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FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 5„ 2010 ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the follow ing criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name o f the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy o f statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost o f $10. Rep. Greg Smith has worked hard To the Editor: Representative Greg Smith is being challenged by Colleen MacLeod. I served with Colleen for four years as a Union County Commissioner. That is why I am endors ing Representative Smith. I would like to explain why. Colleen states she is against “all” tax increases. That wasn’t her record as commissioner. After 12 years in office she can not name a single tax or fee increase she voted against. When the vote came to more than double inspections fees, adding more than $ 1,000 to the cost of a new home, Colleen was the “Yes” vote that passed the increase. There was Colleen’s vote to spend $1,000 tax dollars on a cocktail reception in Hawaii. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Colleen, while in office, took a lobbyist paid trip to Hawaii. Before she went she cast the decid ing vote to spend $1,000 general fund tax dollars on what was advertised as a “cocktail reception“. While the amount was relatively small the principle of the matter was not: local elected officials should not be spending tax dollars on cocktails being served in Hawaii. Colleen did just that. There were her votes to have her county buy a failing railroad and golf course which have cost Union County dearly over the last few years. Colleen states she is for small government. While in office her salary doubled as did the size of Union County government. Please don’t be fooled by her rhetoric and her political makeover at the hands of people who live outside our district. She can’t get local people to go door to door for her so her lobbyist friends are bringing them in from out of area - literally. Rep. Greg Smith has worked hard and served our district well. I appreciate that. He has my vote and 100% of my support. John Lamoreau La Grande Spicer honest, efficient, fair, and will bring common sense approach To the Editor: Ann Spicer is the most capable and most commit ted Morrow County Justice of the Peace candidate. With over 30 years of practicing law in Morrow County, she has a vast array of civil and criminal law experience and knowledge that she will bring to the justice judge posi tion, including past Morrow County District Attorney. She is committed to her community as is shown by her tremendous civic service record of accomplishments. Her past community involvement includes chairing the St. Patrick’s Day Auction, member and past president of the Heppner Soroptomist Club, past board member of the Heppner Economic Development Group, member of the Heppner Chamber of Commerce, working the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Morrow County Fair Parade, member of the Heppner Friends of the Library, and 4-H leader. Currently, her civic passions are working as president o f the Oregon Trail Library District and on the Morrow-Umatilla Domestic Violence Board, where she is past president. The surest sign of ability and com mitment as a public official is a person’s record of civic service. None of Ann’s opponents can boast of this record of public service to Morrow County. The office of Kuhn and Spicer represents the communities of Heppner, Lexington and Irrigon. The Morrow County Justice of the Peace is the court where municipal ordinances are enforced. Ann comes with a background of municipal code enforcement experience that her opponents do not have. She knows evictions law and the other areas of civil law from 30 years of practice representing Morrow County citizens. Her experience as Morrow County District Attorney and as a 30 year practitioner qualifies her to handle the criminal law case load she will see as justice judge. Ann is honest, efficient, fair, and will bring a com mon sense approach to being a justice judge. I recommend her to you as the best qualified and most capable candidate for the office of Morrow County Justice of the Peace. Cara Osmin Heppner We need a seasoned legislator who knows and will fight for our needs Letter to the Editor: Even if you do not agree with his voting record 100% of the time, Greg Smith is the right man to represent Eastern Oregon. He does not let the Willamette Valley legislators or lobbyist tell him what is best for Eastern Oregon. Greg has been there for our logging industry by providing the industry with much needed property tax relief. Greg has been there for our cattlemen by mak ing sure the Range Resource Program at Eastern Oregon University remains open. Greg has been there for agriculture through his work to make sure we keep our FFA and 4-H programs. Greg safeguarded our rural, critical access hos pitals and our local nursing homes from deep targeted cuts. Greg defended our National Guard Armories from closure. Greg has been there for Eastern Oregon Univer sity by casting that difficult vote to keep the university open. And just check out his pro business voting record with the Associated Oregon