rWQ - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 23, 2002
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H ep p n e r
GAZETTE-TIMES
U S P S. 240-420
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A perspective on
Measure 23
S cheeler for D istric t 57
Representative.
1 became acquainted
with Elizabeth and her family
when they first began attending
our church nine years ago. They
became members o f the church
and have served faithfully filling
leadership roles.
Elizabeth volunteered to
serve in her d a u g h te r’s
classrooms and seven years later
is still serving. Elizabeth has
served on the Pendleton School
District Budget Committee and
is currently a school board
member.
Elizabeth understands
the correlation between good
schools and a thriving economy.
She knows that our schools and
Colleges must turn out qualified
candidates to fill the positions in
Oregon’s job market or those
jobs will go elsewhere.
A vote for Elizabeth
Scheeler is a vote for dedication
to see our state’s children receive
a quality education. It is also a
vote for the courage to reject
special interests and make tough
decisions to provide adequate
funding for all state services. And
lastly it is a vote for integrity which
appears to be sadly lacking in
Salem today.
I urge your support for
Elizabeth Scheeler on Nov. 5.
(s) Val Bates
Pendleton
was long time Democrats when
the party was the party o f
co n serv ativ e farm ers and
To the Editor:
working men. My father taught
Measure 23 worries me. me something way back in 1946
Rather than helping Oregon’s
when 1 asked him how he was
health care problems, Measure
going to support the democratic
23 could very well make them candidate for governor. To my
worse. In addition, it would cost
amazement he said that he was
billions of dollars in new taxes, going to vote for Doug McKay,
seriously damaging the state’s the Republican. He said, "I know
stru g g lin g econom y and
them both and McKay is an
threatening the funding needed to
honest man who will do his best
keep our schools from even for Oregon, So and so is just an
deeper budget cuts.
old Democratic hack.
I’m a nurse manager for
Those words came back
a group o f long-term care
to me w hen I was visiting an old
facilities. I’m also the mother of
democrat friend a couple o f
a school age child. I know health
weeks ago. Some years ago he
care costs are squeezing
had been a K ulo n g o sk i
Oregonians - including many
supporter. He told me that he had
seniors. I’m also painfully aw are visited with the candidate last
of just how damaging the current
sum m er and w as very
Some view
state budget crisis has been to our
disappointed. “H e’s now just
Scheeler as a
schools. What we need are
another old tired political hack
balanced, affordable solutions,
and I ’m going to support bright spot in
not unworkable, over-priced
Mannix” I was rather surprised politics
ideas like Measure 23.
but was coming to the same
To the Editor:
M easure 23 w ould
conclusion. Mr. Kulongoski
create a board o f 15 elected and
Every once in a while we
would just be a replay o f the
are privileged to feel the warmth
a p p o in te d o fficia ls w ith
disasters we’ve had in office with
of a bright spot on an otherwise
unprecedented authority to raise
Roberts and Kitzhauber. On the
sober and som ber horizon.
taxes, borrow money and ration
other hand Mr. Mannix knows
health care - all without voter
that there is more to Oregon than Elizabeth Scheeler, candidate for
approval. It could nearly double the 15 corridors. The only representative of District 57, is
Oregon’s top personal income
objections that 1 can find for Mr. one of those political bright spots.
tax rate, from 9 percent to 17
She is a w ife, a m other, a
Mannix is that he does not
p e rc en t, and individual
committed
community leader
believe in abortions or murder by
Oregonians’ income tax bills
in clu d in g serv ice on the
doctors. In the former none of the
could rise as much as $25,000
proponents seem to want to say Pendleton School District Board
per year.
of Directors, and a very talented
w hen life begins while the eminent
On top of that, the board
professor from Princeton seems and knowledgeable lady.
