EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 8, 2014
E L EC T IO N FO RUM
Kathv Marick
Candidate for Hep
pner City Council, Posi
tion 5
Age: 54
Marick grew up in the
Willamette Valley in Foster,
OR. She graduated from
Sweet Home High School
in 1978. She moved to
Heppner in
1999. She
then
met
John M ar
ic k , a n d
the couple
m arried in
2001. They
bought Wil Kathv M arick
low Creek
Diner in 2003.
Marick has owned and
operated two small busi
nesses, as well as raising an
international family that in
cludes three biological chil
dren, one adopted child, 12
exchange students, and fos
ter children, which she says
provided “many chances to
govern in a large family.”
Daughters Jenny, 17, and
Abbie, 12, are still at home,
as well as Danish exchange
student Nanna Marie, 17.
Why are you running
for city council? “ 1 love
our community. Now that
J1_L
our children are getting
older I wanted to be more
involved as a servant to the
community.”
What do you feel is the
higgest challenge facing
Heppner? “Economics.”
How would you address
this as a member o f the city
council? “I would work as a
team with the other council
members to find ways to
bring more employment
opportunities.”
What are some ways
you would reach out to the
community and encourage
more participation in the
decisions made by the coun
cil? “1 want to be a voice
for the people of Heppner.
Having served this commu
nity’ in our business, Willow
Creek Diner & Bakery, for
11 years, we have heard the
concerns o f many locals
and would like to address
their concerns. Our family
has a servant's heart and
wants to be involved in
making Heppner an even
better community than it
already is. Heppner is the
friendliest, most accepting
town I have ever lived in.
Our family loves living in
this tight-knit community.”
Mayoral candidates continued...
Cody High (cont.)
ence in our community
and guarantee that all citi
zens’ voices are heard and
all decisions are made for
the best interest of the city.
I want to be mayor so 1 can
ensure that the meetings
are run with the people in
mind, that everyone has the
time necessary to express
their thoughts, everyone is
treated with respect regard
less of their opinion, the
agenda is followed, and the
city council’s actions are
kept track of and not put on
a back burner and forgotten
to time.”
What do you feel is the
biggest challenge facing
H eppner? “ Money will
always be the biggest chal
lenge facing Heppner. With
a small community, finding
resources to address all the
concerns a city has (streets,
parks, w ater and sewer)
w ith o u t o v er-ch arg in g
those who live here or hav
ing things fall into disarray
will always be a struggle for
the city to overcome.”
How would you address
this as mayor? “The only
way to address budgetary
issues is to be vigilant with
our spending. Making sure
that we are examining all
expenditures, constantly
looking at all sides to find
the best solution no matter
how unorthodox and mak
ing decisions that continue
to make Heppner the place
we call home. 1 like to
think that during my past
time on city council I was
conscious of these facts and
acted accordingly, and 1 will
continue to do so if elected
as your mayor.”
What are some wavs
you would reach out to the
community' and encourage
more participation in the
decisions made by the coun
cil? “As Mayor I would en
courage anyone to talk with
me or any other council
member about any issues/
thoughts they may have. If
you wish to know what the
city has planned, 1 encour
age you to go to city council
meetings and/or talk with
our city manager; she will
get you the information you
need. Participation is an
active choice. First vote for
someone who you believe
will do what’s best; if you
are not registered, go sign
up at the county clerk’s of
fice. Speak up and let your
voice be heard so those who
serve you know what you
desire.”
-Continuedfrom PAGE ONE
JoAnne Burleson
Candidate for Hep
pner City Council, Posi
tion 5 (Incumbent)
Age: 83
B urleson o riginally
cam e from Canby, OR.
She holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree. Aside from
serving several years on
the Heppner
City Coun
cil, B urle
son served
on various
boards and
committees
in Canby. A
widow, she JoAnne
has no fam- Burleson
ily in the
area.
Why are you running
fo r city council? “ I love
Heppner and wish to make
a difference.”
What do you fe e l is
the biggest challenge fa c
ing Heppner? “ We need
to somehow bring in new
business and hope it will
bring in more families and
income to the community.”
How would you address
this as a member o f the
city council? “I would try
to work with the north end
of the county and look into
ways to encourage growth.”
What are some ways
you would reach out to the
community and encour
age more participation in
the decisions made by the
council? “I am involved in
the community, and would
and do visit with the public
on some of the ideas and
views they may have on
issues.”
Deadline for news
and advertising:
MONDAY
AT 5 P.M.
Skip Matthews (cont.)
his degree at Oregon
State.
