development should play a role
in all allocations.
Are you in favor of
establishing a road between
tone and Boardman. Why or
why not?: I am in favor of
establishing a road between lone
and Boardman as we need a more
direct and shorter route to
Boardman. This would benefit
the transportation o f farm
commodities, faster access to the
freeway and quicker response
time for police officers to the
Boardman area.
Do you agree with the current
system of two commissioners
and a judge elected at large.
Why or why not. If not, what
system would you propose ? I
agree with the current system
because it reflects the one
person, one vote, on a county
wide basis,
"Democracy in
action".
Do you think the present
Morrow County juvenile court
system should be retained or
should
jurisdiction
be
transferred over to circuit
court. Why? What are your
qualifications for serving as
juvenile court judge? 1 believe
that the jurisdiction of juvenile
court should be retained as it is
now handled. Juvenile court is
able to handle local juvenile and
family problems effectively. I
feel fully qualified to address the
problems of juvenile court from
my past training and experience.
W eb
P ages
H eppner G azeeee
676-9228
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Terry K. Tallman
Terry K. Tallman, 52, Repub
lican candidate for M orrow
County Judge, lives in Boardman.
He and his wife, Cheryl, have
three children, Jonathan, 22,
Crystal, 19, and Dernn, 16.
Tallman, who came to Morrow
County in 1978, graduated from
Adrian High School, Adrian, in
1964. He attended Treasure Val
ley Community College, the Uni
versity o f Oregon and Oregon
State University.
Tallman served with the U.S.
Navy as a petty officer 2nd class,
and saw both US and overseas
duty. He served in Vietnam from
1967-71. He was honorably dis
charged in 1971.
He is self-employed with Keith
Tall and Sons from 1974 to
present.
He has been a Little League
coach, Columbia Youth Basket
ball coach, is a member o f the
Riverside High School Booster
Club and the Boardman Chamber
of Commerce.
Tallman has been mayor of the
city of Boardman from January
1997 to present. His political ex
perience also includes: planning
commission, city of Boardman,
1985-96 (chair 1991-96); budget
committee, city o f Boardman,
1987-89; Morrow County School
District Computer Technology
Advisory Committee, 1989-90;
board member. Port of Morrow/
U m atilla D evelopm ent Fund
C om m ittee, 1990-95; board
member. Morrow County Unified
Recreation Distinct, 1995-present;
Morrow County Budget Commit
tee, 1997-present; M orrow
County Transportation System
Planning C om m ittee, 1997;
Boardman Community Strategic
Planning C om m ittee, 1997-
present; and Boardman Area
Em ergency Planning Group,
1997-present.
If elected, what is the biggest
challenge facing you? My big
gest challenge will be keeping
everyone happy in M orrow
County. Com m unication and
open access will be key in accom
plishing this goal.
What major project would
you like to see accomplished?
What is your first priority? The
major project of the next judge
will be finding enough money to
fund all the services the citizens
of our county have come to ex
pect and do it without cutting per
sonnel.
Please outline a brief plan to
help North Morrow County ac
com modate growth; how can
you assist South M orrow
County in retaining and creat
ing jobs? Most growth is going
to take place within the bound
aries of our cities. We need to be
ready to assist them, when we
can. G row th throughout the
county is going to come about
because of the efforts of the Port
of Morrow. We need to maintain
open communication with the
port manager and the commis
sioners. I see the county’s job as
keeping informed, helping find
funding and staying out o f the
way, letting the port function as
the “econom ic engine.” Our
county economic coordinator will
also assist and lead the way to
help with finding funds for the
county and cities, if they want and
need the help.
What is the major problem
created by the plan to inciner
ate chemicals at the Army De
pot? How would yon address
this problem? My major efforts
will be to keep the citizens of
Morrow County safe. In order to
do that, we must have help from
the Army and Chemical Stockpile
Emergency Preparedness Pro
^ P C K (CSEPP).
D D \ TV w * The
A
gram
Army has
been mandated to safely bum
these chemicals and CSEPP is to
keep the citizens safe as this is
done. I intend to make sure both
carry out their responsibilities by
seeking the proper equipment and
training and reasonable storage
fees as allowed by law.
Outline a brief plan to allo
cate Morrow County’s tippage
fees, or if you are satisfied with
the present plan, explain that:
Presently, I do not think I would
change the process for allocation.
There is a need for some discre
tionary funds and then allocate
the rest through the State Eco
nom ic R evitalization Team
(SERT) process. Everyone needs
to know what the ground rules are
for this process and have access
based on those rules.
Briefly outline a plan to allo
cate county services, such as
road construction and mainte
nance, among the communities:
As with any service, a need must
be established and where needs
often outrun resources, priorities
must be determined. This implies
a plan. In the example of road and
maintenance, we need a formal
road plan based on priorities and
greatest need. The three commis
sioners would establish the policy
and county employees would
carry out these policies.