would have the power to hit
She committed to running
to feel that killing should be legal
employers with a huge payroll tax
for office in order to try to help
until the age o f five. Some have
up to 11.5 percent o f employee
said until birth but would defend stop the downward slide o f
wages per year! That kind o f
plunging a scissors into the brains Oregon’s education system. She
multi-billion-dollartax increase
of a baby leaving the birth canal. know s first hand how
will result in huge job losses as
underfunded our schools are and
I think that it is logical to believe
sm all businesses like ours,
that it is wrong to kill any one that how our quality education system
burdened with the added costs,
is sinking into the morass of
has legal rights. As for doctors
are forced to leave the state or
mediocrity. Elizabeth also knows
probably enough patients are
close their doors. That’s the last
that Eastern Oregon has needs
killed by accident.
thing Oregon’s economy needs
and priorities that are very
That brings us down to
right now.
different from the western side of
the Senate race. I don’t agree
Rather than taking a with everything he has done, the state. When Elizabeth goes
re a so n a b le approach and
to Salem, she will not be voting
notably ANWAR, but in general
targeting scarce taxpayer funds
the party line just because it is the
he has voted for the rights o f all
to m eet the needs o f the
Oregonians. He has fought for the “party line.” She will be looking
uninsured, Measure 23 promises
at the issues and deciding to vote
Klamath farmers and voted for
wide open “free healthcare” to
the new forest plan that will allow in a way that best serves her
all. It covers everything - and
district. How refreshing that
us to get the woods cleaned up
everyone, including people from
would
be if our other legislators
and allow salvage of timber from
other states who move here to
would put their constituents first
the millions o f burned acres. I
get free health care services.
can't believe that any one who and contributors and political
I t ’s
costly
and
loyalty second. We might not be
has seen the depressed condition
complicated, and I don’t like the
in this mess. Please vote for
o f our Oregon small towns that
idea o f 15 sta te -sa la rie d
depend on farming and timber Elizabeth Scheeler if you want a
bureaucrats having the power to
refresh in g and co m m itted
will vote for his opponent.
raise my taxes and ration my
representative for District 57.
Now Larry I’ve said I’m
health care.
sorry so please don’t tease me
The simple fact is, about ‘my friend, S enator
(s) Rusty Fisher
Oregon can't afford Measure
Pendleton
Daschle’ any more.
23. As a mother and a nurse, I
(s) Don McElligott
urge you to join me in voting
lone Scheeler running
NO on 23.
for District 57
(s) Deana Altman-Nelson Church friend
Registered Nurse encourages vote
representative
Salem
To the Editor:
for Scheeler
Elizabeth Scheeler is running for
Changing support, To the Editor:
D istrict 57 H ouse o f
Are you as disgusted as
Representatives position. I have
changing parties
I am with the inability of our state
had the opportunity to interact
legislators to provide adequate
To the editor:
with Elizabeth on numerous
This is a very hard letter funding for our schools and other
occasions during the course of
to write but after all the political vital state services? Are you
her campaign. I have been very
events o f the last ten years and concerned that special interest
impressed by her grassroots
listening to the current crop o f groups can influence and kill
approach to running for office.
Democratic politicians I want to sound legislation which would
She has been very proactive and
apologize to all my friends in benefit Oregon’s children? If so,
spent many hours meeting with
M orrow C ounty for ever there is a bright burst of hope in
teach ers and com m unity
supporting the Democratic party. the candidacy o f Elizabeth
members to hear what they have
My only excuse is that my family
i
to say about a variety o f issues.
E lizab eth is an ex cellen t
com m unicator and a good
listener.
Currently Oregon is 45th
in overall per capita taxes in the
n atio n . H ow ever, O regon
depends more on one tax source
than any other, that being the
income tax. This is where the rub
comes in! In Oregon, 74 percent
o f state tax collections are from
(you guessed it) income taxes.