Matthew holds a Bach
elor of Science in agricul
ture from Oregon State
University. He has 25 years
of experience with various
workgroups, committees
and boards, most notably
the Willow Creek Park Dis
trict since around 1995. He
also served eight years on
the Heppner City Council
previously and is currently
in year two of a four-year
term on the council.
Why are you running
fo r mayor? “I have a deep
love for this town. 1 raised
my family here and my
wife is a multi-generational
resident. I am hoping that,
if elected, I can make a dif
ference in the future of our
community. My main goals
are to find ways to help with
The Heppner High School Future Business Lead economic development in
ers o f America invites the community to wear pink Heppner, continue with
all day on Oct. 16 and at the home game on Friday, support for infrastructure
Oct. 17, to support breast cancer awareness.
FBLA invites community
to wear pink
Attention Parents of K-4th Graders!
Our Annual Holiday Design Contest Is On!
Designs Due At Local Branches By 11/03/14
Winner Gets $125 Plus Other Perks!
Holiday Design Contest Winner Last Year:
Aliyah McMillan of Clarkston, WA
*
Pick Up Entry Form« At
V ourlocal Branch!
Heppner
127 N Main St
541-676-5745
1
{ û k ° mmunity
B A
N
K
Local Monay Working For Local Paopla
www communitybanknet com
Member FDIC
l
I
Adam Doherty
Candidate for Hep
pner City Council, Posi
tion 6
Age: 35
Doherty was bom and
raised in Heppner, the son
ofCindi and Mike Doherty.
A local high school gradu
ate, Doherty
and his wife,
M olly Sue
D o h e rty ,
have one
d a u g h te r ,
*-* -
Aimee Rose
Turrell.
w
h >’ Adam
are you run- Doherty
ning fo r city
council? “I want to take an
active role in helping the
community that 1 live in.
I would like to give back
to the community that has
given so much to me.”
What do you fe e l is
the biggest challenge fa c
ing Heppner? “I feel like
sustaining our growth and
economic impact in South
Morrow County is one of
the biggest challenges that
Heppner as a community
faces.”
How would you address
this as a member o f the city
council? “With the opportu
nity to serve as part of the
Heppner City Council, I
feel as a collective we will
be able to come up with a
plan of action that best fits
H eppner’s unique needs
as a community; that will
have the greatest positive
impact on our growth and
economic impact.”
What are some ways
you would reach out to the
com m unity and encour
age more participation in
the decisions made by the
council? “I would help the
public to be informed of the
topics to be discussed prior
to the monthly meetings.”
development and promote
citizen involvement in city
government.”
What do you fe e l is
the biggest challenge fa c
ing Heppner? “The catch
phrase is ‘economic devel
opment.’ But it is more than
a catch phrase. We need to
maintain and develop the
goods and services that we
currently enjoy. Our popu
lation, although fairly sta
ble, 1 feel it is barely enough
to sustain our city the way
it is. Bringing population
and business to Heppner
is critical to our long-term
viability."
How would you address
this as mayor? “I think the
city should continue to play
a role in groups such as Wil
low Creek Valley Economic
Development Group and
G reater Eastern Oregon
Development Corporation.
In addition there are net
working opportunities in
other organizations such
as The League of Oregon
Cities, Oregon Mayors As
sociation and Eastern Or
egon Visitors Association
that may provide leads to
solutions. It seems that the
resources to do these sorts
of activities is limited at
times, and I hope to offer
my time and experience to
change that.”
What are some ways
you would reach out to the
com m unity and encour
age more participation in
the decisions made by the
council? “I think we need to
educate people to become
active in the process prior
to city council actions. For
example, the council only
approves the city budget
after the Budget Commit
tee meets to recommend
it. Likewise, we have com
mittees that meet regularly
on police matters, housing,
beautification, utilities and
planning. I think we need
to do a better job of getting
citizens involved in these
meetings and agenda items
prior to the council’s final
decisions.”
Diann Nagel
Candidate for Hep
pner City Council, Posi
tion 6
Age 66
Bom in Michigan, Na
gel spent most of her adult
life in Clark County, Wash
ington. She and her hus
band drove
through
Heppner for
many years ■ .
on their way
to Sunflow
er Flats to
go camping Diann Nagel
w ith th e ir
family. She
says they stopped in town
often, and saw a house they
fell in love with. The rest,
as they say, is history; the
couple retired and moved to
Heppner in 2006. Their five
children live throughout the
U.S., and the Nagels have
19 grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren.
