FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 15,2008
~ Letters to the Editor ~
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Sample is your man
Letter of support for Ken Matlack
Sample can create a cohesive team
To the editor:
Bringing criminals to justice involves more than
simply chasing and apprehending “bad guys.” In fact, that
is only the beginning. Holding offenders accountable in a
court o f law' requires legally sound investigations by law'
enforcement working in close cooperation with the District
Attorney’s office. During my tenure as a Morrow County
prosecutor. I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with
both candidates for Morrow County Sheriff, and I can tell
you without a doubt, that from a prosecution perspective,
Larry Sample is your man.
While each candidate boasts a large number o f
years o f experience, Larry Sample's experience culminates
in the kind of leadership skills and high quality police work
that help to ensure successful prosecutions. At least as valu
able as the ability to perform the job functions, is Larry’s
character. Credibility is everything in the law enforcement
community. We can confidently place our trust in what
Larry says. Because Larry operates with a high degree o f
professionalism, I’ve never had to be concerned that the
priority he gives a matter, or the way he handles a case
may be influenced by personal associations or agendas.
We can rely on Larry to use his position to treat everyone
fairly, instead o f acting as though some are more equal
than others. Phil Morris, Larry’s choice for undersheriff,
shares the same quality characteristics and solid values that
Larry exemplifies. We can be assured that Larry and Phil
will protect and serve all o f Morrow County.
Many politicians are skilled orators that special
ize in delivering flowery speeches. We should base our
choice for sheriff not on who can talk the talk, but rather
the individual with a proven track record who has the
personal and professional integrity to do the job fairly and
effectively. Please join me in voting for the candidate with
a demonstrated ability to partner with prosecution for the
common good. Please vote for Larry Sample.
Elizabeth Ballard, Morrow County District Attorney
Heppner
To the editor:
Ken Matlack is running for re-election to continue
serving the citizens o f Morrow County as Sheriff.
Since being elected in 2004, I have seen many
positive changes in the Morrow County Sheriff’s Depart
ment. One change is the increased presence o f the sheriff,
the undersheriff and his deputies in Morrow County. Ken
is definitely a working sheriff, I constantly see him out on
patrol. I like the idea o f the sheriff out doing exactly what
he expects o f his deputies.
I have been very impressed by the professional
ism o f his deputies, from what 1 see, the Morrow County
Sheriff’s Department is working efficiently and providing
excellent service to the public.
Ken has been very active in his community serving
on the Morrow County School Board, Irrigon City Coun
cil and is a current member o f the Irrigon Knights Pride
Booster Club. Ken puts community first and is always
willing to serve.
Why would we want to change the management of
the Morrow County Sheriff’s Department when it’s per
forming better than I have seen in years? We already have
a hardworking, experienced, professional sheriff that the
community reveres and respects. I truly believe that Ken
cares for our community and is very passionate about the
w ork he is doing for our county. Ken is the type o f sheriff
that is always accessible and knows that his position as
sheriff is a 24/7 job.
1 urge every citizen in Morrow County to support
our current Sheriff Ken Matlack and join me in re-electing
him as Morrow County Sheriff.
Greg Barron
Irrigon
Dear Editor:
Many letters that you have read have spoken of
accomplishments and years o f experience and all o f them
are equally important as the date to place your vote moves
ever closer. However, this letter will address the importance
o f leadership, character, and integrity.
While it remains true that no one is perfect, as a
human race, we are easily offended and when things do
not work out exactly as we think that they should be w e’ll
often choose to place blame where it is undeserved espe
cially when we don’t have the ability to see the complete
picture. Some choose to use that human response to their
advantage. Some may even choose to plant seeds o f dis-
sention or to allow mistruths to be believed in order to
further their gain. Nowhere in my research on leadership
did I find that manipulation is a quality o f good leader,
in fact, it is instead identified as an ineffective leadership
style, and that leader was identified as a hustler. A good
leader was identified as an ineffective leadership style, and
that leader was identified as a hustler. A good leader was
identified as an advocate, one who works in coalition to
build not destroy or divide.
