Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 26, 2023 -- THREE
~ Letters to the Editor ~
Vote for
change, not
business as
usual
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My name is John Mur-
for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks
will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10. ray. I have been serving you
as Port commissioner for
Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
In support of
John Murray
In all seriousness, may-
be a good requirement for
government employment
would be proof that you’re
smarter than a fifth grader.
Candidates would need to
maintain passing grades in
math, history, geography
and science (particularly bi-
ology/anatomy). They must
be able to recite the class
rules (no lying, cheating,
stealing or hitting allowed),
be proficient in computer
use (document security,
finding emails and laptops),
and know the correct use
of pronouns, as well as the
definitions of secure and
border.
Just imagine the com-
petency of our government.
Requirements for our Com-
mander in Chief would
need to be a little more
strict and include a physical
agility test, including the
ascension and descension
of a flight of stairs. I have a
feeling if the White House
would employ Mrs. Sund-
quist for a term or two, our
current situation would
look a little different…and
the principal’s office would
be full.
Mrs. Sundquist, wher-
ever you are…we need you.
Susie Crosby
Heppner, OR
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter
in support of John Murray
for Port of Morrow Com-
missioner.
It has been my great
privilege to work in many
different organizations
throughout our county.
These experiences have
shown me what an asset
the Port of Morrow (POM)
is to our communities. It
is important that the POM
commissioners understand
the needs of all communi-
ties in the county. This is a
difficult task as we are all
very diverse in our demo-
graphics. John Murray is a
member of a county-wide
board. He has displayed
an equal approach to the
needs of the citizens that
the Morrow County Health
District serves.
John Murray is a busi-
ness owner and has made
substantial investments
in both the North and the
South ends of Morrow
County. John understands
and supports all of Morrow
County.
It is important to the
residents that we support an
experienced and dedicated
community member who
will give attention to all our
needs. That person is John
Murray.
Sincerely,
In my lifetime the Port
Kim Cutsforth
of
Morrow
has grown from
Heppner, OR
a small sleepy port to an
impressive builder of eco-
nomic growth in Morrow
County. The port currently
Sometimes my mind supports approximately
does not follow a partic- 8,000 full-time jobs. Those
ular path, which can lead jobs have great wages and
to a variety of random benefits. The success of
thoughts. This morning, the port and the dollars it
my mind wandered back to has put into Morrow Coun-
fifth grade and a very strict ty seems to have brought
teacher by the name of Mrs. out folks with all sorts of
opinions to run for port
Sundquist.
After a rather joyful commission.
If you want, you can
fourth-grade experience
choose
someone who is
with a teacher who loved art
anti-growth,
someone who
and music and often let me
has
a
list
of
grievances
with
express my talents in these
a
desire
to
extract
some
sort
areas, my transition to fifth
of
retribution,
or
maybe
you
grade was a bit of an awak-
prefer
someone
interested
ening, and not a pleasant
one. Mrs. Sundquist was in growing the disputes
not nearly as impressed between different areas of
with my artistic expression the county. Those folks are
as my previous teacher. For all on the ballot.
I suspect most of us
some reason, she thought
aren’t
really interested in
history, math and language
the
troublemaking.
Today
were more important sub-
it’s
the
data
centers
but
just
jects. She also expected
like
the
coal
fired
plant,
the
her class to follow certain
date
centers
will
someday
rules. Her students would
either toe the line or face be history. We need port
the dreaded bald guy down commissioners who will
the hall, aka, The Principal. look to the future, not stay
It got me thinking. I stuck in the past. We need
know a few people who folks who wish to serve for
might benefit from a little the sake of service, have an
time with Mrs. Sundquist. open mind, and appreciate
My daydream continued… that the port’s current staff
“Now class, first we are doing a great job.
I will be voting for
will say the Pledge of Alle-
David
Boor for Port Com-
giance and then we will be-
missioner.
David has a long
gin our study of the Consti-
history
in
Morrow
County.
tution of our United States.
He
has
ties
well
beyond
I want you all to know the
the
Boardman
area
and is
importance of the… Joey,
interested
in
the
continued
quit smelling her hair. As I
was saying, the U.S. Con- success of the port. He has
stitution is… Hunter, we do the leadership skills we
not put things in our nose. want in public service. I
Nancy, please sit down. believe he will represent all
And why are you tearing the interests in the county,
up Donald’s homework? To is interested in all the com-
the principal’s office young munities benefitting from
lady… Now! Hillary, we’ve the port’s success and, most
talked about this… threat- importantly, he will look to
ening to kill someone is not the future.