N agel holds both a
bachelor’s and master's de
gree and, after raising their
five children, she returned
to school to complete her
doctorate. She was involved
in student politics during
her time in school, and also
worked for the Department
of Commerce for two years.
Why are you running
for city council? “I am hop
ing to make a difference.
1 was raised to believe we
are to give back. This is my
chance to do that.”
What do you feel is the
biggest challenge facing
H eppner? “ The biggest
challenge in Heppner right
now is the influence o f
illegal substances. Talk
ing with members of the
com munity I have been
told stories of having their
homes broken into and pre
scription drugs stolen, drug
paraphernalia found in their
yards, and taking grandkids
to the ER for an overdose of
‘Spice.’ This is no longer a
big-city problem. It is now
our problem as well.”
How would you address
this as a member o f the cits'
council? “We need better a
‘Neighborhood Watch,’ bet
ter police presence, and ac
countability’for offenders.”
What are some ways
you would reach out to the
com m unity and encour
age more participation in
the decisions made by the
council? “I would have an
open Town Hall meeting
with the council, police
and community to discuss
the issues, and what we can
do to stop this epidemic of
drugs.”
Joe Perry (cont.)
in agricultural econom
ics from Washington State
University. He has served as
Heppner mayor for the past
two years. He also serves
on the boards of the Mor
row County Health District
and the Willow Creek Park
District.
Why are you running
fo r mayor? “I am running
for mayor because 1 think it
is important being involved
in the Heppner community,
and I think 1 have done a
good job being mayor for
the past two years.”
What do you feel is the
biggest challenge facing
Heppner? “Finding a way
to improve all o f the streets
and old water and sewer
lines in Heppner. Finding
the funding necessary to
make the needed improve
ments to our waste-water
treatment plant. Meeting
the needs of all the residents
of Heppner.”
How would you address
this as mayor? “ I would
continue to work with Greg
Smith to receive funds from
the State of Oregon to make
the needed improvements. I
would also continue to have
Kim (Cutsforth, current city
manager) continue to apply
for grants as they become
available.”
Deadline:
I
Clorene “G lo” Les-
peranee
Candidate for Hep
pner City Council, Posi
tion 6
Age 62
Lesperance’s family
originally located to Hep
pner from Roseburg in
1974, when
her fath er
bought a
business in
town. After
graduating
high school,
she majored
Glorene
in m arket Les pera ilee
in g m a n
agement in
college, but was unable to
complete her degree due to
the need to gain full-time
employment. She returned
to school later and attained
a certification in bookkeep
ing. Lesperance held a seat
on the board of directors
o f the Umatilla Morrow
County Red Cross, as well
as being local coordinator
in charge of disaster pre
paredness, recruiting, evac
uation and communication
with the local government
agencies.
She and her husband,
Steve, have two grown chil
dren who both still live in
Heppner. allowing Lesper
ance to spend her free time
with her grandchildren.
Why are you running
fo r city council? “I feel
there is a need for someone
to represent the desires of
the citizens of Heppner, and
1 believe 1 have the ability
to address their concerns.
I am retired now and have
the time to devote to the
honorable position of coun-
cilperson.”
What do you feel is the
biggest challenge fa cin g
Heppner? “The economy
is the biggest challenge
facing our community. The
tow n is disappearing, due to
attrition."
How w ould you a d
dress this as a member of
the cits' council? "We need
to concentrate on ways to
bring business back to the
area and ways to keep them
here. By this, I mean more
incentives for small busi
ness owners. Tax breaks,
no extra charges on such
things as utilities, are just
some of the ways we can
accomplish this. We need
to encourage local shop
ping by more advertising,
drawings, discounts, later
business hours and even,
possibly, street fairs.”
What are some ways
you would reach out to the
community and encourage
more participation in the
decisions made by the coun
cil? ’’Allow the citizens
enough time to digest and
respond to new legislation
before it is enacted. En
courage public opinion on
proposed actions, existing
codes and performance of
city employees by placing
“opinion” drop-off boxes
in strategic locations. En
courage more critical let
ters to the local newspaper
and see to it that they are
addressed by the coun
cil. Mail questionnaires to
residents, along with their
waters bills, pertaining to
upcoming proposals. Show
no favoritism to any select
group concerning any legis
lation brought forth by any
member of the city council,
city manager, mayor, city
employee or any member
of their families.”
What are some ways
you would reach out to the
com m unity and encour
age more participation in
the decisions made by the
council? “I would continue
to encourage all residents
o f Heppner to attend city
council meetings to stay
informed and be involved in
the business decisions made
by the city council.”
Monday at 5 p.m.