Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2004)
EIGHT- Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 13, 2004 2004 Candidates’ Forum: county - wide candidates Election day is Nov th ro u g h transition of leadership I can to 2002 and a present board Association, he is a member with the Oregon Department driving 2 and the Heppner Gazette- of Corrections-Two Rivers will identify neighborhoods as they patrol and m em ber She is also a o f the O regon Judicial Times has opened a forum Correctional Institution He opportunities for continued and travel to assignments. 6) member of lone Community Department Citizen Review for county candidates Each Agri-Business Organization Board, and he was Local is currently a private Gang A ctivity is an improvement in this office I can d id ate was given a and lone School Foundation Public Safety Coordinator investigator with IC’U important concern I support know how to research and questionnaire as a way to She has also served on the Council Chair He has served Investigations, LLC, in a School Resource Office work with the old and new inform read ers o f their position in the M orrow records I will be there as a Price School District Board with the Law Enforcement Irrigon backgrounds, positions and He is a member in Albany County School District to w orking clerk for all A dm inistration Council; ideas for the county Irrigon Community Baptist impact gang, drug, violence, Morrow County Citizens I She was an owner- BMCC Criminal Justice All the candidates Church and a Lieutenant in theft and o th er issues want the public and operator of a retail business Advisory Board, Governor’s were asked the same 12 years as owner-operator Executive Review Panel for Oregon State Police Active involving students. In specifically the voters- both questions including: l)W hy and with that gained business CSEPP; Morrow County Reserve He has also been addition, the Sheriff’s office individually and collectively- would a voter select you ex p erien c e including Multidisciplinary Team; and active with the Irrigon will work closely with the to have a good experience in over your opponent9 2) If alternative school working the election process. I budgets, collections, Community Resource Team Watermelon Festival elected, what is the biggest He has also served organize the elections to be Denton also has to impact at risk students employee relations, and challenge facing you? 3) with Arlington Planning Q uestion 4) “ I fair and to be an accurate communication She also has executive level certification What do you feel are the by DPSST; 2800 hours of Commission; Arlington City expect to see continued reflection o f the public’s computer skills important issues facing the Question 1) “I am a public safety training, 102 Council; Arlington School economic grow th in the choice I know the rules and county at this time9 and 4) people person I enjoy college credits in middle B oard; Gilliam C ounty county. I believe the will continue to implement What do you see as the law Budget Committee; Irrigon recreational site in south them.” working with and for people m anagem ent, future of the county for the Q uestion 2) “ My I have life experience. For enforcement management, City Council; M orrow county will see more and next five years? County Health District; and more use I believe the race biggest challenge will be over 20 years I have been out applied criminology and Three contested M orrow County School in the private sector, gaining criminal justice track will be established and working with federal, state county positions are Justice Board Question 1) “ I was business and population and local law m akers to knowledge about different o f the Peace, Sheriff and M atlack is a born and raised in Eastern growth will continue on the comply with ever-changing aspects o f life ” County Clerk graduate o f Drug Q uestion 2) “ If Oregon and I bring 31 years north end This will put election and recording laws The Justice o f the additional pressures on the I will accept the challenge to p rofessional law E n f o r c e m e n t elected, one o f the major o f Peace race is betw een Administration’s School on challenges would be the enforcement experience to Sheriff's Office. My rural get federal dollars that incumbent Charlotte Gray Narcotic and Dangerous policing philosophy keeps Morrow County will need transition o f taking over the the position Twenty-one and Betty Burns Drug Enforcement and a office of the former Justice years of the time is with the people informed and for m andated changes Charlotte Gray, 64, graduate o f N orthw est interactive with Sheriff’s caused by HAVA (Help of the Peace I am positive Morrow County Sheriff’s and her husband David, who University’s School of Police Office People support who America Vote Act). HAVA that this can be done with Office and six years as live in Heppner, have two Staff and Command professionalism, efficiency county sheriff ” they know and ideas they requires all states to upgrade grown Question 1) “It is my Question 2) “The and team work, in a timely believe in I believe my voting equipment, make children phil osophy that rural continuing drug abuse manner.” program is the right choice voting more accessible, G r a y policing is about being Question 