Currently, our Oregon economy
is in the dumpster and state
revenues are in a free fall due to
a huge shortfall in anticipated
income taxes. After five special
sessio n s o f the O regon
Legislature, the central problem
remains. Funding streams tied to
the income tax will always be and
always have been cyclical with
highs and lows. In contrast,
schools, state police and services
to the eld erly req u ire a
dependable source o f state
revenue. For example, twenty-
five children in a first grade
classroom need one teacher to
teach them and this does not
change because the economy is
bad.
Elizabeth Scheeler is
beholden to no special interest
groups. She is a member o f the
Pendleton School Board and a
volunteer in the schools. She has
a history of public service for the
sake of community improvement
and not self-promotion. Elizabeth
is honest, sincere and genuinely
interested in solving the financial
dilemma that besets our great
state. Elizabeth is precisely the
kind o f p erson eastern
Oregonians need in the Oregon
House of Representatives.
(s) Larry Glaze
LaGrande
Scheeler is a
woman who gets
things done
To the Editor:
The first time I worked
with Elizabeth Scheeler, one thing
struck me: This woman gets
things done.
I met Elizabeth during a
long, intense 5-day community
volunteer project. By the time
day-two rolled around, it was
easy to tell the talkers from the
doers. Elizabeth Scheeler is
definitely a doer.
Since that time, I have
had the opportunity to not only
work with Elizabeth, but to watch
her work. She is a good listener,
intelligent, well spoken and
th o u g h tfu l. She does her
homework before making a
decision.
H er
o p p onent
sometimes characterizes her as a
w ell-m ean in g , o n e-issu e
candidate. Though I can’t argue
against the fact that her concern
about inadequate school funding
probably pushed her into entering
this race. I can tell you that she is
also w ell-versed on issues
ranging form O re g o n ’s
environment to its economy.
Oregonians have placed
education at the top o f their
p rio rity list. E lizab eth is
committed to providing a quality
education for Oregon’s children.
Elizabeth is a member o f the
Pendleton School Board. She is
well aware of the painful cuts that
rural O regon schools have
suffered and the even deeper cuts
that will result if a solution to the
funding crisis is not found soon.
Her opponent had a 67
percent voting record on school
issues during the regular session.
His record was closer to 0
percent during the special
sessions. He says he cares about
rural schools.
Talking has led the state
o f O regon to five special
sessions. Talking has led this state
to the doorstep of financial crisis.
Talking has gotten us nowhere.
Supporters call
Nelson a man who
says what he
means
To the Editor:
Jim Nelson has shown
his willingness to invest in the
Town o f L exington as a
businessman and as a citizen. His
efforts to clean up and beautify
his property, the adjoining
property, and town property is
representative of his “let’s do and
not just talk about it” mentality.
Jim has paid out o f his own
pocket to improve the Town of
Lexington’s property and his
neighbors’ property because he
felt it was what was best. He
purchased equipment so that the
town could use it during its water
project period. When others in
town were complaining about
items lying around after the water
project, Jim was the one who
took actio n instead o f
complaining. Jim Nelson is a man
who is straightforward with the
facts and does not use deception.
With Mr. Nelson you will get a
man who says what he means
and means what he says.
Being a person of action
Jim picked up the ball and
continued the fundraisers that had
been started in the past. He
helped form the Lexington Fire
Fund w hen the A u x iliary
disbanded. An accountant is
being used to track the use of the
money for financial integrity. You
can be assured that the money
that is raised and donated will be
used for the Lexington Fire
Department. The wishes of the
fire fund committee will be
followed, as will the articles of
incorporation.
Mr. Nelson has shown
o v er the years that he is
concerned about the Town of
Lexington and he continues to
attend council meetings so he can
stay current with issues and
actions affecting the town. 1 have
watched and worked with both
candidates, but I must conclude
that a vote for Mr. Jim Nelson is
a positive vote for the Town of
Lexington.