I hope you will join me
acceptable behavior. AOC,
in
voting
for David Boor.
Honey, you’re in the wrong
Jerry
Rietmann
class. Kindergarten is down
Ione,
OR
the hall. Now, about the
Constitution… Joey! Leave
her alone!” It’s a wonderful
dream.
Boor will look
to the future
Mrs.
Sundquist
the last 3½ years and am
asking for your support and
vote now. I am a pharmacist
and owner of Murray Drugs
in Heppner, Boardman and
Condon, serving the Mor-
row County communities
of Irrigon, Boardman, Hep-
pner, Ione and Lexington.
You will likely find that
I am passionate about the
Port and outspoken when
I believe there are issues
you, the public, should
know about. We are a fully
public port, not marginally
or reluctantly, we are fully
a public port that must
conform to all the laws
and ethics of the State of
Oregon. I’m proud that at
the Boardman candidate’s
forum for position #4 on
April 17, I was called out
as being the only one to
dissent from previously
unanimous board decisions.
If you want “business as
usual” then I may not be
your candidate.
I believe you as the
public have the right and
should expect to see in
your public servants the
qualities of transparency,
accountability, responsible
economic growth, equity
in representation, ethics and
integrity. These are not lofty
goals we hope to attain in
a year or two, they are the
minimum requirements to
run a multi-billion-dollar
port.
For the 38 years I have
been married to Ann, I have
listened to and admired her
father Larry Lindsay’s 52
years of service to the Port.
It is time we get back to the
values the Port was founded
on and remember the coun-
ty-wide focus and tax relief
for its citizens that inspired
its founding. I feel I am
the best candidate to bring
county-wide unity for each
community to understand
the needs of others and then
work together in collabora-
tion, not competition.
I care about the Port of
Morrow, the people in Mor-
row County it serves and
the employees who work
here. I am also proud of
the Port for the good it has
brought to us; all our com-
munities have benefitted
from its economic prosper-
ity. But as we know, the Port
has had its challenges, too.
In my opinion, in the
last 10 years, the port grew
at a pace it could not sus-
tain. One has only to look
at wastewater recycling and
disposal to see the most se-
rious issue facing the port,
and us as people who live
here. Currently the DEQ
has fined the port $3.1 mil-
lion and halted adding any
additional wastewater to the
Port’s disposal system until
a secondary water treatment
system is operational. This
project is top priority and
set for completion, God
willing, in 2025.
A second issue I be-
lieve is important are the
significant conflicts of in-
terest with two of the port
commissioners serving
currently, one of which
is up for reelection now.
Having owners on the Port
commission of a fiber-optic
company that serves, makes
money from, and decides
on the datacenters located at
the Port calls into question
its integrity and profession-
alism. In small counties I
suppose leaders can and do
serve on multiple boards,
which can at times conflict,
but not 60 percent of the
time as has been the case
these last five months. One
percent of the time, OK,
declare it, step aside of the
issue at hand and then rejoin
the meeting when that item
of business is done. How
does a governing body
function with 60 percent
rate of declared conflict of
interest from 40 percent
of its board? Change is
needed.
I am proud of the Port
of Morrow and the em-
ployees who work here.
I am also proud of our
business partners and the
relationship we have with
them. I am pro-business,
but it needs to be done re-
sponsibly.
I commit to you:
1. transparency and ac-
countability, for such issues
as wastewater management.
2. Responsible eco-
nomic growth, to avoid
such issues as private prop-
erty rights disputes and road
right of way issues.
3. County-wide rep-
resentation, to increase
understanding and to build
unity and not division.
I like candidate
Doherty’s idea of modify-
ing the City-County-Port
meetings to be Cities-Coun-
ty-Port meetings to include
all cities in the county so
that the needs of all cities
are known for such times
as CREZ II and CREZ III
funds dispersals.
As I mentioned earli-
er, I am passionate about
the success of the Port of
Morrow and outspoken on
issues I think are important
and that affect the integrity
and professionalism of the
Port. I ask for your vote and
support but, if I am not your
preferred candidate, then
vote for Wes or Jonathan
and vote for Kelly Doherty,
who has no conflict of inter-
est. Vote for change and not
business as usual.
Sincerely,
John Murray
Heppner, OR
It’s time for
independent
thinking at the
Port
A recurring theme be-
came clear at the recent
candidate forums. Marvin
Padberg would have you
believe that if you don’t
vote for him, you must
be anti-business and an-
ti-growth. I did not hear
any of the other candidates
debating against economic
development; they just of-
fered it can be achieved in
a moral, ethical and more
thoughtful manner that
benefits Morrow County
citizens.