3) “As a problem in the county and at the right place at the right provide better voter and graduated involved with people and election official education, resident o f Morrow County, finding resources to continue time ” f r o m solving problems. It is my I feel that there are two fighting the problem.” Running for County and reduce fraud through the Shoreline philosophy that you can’t major issues-jobs and drugs. Question 3) “From a Clerk is current deputy clerk implementation of a central H i g h solve problems unless you Our county is in need of law enforcement point of Bobbi Childers and Cyde voter registration system School in are involved with people I developed and managed by family wage rate jobs The view, the influx o f illegal Marie Estes Seattle believe you have to be active each state’s Chief Election drug business however, is drugs into the county This Bobbi Childers, 44, a n d booming Both o f these has a major impact on the in all the communities in the and her husband Harvey, Official For Oregon that is a tte n d e d issues bring with them more economic well being of the county. You do this by have two grown children and the Secretary o f State Legal cases to our Justice Court citizens in the county Illegal regular and frequent live in lone Childers is a Oregon will be creating a Institute- Charlotte Gray cen tralized , system.” drugs, specifically contacts with people and lifetime resident of Morrow single, N atio n al businesses My phone interactive, and official data Question 4) “I see methamphetamine, can be County and graduated from Judicial C ollege- n o n number is public information base system with all the our county, made up of small tied directly to 80 percent of Heppner High School attorney course She has also and my address is listed I of O re g o n ’s communities, growing As the property and violent Childers currently names participated in 15 hours of encourage people to call me registered voters.” they grow, more people are crimes in the county. People works for legal education each year for Q uestion 3) getting involved and are already struggling to make a You must be approachable M o r r o w the last 26 years and available and I will be “Morrow County has lost taking pride in their living in our econom ic County as Gray has worked for and gained a number o f communities and schools. climate are being victimized both to the people o f C h i e f Morrow County for 26 years resources. I believe that They are rallying together by these drugs time and time M orrow County. I will D e p u t y and before that for City of ensure that whoever serves County officials need to keep and w orking with law again, even if they don’t use Clerk. She The Dalles for five years. as the Undersheriff will share working on a plan to keep enforcement to rid their them We can’t solve the has also * She is a member of that same philosophy. current businesses operating, communities o f drugs and problem in Morrow County worked « j the Seventh Day Adventist Without being involved with and develop incentives for crime. The communities are because it is a nationwide for the Church and served as a clerk people, it is much more new industry We need to w orking to g eth er to problem, but we can make Mor r ow for 20 years She is a member keep people employed and encourage new business and them go somewhere else ” difficult to solve problems C o u n t y of the Justice of the Peace and make a difference.” living in this county We need Question 4) “The better paying jobs for our School Association and has served Question 2) “ The to listen to what people need county. I am optimistic about north county has a bright D is tric t- as secretary for 10 years She and want and try to achieve biggest initial challenge will Bobbi Childers our future because I have future with the industry I o n e is also a member o f the be transitioning the it We need to use every tax dealt with many o f our coming into the Port The Schools as a media National Judges Association community volunteers and I south county needs to departm ent to a new t e c h n i c i a n / c o m p u t e r dollar intelligently to better Question 1) “I have can see the hours of time and continue to capitalize on our leadership style It will take coordinator She was owner/ serve the people.” a total o f 31 years o f Question 4) “ I see work they devote to make natural resources to bring a little time to get to know o p e ra to r o f B e e c h e r’s knowledge, experience and the county growing. I know all the personnel o f the Morrow County a better tourist dollars into the area Restaurant for four years education as a judge and department Getting to know that we’re not as big as other place to live.” The new OHV Park is an She is a member of court clerk I can do the job Running in the race excellent example of what the strengths and the the United Church of Christ, counties in population, but if efficiently, professionally and of the Community Women’s Club you take a long hard look at for sheriff is current sheriff, can be done We have a real w eaknesses with complete ability on Jan dep artm en t is very Verlin D enton and his asset in the Blue Mountains and Willow Creek Valley all the co m m u n ities in 3, 2005.” important ” opponent Ken Matlack and I think