(s) Glenn Anderson
Lexington
Former
representative
backs Smith
To the Editor:
We are p leased to
support Representative Greg
Smith in his effort to seek re-
election to the Oregon House of
R ep resen tativ es. M orrow
County has been well served by
this tireless advocate of Eastern
Oregon. Let us share with you
just a few things Greg did for us:
D uring the 2001
Legislative Session, Greg took
legislative leadership to task on
reductions to the M edicaid
Upper Limit Reimbursement
Rate, which was vital to our local
pharmacy in its ability to serve
Morrow County’s most needy
citizens. This was also important
legislation for our new assisted
living facility. Senior citizens
greatly depended upon this rate
to be maintained.
G reg stab ilized our
county fairs with reliable, long
term funding. The Oregon Fairs
Association named him their
Grand Champion Legislator for
his hard work.
G reg brought home
$40,000 to the Oregon Trail
Library District to enhance
literacy in our county.
Greg fought hard to
insure $1.2 million to rural
Oregon safety net clinics, o f
which Morrow County has three.
For his leadership on this issue,
the Oregon Rural Health Care
Association named him their
Outstanding Freshman Legislator
of the Year.
G reg was one o f a
handful o f p ro -ed u catio n
legislators that voted “yes” for
$5.2 billion for our children's
education. That was over $500
million more than the previous
biennium.
Greg led the charge in
keeping the State Accident
Insurance Fund (SAIF) intact so
that our Main Street businesses
w ould co n tin u e to have
a ffo rd a b le
w o rk e r’s
compensation insurance.
For our farmers, Greg
was a strong “yes” vote on
eliminating Oregon’s inheritance
tax, thereby allowing the family
farm to pass from generation to
generation without having to
w orry about the over-
burdensome tax placed on their
family.
We need Representative
Greg Smith back in Salem to fight
for what matters most to Morrow
County. Please join us in sending
a strong voice back to Salem.
(s) Representative
Raymond French (retired)
(s) Norma French
Heppner
True rights are
balanced with
equal
responsibility
To the Editor:
C hildren are by definition
precious. They need responsible
adults to help them gain maturity.
I read in the Heppner
Gazette-Times that our court
system has denied our State
Senator Greg Smith the right to
guide his own son away from
criminal behavior.
Is this right?
A more serious question
might be “what kind of mindset
will form when all of the other 10
-14 year olds read that not even
a powerful politician is allowed
to dispense discipline?”
Children of that age have
not yet worked out a social
conscience, or fully discovered
cause and effect. Are they
equipped to evaluate that it was
the divorced wife, someone for
whom consuming love had turned
to consuming hate that had
accused the Senator? Could it be
obvious, at that age, why this
career damaging accusation was
made and the adjudication was
done w ithin w eeks o f an
important election?
These impressionable
children are already suffering
from the disadvantage of being
repeatedly told that they have
rights, and probably are without
sufficient maturity to realize that
true rights are balanced with
equal responsibilities.
Might they begin to think
that they can do any damn thing
that they want, and that nobody
can say nay? Perhaps not, at least
not all o f them.
However, there is a test.
Question; how will they
act when they believe that the
fig u re o f au th o rity is so
p reo ccu p ied
that
any
misbehaving will go unnoticed?
In order to find out the
tru th , let th o se p aren ts,
educators, and politicians, who
so freely proclaim the rights of
children, to those children, be
active in the testing. Let those
prosecutors and judges who so
freely charge abuse to those who
wish only to have their children
learn to act in a civilized way,
help to conduct the test.
Let them drive a school
bus for just one year.
Drivers are needed. It
does not require much time, only
a couple or three hours per day,
four days per week.
Would any o f the more
liberal among us who have the
power to pursue their agenda,
test their theories and risk placing
the back o f their head into the
prev ailing atmosphere which they
have created?
(s) F. Green White
Heppner
American Legion and
Auxiliary to meet
The American Legion
and Auxiliary is scheduled to hold
a m eeting, Oct. 28, at the
Methodist Church basement.
There will be a potluck
beginning at 6:30 p.m. Reports
will be given on the State
Convention and other events.
All members and family
welcome.
,
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