While the Port of Mor-
row has done a great job
of bringing businesses into
Boardman, Morrow County
is a lot bigger than that. I
don’t believe the message
that the other four commu-
nities have been economi-
cally blessed since Marvin
first became a commission-
er. I would say that some
of those communities may
have declined, in fact. Drive
down main streets and one
can see empty buildings
and closed restaurants. It
doesn’t seem like bragging
rights.
The Port now says they
are going to fix their part of
the nitrate issues, spending
in excess of 600 million
dollars, and become a good
partner, doing what should
have all along. I personally
don’t trust anybody that
has to get caught before
they finally plan to do what
is right. What would this
project have cost 10 or 30
years ago? We will never
know but can be guaranteed
it would have been a lot less
when first acknowledged.
In today’s political cli-
mate it is disheartening
to see our POM Commis-
sioners using the Biden
playbook; blaming the past
county commissioners and
using them as punching
bags for their own missteps.
They weren’t the ones who
allowed their staff to con-
tinue to pollute our waters,
lie about their actions and
blame the farmers for their
shortcomings. Finger point-
ing instead of accountabili-
ty is not leadership.
I am tired of the con-
flicts of interest investiga-
tions, judicial department
investigations and conver-
sations surrounding Mr.
Padberg and his business
partners. How is it that so
few businesses other than
Amazon have been located
into Morrow County of late,
benefitting him personally
and extensively? How is
it beneficial to Morrow
County that so many of the
votes of this board should
have had or have had his
declaration of conflict and
non-votes, to personal gain?
I believe good decisions
can be made without so
much personal conflict at
the table.
Why is the POM Com-
mission being filled with
yes men and not indepen-
dent thinking? I fail to un-
derstand why disagreement
is being held up as a nega-
tive trait in debate, answers
with a desperate need to
silence independent ques-
tioning. I am not impressed
by claims of unanimous yes
decision making for the past
30 years. Decisions that
lost millions on a racetrack
in Boardman, lost millions
on a mill site in Heppner,
millions in the red on a
golf course that isn’t part
of the mission and millions
wasted on fines, with more
coming, while not holding
anyone accountable, by the
current POM Commission.
I serve on many boards, and
dissenting votes/opinions is
how we get to the greater
good for more community.
Isn’t that why we elect more
than one member to these
boards, differing perspec-
tives should be welcomed
in good governance?
Marv is personally a
good guy, but his time has
passed. The good ole boy
way of doing things doesn’t
work anymore. My trust
in him standing up for all
Morrow County citizens
has disappeared and I hope
the people of these great
communities have finally
seen the light. These guys
need to go, they have need-
ed to go for some time.
It’s time for people to do
what is right without being
forced to. It’s time for inde-
pendent thinkers who will
bring thoughtful decision
making. Please take the
time to vote. I will be voting
for Kelly.
Todd Lindsay
Heppner, OR
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Funding Ione
wastewater
system
-Continued from PAGE ONE
Skow also recognized
Ione Volunteer Planner Jer-
ry Rietmann for his role in
the project.
“Jerry is the driving
force behind the city’s suc-
cess in achieving this goal.
He has given so much of
his time over the last sev-
eral years by meeting with
elected officials and the
DEQ, learning and ensuring
the policies and regulations
regarding the wastewater
system were precisely fol-
lowed, helping secure fund-
ing, and so much more,”
Skow said. “Without his
driving force, this proj-
ect would not have been
achieved”
“I want to thank Mor-
row County and Solutions
Oregon for helping in build-
ing a dialogue with Oregon
DEQ and for DEQ’s will-
ingness to find a reason-
able solution for the city,”
said Rietmann. “The new
wastewater system will
ensure that Ione’s home
values will not be affected
by failed septic systems and
folks will be able to invest
with confidence in Ione’s
housing market.”
Dinner
and Bingo
Sunday in
Lexington
The Holly Rebekah
Lodge in Lexington will
again be hosting dinner and
bingo this Sunday, April 30.
The dinner of baked
spaghetti will begin at 3
p.m. Cost is $5 per person.
Bingo play will begin
at 3:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for
10 bingo cards or 50 cents
per card.
The ladies of Holly
Rebekah host dinner and
bingo the last Sunday of
each month. The lodge is
located at 135 W. Main St.
in Lexington.
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