we should Service Club She has served M orrow County you see Question 2) “ The Question 3) “ 1) I Verlin Denton, 58, continue to build on its as a 4-H leader and food change and growth With greatest challenge facing me and his wife Andrea live in economic potential with believe citizens definitely superintendent She has also this know ledge I am is the same as it always has Heppner They have two development of sports like want to see the Sheriff and served with the lone School prepared to meet all the been as a judge, I must know c ro s s U ndersheriff much more Site Council and Morrow needs o f Morrow County grown children and came to snowm obiling, and keep current with not personally present in the County Historical Society. citizens. I will continue to Mo r r o w country skiing, etc ” only the statutory law, but communities 2) Anhydrous County in Ken Matlack, 55, C hilders has a seek all funds available case law as well Then the 19 8 3. and his wife D onna, o f ammonia theft is a big membership in IACREOT through the HAVA Plan, to next challenge is to always Dent on Irrigon, have two grown problem in south county. I (International Association of bring Morrow County to the fairly and impartially apply graduated daughters He graduated am currently working with Clerks, Recorders, Election playing field o f all other the case law and statutory f r o m from Umatilla High School Representative Greg Smith Officials and Treasurers); counties.” law to the specific case being Cyde Estes, 48, was Wh e e l e r and graduated from Eastern on new legislation for OACC (Oregon Association heard.” enhanced penalties for born and raised in Heppner a n d Oregon State College with a of County Clerks); Election Questions 3 and 4) bachelor of science degree in criminal possession o f C enter (an international and has two adult sons She Brookings- “Judicial ethics do not allow anhydrous ammonia I want association Harbor secondary education o f voter and her me to answ er these to expand the use of reserve H i g h Matlack has been a registration and election husband questions ” officers to be available to Rusty School high school social science officials.) Betty Burns, 54, assist in anhydrous ammonia He also Verlin Denton teacher She has certifications live in came to Morrow County in theft and other response a tte n d e d and head in elections legislation, Heppner 1995 and currently lives in issues in south county 3) Blue Mountain Community f o o t b a l l system s adm inistration, S h e lone She has two grown Livability issues that impact College and S W Oregon a n d budgeting, facilitating voter graduated children the com m unity Community College basketball participation, management f r o m S h e neighborhoods especially Before coming to coach He concepts, inform ation Heppner graduated problems with reported drug m anagem ent M orrow County, Denton s e r v e d and H i g h from Bell houses I support the drug worked for the Gold Beach with the technology, vote by mail S c h o o l H i g h task force but I also see a Cyde Estes Police Department and the O r e g o n procedures, recording a n d School attended definite need for increased C urry C ounty S h e riff’s S t a t e issues/stands and laws, filing a n d investigation on reported officer training, vital records, Blue Mountain Community Office In 1983, he began Police for a tte n d e d “drug houses”. Deputies will election ethics, board of C ollege She also has working at Morrow County 25 years California spend more time in this area property tax assessment, p rofessional appraisal, SherifTs Office and has been a n d Ken Matlack S t a t e and 4) Victims want more passport sheriff since 1998 He has retired in acceptance, m anagem ent College at su p erv iso ry training contact to be informed as to held the ranks o f patrol 1999 In that position he communications in voter L o s what is being done regarding registration and imaging/ exceeding 700 hours served as Trooper, Senior sergeant, detective/sergeant A ngeles, Betty Burns Estes is a board and undersheriff Trooper, D etective - each phase o f their microfilm conversation “All CA member and chairman for investigations They want to this training goes with the D etective He is a member and H erm iston; She is curren tly the Morrow County Unified be kept more informed 5) deacon at First Christian Sergeant-Coos Bay; Patrol office I see k ,” stated em ployed by CSU Recreation District for 8 Each area o f the county Childers S erg e a n t-B ak e r City, Church in Heppner Transport, Inc., Arlington years, (elected office); wants to see more presence Question I ) “l do the Station Denton is the A ssistant Terminal in Arlington as an chairman o f the BENT Task Commander, The Dalles, and in their area This will be job now I have the essential Pioneer Memorial Hospice office clerk C om m ander- accomplished as deputies training and experience in Volunteer Coordinator and Force Board He served as O utpost Burns was president secretary/treasurer o f the Arlington He was also a travel to various assignments the County Clerk's office Trainer, and Vestry Board o f the United Way o f O regon State S h e riff’s background investigator by spending more time and that is required with the continued next page Morrow County from 1999 jK i I
