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
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