When we discuss the importance o f leadership as
it pertains to the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office we are
opening up a discussion o f great magnitude for this one
body governs the majority o f law enforcement response
within Morrow County. Whether the request for assistance
is large or seemingly “insignificant” the importance to each
o f us in this county is high and should not be taken lightly,
nor should we allow ourselves to be deceived. I, as a past
employee o f the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, have
always been very proud o f my service and whom I served.
As an employee I worked with a team and as undersheriff,
Larry Sample, was a very integral part o f that team. He used
common sense and practical knowledge to administrative
and problem solve. Larry spent his years gaining the respect
o f a very large number in his field, including mine. The
respect was gained because you can trust Larry and could
easily see his desire to protect and serve, not just do what
he wants, but what is conducive to making the sheriff’s
office a better team and help the system work as a whole.
I have worked with Larry during critical incidents and I
have witnessed first hand his care and concern for those
that are in his charge, even those that were injured while
protecting our country, as well as the public that may be
experiencing the crisis. I have also observed how Larry
has investigated and disciplined when necessary. It was
fair and just and never to my knowledge have I been privy
to him requiring any employee to do something that may
be unethical or against what is right. I always knew that
his door was open if, as a team member, I needed to ask
for his expertise or counsel. The reason that I point this
out to you as voters is only to confirm for you that when
Larry speaks to you about his desire for input from you as
the public that he means it. All will have a voice instead
o f a few.
It is very easy to note one’s accomplishments in a
broad way that allows for interpretation and not full facts.
It is another thing to have people standing behind you sup
porting you because o f your belief system. Integrity is the
acting on one’s personal commitment to honesty, living by
and for one’s standards. Integrity is not based upon your
ability to talk, or your ability to promise, it is based upon
your follow through. It is based upon your every day life
and what people say about you when you are not there to
defend yourself. Do they question your ethics, what you
stand for, or what you stand to gain? Do they feel threatened
or concerned for the decisions that you are making? Or do
they stand behind you, trust you, work with you toward
your goal? It takes courage to stand for what is important
to you and what you believe in. Courage is a quality that
I want to see in our next sheriff. I want the sheriff and his
deputies to protect us, to stand up for what is right, and to
treat us with respect. A true leader leads by example and
expects a reflection from those that are serving under them.
That reflection should be one o f trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship, for ac
cording to the Josephson Institute o f Ethics these are the
six-pillars o f Character. I only know o f one candidate that
exhibits these characteristics. Larry Sample, in his desire to
find a second in command that shares these characteristics,
has chosen Phil Morris to serve as his undersheriff. One
again, it is my experience that Phil adds expertise, ability,
respect for and from others and character to the position
that Larry has asked him to serve in.
Perhaps you feel as though I am being idealistic,
however, as I have continued to work closely with victims
within our criminal justice system I have witnessed first
hand the importance o f well governed law enforcement
and the need for that to be returned to Morrow County. It
is my opinion that Larry Sample brings not only the return
o f solid administration but refreshing ideas that will address
important issues such as community input, more practical
animal control, personnel incentives and common sense
management that gets the job done and creates a cohesive
team. That is why I believe that your vote to elect Larry
Sample the next Morrow County Sheriff will give us the
“Working Sheriff” that we so desperately need.
Samarra D. Van Doom
Heppner
Obama’s record on guns scary
To the editor:
Obama voted to allow prosecution of people who
use a firearm in self-defense (Illinois Senate S.B. 2165
vote 20 3/25/04). Obama supported increasing taxes on
firearms and ammo by 500 percent (Chicago Defender
12/13/99).
Obama voted to allow lawsuits designed to bank
rupt the firearms industry (U.S. Senate, S 397 vote 219,
7/29/05). Obama endorsed a ban on all handguns in Sep
tember 1996 and again in March 2008. Obama voted to ban
almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and
sport shooting (U.S. Senate, S 397 vote 217 on 7/29/05).
Obama supports gun owner licensing and gun registration
(Fact Check Obama campaign website 12/11/07).
I could go on with more o f his opinion on the
Second Amendment but most o f us know where it’s go
ing. Check it out; this information is available at www.
GunBanObama.com. Obama, if elected, would be the most
anti-gun president in American History.