Industries. The Associated Oregon Industries tracked the votes and found he voted with the needs of small business owners 95% of the time - one of the best voting records in the entire legislature. Now is not the time to send an inexperienced per son to represent our needs in Salem. We need a seasoned legislator who knows our needs and will fight for them. That person is Greg Smith. Suzane Jepsen Heppner Proud to be a Greg Smith supporter Colleen MacLeod a dependable champion To the Editor: I am pleased to write a letter in support of the re-election of Representative Greg Smith. Representative Smith has proven to me, countless times, his dedication to higher education, to the value of having an institutional member of the Oregon University System located in eastern Oregon, and to the employ ment that Eastern Oregon University specifically brings to Union County. This dedication is in addition to the allegiance I have seen him display toward many of the vital, rural programs we all use and depend upon. Not only has Representative Greg Smith served us well as a legislator, but he and his wife Sherri own a small business in eastern Oregon. He knows what it means to meet a payroll, to balance a budget, and have to cut expenditures. Not all legislators have the ability to balance family obligations, maintain a small business, and provide effective public service. Representative Smith does this with compassion, integrity, enthusiasm, and a steadfast drive to ensure that Eastern Oregon is equally and ap propriately represented in the legislature. For these reasons, I am proud to be one of Greg’s supporters. This May, please mark your ballot for “Greg Smith.” He is our best choice to send to Salem. Dixie Lund Retired EOU President To the Editor Political campaigns get turbulent and often heated. Facts get stretched and distorted. Let’s take a deep breath. We have been friends and supporters of Colleen MacLeod for years. We have admired her steady county commissioner focus on the resurrection of our Eastern Oregon economy and her unflinching devotion and as sistance to the components that have kept us economi cally better than many other areas; Boise Cascade and the timber industry, EOU, BMCC and our main street businesses. To paint her as unsupportive of these components because she questions runaway government spending and the potential California-like insolvency of this state is pure political gamesmanship. There is a big picture issue being studiously ignored in this race. It highlights the growing American concern of unsustainable taxation at the cost of future generations. We know for a fact it has never been about the beneficial Eastern Oregon projects that were vote traded by her opponent. It is about the back room process involved. When the Oregonian calls your representative on the carpet for questionable insider vote trading, it lessens the pride and real leadership we once enjoyed with former representatives Baum and Simmons. Let’s set the political rhetoric straight, she is pro life, she got a 100% from the NRA, she is a conservative Nelson would do an exceptional job Republican and she may just be the most outspoken de if elected fender of Eastern Oregon and its citizen we all know. Letter to Editor: Join us in voting for a dependable champion, My name is Chance Dixon, and 1 have had the Colleen MacLeod. opportunity to work with Justin Nelson for several years. I Carol Tate started my law enforcement career in Morrow County. I North Powder have since moved to Umatilla County to continue my work in law enforcement. I have a good idea of the case We need someone who will fight for load for Morrow County, as I relocated to Umatilla County quality jobs and programs and my personal case load doubled. During my career in Morrow County and Uma To the Editor: I like the mountains, the people and the small tilla County I have had the opportunity to work with town feeling you receive each time you go into town for several District Attorneys and Deputy District Attorneys. I supplies or attend one of Heppner’s various events. have worked for the past several years with Umatilla I like Greg Smith and firmly believe he’ll work County Deputy District Attorney Justin Nelson and I am confident with his abilities to perform professionally and hard to keep and to help create quality jobs in our area that with his level of integrity. Justin has experience with all will help people to live, raise families, and stay here. Greg Smith is very supportive of our local FFA types of criminal cases and has the experience necessary to be District Attorney. Justin is a hard worker and spends program, FBLA program and he’s a familiar face at sport countless hours working to make sure the criminals are ing and other local events that help guide our youth to paying for the crimes committed. If elected, Justin will make appropriate life choices. He supports agriculture and private property spend whatever time is necessary to prepare himself for rights, and I appreciate that he negotiates through moun a case, and prepare the officers. I have observed Deputy District Attorney Justin tains of paperwork to ensure that we receive funding on Nelson at several crime scenes, making sure he under this side