WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9
COMMENTARY
LETTERS
Hermiston makes a great impression
HH FILE PHOTO
Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, listens during the 2015 legislative session on House of
Representatives floor in Salem.
Got a problem? Talk to Greg.
Or Greg. Or was it Mr. Smith?
A quick guide to
answering your
government questions
I coached my sons in
various sports and even
coached at La Salle for
a short time while my
oldest played there. The
sportsmanship and respect
displayed by the home
team and their fans was
a great thing to watch,
particularly since we see
examples of how not to do
that on an almost weekly
basis.
In Hermiston (what
a beautiful setting for
football), I headed to the
top row of the visitors
section. I was by myself
for some time, then
suddenly it seemed like
30-plus middle-schoolers
(maybe freshman) were
all around me. I figured
that was their section and
avoidance of older kids.
Coming from where I
live, my first thought was
“Great, this might not be
fun” surrounded by so
many early teens.
I stayed up there for the
first half, and in all that
time I never heard one cuss
word, I was spoken to a
few times and addressed as
“sir.” While the kids were
definite teens they were
polite and respectful. Big
difference from the big city
— I can tell you.
I later had dinner with
my son and he told me
how nice the school’s staff
and volunteers were and
how wonderful they treated
the La Salle coaches
and players. The dinner
prepared and served was
an incredible touch.
So, this is just my thank
you and appreciation for
being the town and people
you are. In this crazy world
we live, you demonstrate
the right way to do things.
Good luck this week!
I’m rooting for you.
Dennis Kelly
Tigard
Water district candidate thanks voters
By JADE MCDOWELL
STAFF WRITER
G
reg is a lovely name,
but it causes a lot
of confusion for the
good people of Umatilla
County.
Sometimes state Rep.
Greg Smith’s staff fields
complaints about votes
that U.S. Rep. Greg
Walden made, or a citizen
asks Greg Smith for
help only to be reminded
they are represented by
his neighboring-district
colleague Rep. Greg
Barreto. Other times Greg
Walden gets the blame in
the Facebook comments on
an article about something
Greg Smith did.
Since newspapers
usually refer to people by
their last name, this does not
cause me as much difficulty
in my reporting as keeping
track of the preponderance
of Smiths, particularly when
quoting Hermiston city
manager Byron Smith and
Hermiston city councilor
Doug Smith from the same
meeting (on a side note,
this seems to suggest that
Greg Smith’s parents get
credit for coming up with
the ultimate Hermiston
politician name).
But even if the Gregs
and the Smiths were to all
change their names to things
like Herbert Nithercott and
Sherlock Portendorfer, there
will always be confusion
on behalf of some citizens
about who to call when
they have a problem with
government. The fact is,
government is just plain
confusing.
Originally sent to
Mayor Dave Drotzmann
and Hermiston High
School principal Tom
Spoo:
I visited Hermiston a
week ago because my son
is now a football coach
at La Salle High School
and they were playing
Hermiston High School
in the first round of the
5A state playoffs. I really
wanted to acknowledge
that even though we lost,
I had a very enjoyable
time in Hermiston and
it truly was because of
the kindness of people of
Hermiston and the students
and the school’s treatment
of the visiting team.
From the hotel staff (I
stayed at the Holiday Inn
Express) to the various
retailers I visited to the
stadium volunteers to
everyone — what a
tremendous group of
people.
HH FILE PHOTO
The Hermiston City Council listens to the testimony during a
meeting at city hall in April 2017 in Hermiston.
I’ve covered various
levels of government in the
six years I’ve worked as a
journalist, and even I still
call the wrong agency for
information sometimes. But
there are a few general rules
of thumb:
• If the issue with roads,
code enforcement, law
enforcement, water/sewer
or parks happens inside city
limits, call city hall.
• If it happened inside
Umatilla County but
outside of city limits, or if it
involves things like public
health or the courts, call the
county courthouse.
• If it happened on a state
highway or interstate, or
involves state regulations,
call or email your state
representative or state
senator.
• If it falls under a
federal agency like the
Veterans Administration, or
it’s an issue that Congress
is voting on such as the
Affordable Care Act, call or
email your congressperson
or senator’s office.
• If you’re a little unsure
about which category
your problem falls under,
Google, the news media
and government websites
can help you out, but if not,
take your best guess and the
person on the other end will
almost always be willing to
refer you to the right place.
Another underutilized
option is to take your
complaint directly to
an entire city council or
county commission via the
public comment section
of meetings. Hermiston’s
city council meets on the
second and fourth Monday
of each month, and there is
always time for comments
on both non-agenda and
agenda items. Last week
Santa Claus stopped by to
wish councilors a Merry
Christmas and a self-
proclaimed “concerned
citizen or whatever” asked
the council to consider
putting more signs up to let
semi trucks know that Main
Street is no longer a truck
route through town.
Once a man even
testified that the Hermiston
Butte was really a giant
person who would rise
up to defend us when
aliens invaded Hermiston
someday. It was certainly
one of the more memorable
government meetings I’ve
covered, but even if your
concerns are a little more
run-of-the mill, don’t let
that stop you from getting
involved.
To all Westland Water
District patrons who
turned out to vote on
Tuesday, Nov. 14 to fill a
position on its Board of
Directors:
Voting is a privilege we
have in our country and
something we have only
begun in this district. So to
those of you who took the
time to vote, thank you for
being involved.
My wife and I have
lived in Hermiston now
for 12 years, moving here
to be closer to family,
enjoy quieter surroundings
and become a part of this
lovely community through
LETTERS
POLICY
our church and other local
involvement. For the past
couple of years I have
taken an interest in the
Westland Water District
and where it is headed.
For this reason, when
asked, I chose to run
for an open position in
District Four. With a
considerably high voting
turnout Tuesday, 202
patrons dedicated their
time to vote. Mr. Bellinger
received 107 to my 95.
I was pleased with the
turnout; it was so close.
For the next few years
ahead of us, I hope that
Mr. Bellinger will take
his position seriously for
all concerned patrons, no
matter the size of their
usage or status in our
community. I wish him
the best in his continued
service to the district. I
will continue to keep an
active interest in our water
district and hope many
others will find the time to
attend the open meetings.
Again, a big thank you
to everyone who took the
time to vote for me and to
those who helped me in
this endeavor.
Ray Vogt
Hermiston
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