W.J. Taylor
Baker City
Re-elect Ken Matlack as sheriff
Letter to the Editor:
1 have known Sheriff Ken Matlack since he was a
young Oregon State Policeman in Hermiston. I was Ken’s
District Criminal Lieutenant and one o f his supervisors
when he made detective at the Hermiston office. He was
a hard working detective and made a lot o f criminal cases
in Umatilla and Morrow Counties. He was known to be
a self starter and made good decisions. He was respectful
o f people and wanted to make a difference.
When he became sheriff o f Morrow County, I saw
those same traits ad watched as he began to make positive
changes in Morrow County. He campaigned on being a
“Working Sheriff' and he has done that. He and Under
sheriff Myren are very active in the field working with their
deputies. Ken is always trying to find better ways to get
the job done and provide a better service to the citizens of
Morrow County. There has been a better response to calls
for serv ice now than in the previous administration.
It should be noted that Ken’s opponent was the
Undersheriff in the last administration. If you want to go
forward with positive changes you should vote for Ken. A
vote for his opponent is a choice to go backwards. I urge
you to re-elect Ken Matlack Morrow County Sheriff.
Keith Lewis
Heppner
R e a l E s ta te W a n te d
I have qualified buyers looking
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If you have property like this to
sell please contact me.
David Sykes Real Estate
541-676-9228 office
541-676-9939 home
541-980-6674 cell
You will not be ignored by Sample
To the editor:
With all the news media concentrating on our
state and national elections, our local election sometimes
are forgotten. The elected offices in Morrow County are
often overlooked and we may forget that we have a race
going on for the position o f Morrow County sheriff. As a
retired law enforcement officer, who served the people of
Morrow County for over 20 years, I have a rather strong
opinion as to the importance o f having the right person as
our Morrow County sheriff.
I am supporting Larry Sample for the following
reasons. Larry has been a friend and co-worker for almost
20 years. He understands that being sheriff is not about
where you live or what your name is, but as sheriff you
represent all citizens o f Morrow County equally. You do
not let your feelings or opinions, cloud your judgment and
you treat all the people the same.
1 have worked with Larry on his campaign over
the last several months and have been present during his
meetings throughout the county. I have not heard Larry
make any promises to get your vote. The only promise he
has made is to do the best job he can for all the citizens of
Morrow County. Larry will listen to what you have to say,
take it under consideration, and if he disagrees with you,
at the very least, you will get a response to your issue. You
will not be ignored.
Please join my family in voting for Larry Sample
for Morrow County sheriff.
Mark G. Calbick
Irrigon
Keep the community safe and se
cure: Vote for Matlack
To the editor:
This letter is in support o f Ken Matlack for another
term as Morrow County sheriff.
During Ken’s term as sheriff, our North Morrow
County has noted the visibility o f patrol cars around our
schools and businesses. As I travel to the towns o f South
Morrow County the patrol cars are also visible.
Irrigon has been my home for many years and I
have served on many commissions and boards to make
improvements for all o f Morrow County. Without safety
for the citizens o f the community, my efforts would be of
little importance.
Under Ken M atlack it has been noted that the
Morrow County Sheriff’s Department has had a greater
presence in North Morrow County than ever before.
Since we have successfully returned our high
school to Irrigon, it is comforting to see the Sheriff’s patrol
car drive by at intervals keeping a watchful eye on our
youth and keeping them safe.
I have read in the newspaper on several occasions
where the Morrow County Sheriff’s Department has joined
forces with the Oregon State Police and also worked with
neighboring county sheriff’s departments to bring about
law and order.
Keep our communities safe and secure and vote for
Ken Matlack for our Morrow County sheriff.
Dan Creamer
Irrigon
M.C. Health Department schedule
The monthly schedule for the Morrow County
Health Department Offices is as follows:
Thursday, Oct. 16: Heppner clinic, 8:30 a.m.-noon,
1-4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 20: Boardman clinic, 8:30 a.m.-
12:30, 1-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 21: Boardman clinic, 8:30 a.m.-
12:30, 1-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 23: Heppner clinic, 8:30 a.m.-noon,
1-4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 27: Boardman clinic, 8:30 a.m.-
12:30, 1-4:30 p.m.
Artifactory Craft Fair to
be held in November
The Artifactory Craft Fair will be held on No
vember 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heppner Senior
Center.
Tables will be reserved on a first paid, first served
basis. A table along the wall is $22 and a table in the center
is $20. The deadline to register is November 7.