of the state for critical infrastructure upgrades stands the facts of the cases filed by the District Attorney and whatever else might contribute to quality of life in Office. Justin also takes the time to talk with officer and our area. Many programs were threatened last year when deputies concerning cases and trials, and has made himself the Oregon Legislature supported a plan to close EOU available any time day or night for questions. It is my pleasure to tell you that Justin Nelson and National Guard armories. Pioneer Memorial Hospital, would do an exceptional job if elected as Morrow County which is designated as critical, was to receive drastic cuts. Not only does our hospital provide needed emergency ser District Attorney. vices; but the district provides numerous jobs throughout Chance L. Dixon Morrow County. In addition, important youth programs Hermiston were at stake for immediate de-fUnding (note, they were Smith possesses skills, abilities, and not targeted for reductions; they were placed at zero). The experience to be best choice list goes on and on. Suffice it to say, rural Oregon has not place Letter to the Editor: I am supporting Greg Smith for re-election to “high” on the list for urban legislators. We have had one House District 57. I have worked with Greg a number conscientious man in the legislature that has stood by us of occasions involving law enforcement issues. When and fought to keep our “piece of the pie.” We need to send Representative Greg Smith back I presented a problem to Greg, he immediately began to Salem to keep up the good fight. I urge you to join the working with me to help develop possible solutions. He hundreds of us who have signed up for the Committee has developed legislative bills for, not only me, but other to Re-Elect Greg Smith at www.repgregsmith.com. Let people as well. Greg has been a leader in the legislature us send a voice back to our capitol who is not afraid to and has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the people of stand up for what is right. his district. Please help re-elect Representative Greg Smith. Greg is a regular visitor to all the areas of his Talk to your friends and neighbors, write a letter, place a district. He attends and has been recruited as a master sign, and, most importantly, vote for Greg Smith. of ceremonies for numerous community events. He has Pam and Mark Wunderlich always been available when I needed his assistance or his Heppner opinion. I value his partnership. I have visited Greg on many occasions at the Smith has pro-family stance on state capitol and he has always taken the time to visit with me and discuss current issues. He has a proven re important issues cord of representing the interests of his district. The last To the Editor: legislative session created substantial controversy and I, Our family has joined the Committee to re-elect for one, have not lost faith in Greg’s ability to represent Greg Smith for Oregon House District 67. We have done the core values of the people of his district. He continues this because of his pro-family stand on issues that are to possess all the skills, abilities and experience to be the important to us. best choice for the people of District 57. Representative Greg Smith has been endorsed Please join me in supporting Greg Smith for re- by Oregon Right to Life. He believes that human life election to House District 57. is precious and has value at all stages. He has been a Kenneth W. Matlack strong voice in opposition of marriage being defined as Morrow County Sheriff anything but a sacred union between a man and a woman. Lastly, Rep. Smith fights legislation that is detrimental to nursing and hospital facilities, and is a fierce defender of Support of Greg Smith for opr senior citizen population. Ensuring that our elderly neighbors have quality health care and choice of physician representative is important to him. To the Editor: Please join us in supporting a conservative voice We are writing in support of Greg Smith for in Salem. Vote Rep. Greg Smith on May 18. representative from our district. Mary Ann Elguezabal Greg has served this area extremely well over the Heppner last several years and we have always found him to be straight forward and accessible at all times. Greg has been in Salem long enough to know how the system works and A politician with common sense has held key leadership roles in the legislature. To the Editor and voters of Morrow County: The one think we don’t need in rural Oregon Tom Stutzman is running for the U.S. Senate. is for the so called head of the Republican Party and a As he has stated “I will not be running for this position couple of silk stocking lobbyists from Salem telling us as a politician but as a dad, a husband, a baseball coach, how to vote. a real estate broker, and as someone who chooses to use In difficult times like this we need Greg’s sound common sense.” Wouldn’t that be great - a politician with thinking and leadership in Salem and that is why we would common sense. For more on his ideas you can download encourage everyone to join us and vote for Greg Smith at www.commonsensetom.com. for state representative. Billy J and Shirley Adams Larry and Betty Mills Heppner Heppner