Are you in favor of establish
ing a road between lone and
Boardman? Why or why not? I
would not be against the road. The
major issues facing the county
will be the route and funding. The
route is being planned. The fund
ing will come from us, the citi
zens, and be determined by a vote.
If anyone has a rich uncle, we
could talk to him too.
Do you agree with the cur
rent county system of two com
missioners and a judge elected
at large? Why or why not? If
not, what system would you
propose? We have had a vote in
the recent past to determine if we
needed a change. I don’t think it
is broke. I would not change our
present form of county govern
ment.
Do you think the present
Morrow County juvenile court
system should be retained or
should jurisdiction be trans
ferred over to circuit court?
Why? What are your qualifica
tions for serving as juvenile
court judge? I would leave the
court in its present system. We
maintain local control with no
change. The circuit court has its
hands full now. Another judge
would be needed and we would
have to find more money if we
made a change. If I am elected, I
believe I can perform those du
ties needed to be juvenile judge.
rtTIV
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Keith E. Lewis
Keith E. Lewis, 66, Republi
can candidate for Morrow County
Judge, lives in Heppner. He and
his wife, Sharon, have four grown
children.
Lewis came to Morrow County
in 1983. He graduated from North
Powder High School and has
taken numerous college courses.
He served with the U.S. Navy,
CS2, in the Korean conflict for
four years.
Lewis is employed with Heri
tage Land Company, as co-owner
of the real estate company in
Heppner for the past 15 years. He
retired from the Oregon State
Police after 27 years of employ
ment. He was chief of investiga
tion for the Baker district. He has
also been an Oregon State Lottery
Commissioner for five years.
He is a member of the BPOE,
Heppner lodge, and the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce.
He was an Oregon State Lot-
n
C-
tery Commissioner for five years
and a member of the Morrow
County Planning Commission for
one year. Lewis has had experi
ence working withjuveniles both
in and out of the criminal justice
system and experience with bud
get, finance and public adminis
tration.
Why would a voter select you
over your opponent? By posi
tively comparing my experience
in court procedures, budget, fi
nance and public administration
with that of my opponents’.
If elected, what is the biggest
challenge facing you? The safe
and orderly destruction o f chemi
cal weapons at the Umatilla Army
Depot, including ensuring that all
emergency agencies county-wide
are properly equipped to safely
respond to emergencies during
the decommissioning process.
We must also be properly com
pensated by the U.S. Government
for the infrastructure costs bom
by county governmental bodies
for development and service costs
of the site and its employees.
What major project would
you like to see accomplished?
What is your first priority? As
sisted living for seniors in the
W illow Creek V alley. Any
project which efficiently benefits
the senior citizens and the youth
of Morrow County.
Please outline a brief plan to
help North Morrow County ac
commodate growth: The most
important process in guiding the
growth of a city or area is proper,
proactive planning. We need to
ensure that new employees have
stable neighborhoods, schools
and economic services from the
private sector. All county/city ser
vices should be coordinated in
efforts to build a smart and effi
cient living and working environ
ment.
How can you assist South
Morrow County in retaining
and creating jobs? This area of
the county offers a unique attrac
tion to the right people and busi
nesses. Due to our distance from
product delivery system s, it
would not be reasonable to sug
gest that we could accommodate
the needs of a manufacturing con
cern. However, nationally, we are
changing to a service-based
economy instead of a manufac
turing one. We can attract the
“telecommuters” to our area. Our
quality of life will create others
to bring opportunity to the south
of the county.
What is the major problem
created by the plan to inciner
ate chemicals at the Army De
pot? How would you address
this problem? Of course, safety,
but our concern must turn to the
imposition placed upon our gov
ernment services. We must con
tinue with area-wide, but mostly
North County capital investments
in schools, roads, etc. The Army
must pay its fair share. I would
also like the Army to secure a re
placement employment base once
the incineration plant closes from
among its defense contractors.
Outline a brief plan to allo
cate Morrow County’s tippage
fees, or if you are satisfied with
the present plan, explain that:
We should select county-wide
representation to work on a com
mittee which would establish and
prioritize the selection of projects
and groups eligible to received
money from this fund. These rec
ommendations should be for
warded to the county court for
consideration and approval.
Briefly outline a plan to allo
cate county services, such as
road construction and mainte
nance, among the communities:
Government exists to help indi
viduals and communities meet
their needs. It is the need for ser
vices which should dictate their
delivery. Simply put, where the
strongest demand for resources
exist, the strongest argument for
service delivery exists.
Are you in favor of establish
ing a road between lone and
Boardman? Why or why not? I
have not made up my mind on this
issue. I do know that I will pro
pose a feasibility study regarding
this issue which would include
poll of the people in both com
munities.
Do you agree with the cur
rent county system of two com-