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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2019)
FROM PAGE ONE A16 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM Walden Continued from Page A1 the re-election bid of Presi- dent Donald Trump. Seven Democrats have said they won’t run. Walden is the fourth GOP House member who lost a committee chair- manship last year because of the majority switch who has announced they are leaving next year. Walden said he was not retiring out of any concern that he could lose re-elec- tion or fail to regain the House majority, where he had served as chairman of the House Energy and Com- merce Committee before Democrats took control in 2018. He is now ranking member of the committee. “I am confi dent I could earn the support of 2nd District voters for another term,” he said. “I’m also optimistic that a path exists for Republicans to recapture a majority in the House.” Walden, whose back- ground is in radio, gave no specifi cs about what he will do after he retires from Congress. “For me, the time has come to pursue new chal- lenges and opportunities,” he said. Walden’s statement would appear to rule out Elections Continued from Page A1 includes a primary in May and a general election in November. That creates sit- uations, such as the 2018 race, when John Shafer and Larry Givens faced off. Sha- fer won more than 50% of the vote in May, but was not technically elected until November, when his name again appeared on the ballot — this time as the only can- didate listed. He took offi ce at the beginning of 2019, nearly eight months after voters fi rst chose him. If voters approve Mea- sure 30-132, when only one or two candidates fi le for a seat on the board of com- missioners, no primary will be held in May. Instead, the candidate or candidates will appear on the ballot in November, saving the cost of a primary race and short- ening the amount of time between when a commis- sioner is elected and when they take offi ce. “Elections cost money,” Elfering said. If more than two candi- dates fi le, they will appear on the ballot in May, and the top two vote-getters will advance to a general election in November. Hermiston School Dis- trict is also on the ballot, ask- ing voters to approve a $82.7 million bond. The money, coupled with $6.6 million in matching funds from the state, would pay for replace- ment of Rocky Heights Ele- mentary School, a new ele- mentary school on Theater Lane, a new annex added to the high school, updates to pickup/dropoff areas in front of schools and new property for future schools. It is not HH fi le photo U.S. Rep. Greg Walden congratulates Pendleton High School senior Kirk Liscom on being accepted into the United States Naval Academy during a town hall meeting in May in Hermiston. running for any other politi- cal offi ce next year. Merkely is running for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Oregon’s secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer posi- tions are also on the ballot. As the state’s most high-pro- fi le Republican, Walden could be pressured to run for governor in 2022 when Gov. Kate Brown is ineli- gible for re-election due to term limits. While the overwhelm- ing majority of his votes were solidly in line with the Republican agenda in the House, Walden has not been in lock-step with President Trump on issues. As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he supported Trump’s position on repeal- ing the Affordable Care Act, to relax net neutrality rules, and has backed Trump on the current Ukrainian scandal. In his statement, Walden recounted his more than 20 years in offi ce, saying that he had worked to fi nd solutions to the opioid crisis, improve forest health, and increase access to high-speed broad- band. Walden said he was proud to champion the issues facing Oregonians east of the Cascades and south of the Willamette Valley. “Rural Oregon values run deeply in my veins.,” Walden said. “My ancestors arrived here in 1845 and I grew up on a cherry orchard in The Dalles with par- expected to raise the current school bond tax rate of $3.65 per $1,000 of assessed value, and would be paid off within 26 years. In answer to a ques- tion about whether the city and county giving Ama- zon a break on property taxes would affect the bond, Mooney said the planned development, while located in Hermiston’s enterprise zone, is actually located in the boundaries of Stanfi eld School District, not Herm- iston’s, and the tax dollars would have gone there. “Hermiston School Dis- trict would not see any money from that,” she said. However, Amazon has agreed to donate $50,000 a year to Hermiston School District, in recognition that its employees will likely have children in the dis- trict. Since the money is considered a voluntary gift, not tax revenue, it will not count against the amount of per-student dollars the school district gets from the state each year. Part of the challenge of putting a measure or candi- date on the ballot isn’t just convincing voters of a cer- tain position — it’s also get- ting them to actually cast a vote. When voter turnout in Oregon is tallied after an election, it’s not uncommon for Umatilla County to rank dead last. The county had the low- est voter turnout of any county in the state during the November 2018 election, with 56.5% of eligible voters turning in a ballot, compared to 68.4% statewide. Umatilla County elec- tions clerk Kim Lindell said as of Monday evening, only 10.28% of ballots had come in. “I think turnout for this election is going to be on the lighter side because most of the county will just see the two amendments,” she said. “Charter amendments are important, but they’re not very exciting.” The reasons Oregonians don’t exercise their right to vote are varied. Some simply forget to turn in their ballot before deadline. Others don’t like their choices, don’t think their individual vote matters or feel like they don’t have enough information to make an informed decision. Amanda Walker of Uma- tilla falls into the last cate- gory. She said she didn’t turn in her ballot last year because she didn’t feel like she knew enough about the candidates and measures presented. “I didn’t feel like I had enough time to get informed, and I didn’t want to vote blindly,” she said. Last November’s ballot was packed with choices, including local, state and federal candidates and mea- sures that would do every- thing from prohibiting gro- cery taxes to repealing Oregon’s sanctuary state sta- tus. Walker said it can be hard for the average person working full time to track down credible information for each item. She suggested that peo- ple fi nd a trusted friend who is up to speed and ask them to explain ballot measures or candidates’ positions. Jose Garcia, chair of Hermiston’s Hispanic Advi- sory Committee, said the committee has worked hard to try to register Hermis- ton residents to vote, but he often hears from people who fl at-out refuse to register or to cast a vote, even though they are qualifi ed to do so. BTW: Warming Station trainings scheduled Continued from Page A1 Nov. 7 from 6:30-8 p.m., Nov. 10 from 2-3:30 p.m., Nov. 13 from 6-7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 from 9-10:30 a.m., Nov. 19 from 6:30-8 p.m. and Nov. 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. • • • While chaperoning little ghosts and goblins during Thursday’s Treats on Main in Hermiston, people are encouraged to make a dona- tion to UNICEF — United Nations International Emer- gency Fund. Members of the Hermiston High School Key Club, a service orga- nization affi liated with Kiwanis International, will be handing out candy and accepting donations for UNICEF, which will help support The Eliminate Project. The effort is devoted to helping prevent mothers and their babies from dying due to disease. Money will go toward the purchase of vac- cinations that prevent dis- eases like tetanus. Contributions can also be dropped off at the HHS offi ce, 600 S. First St. Donating any amount of cash or even spare change adds up, said Jessica Rodri- guez, HHS Key Club editor. During the past two years, the local club has raised more than $700 towards the effort. For more informa- tion, contact Key Club advi- sor Janet Sexton at janet. sexton@hermistonsd.org or 541-667-6144. • • • Ken Daniel has been named as the new Blue Mountain Community College Foundation exec- utive director, the school announced on Monday. Daniel replaces Marga- ret Gianotti, who will retire Dec. 2 after 12 years in the role. The BMCC Founda- tion invests and fundraises to support BMCC student scholarships and programs. Daniel comes to BMCC from the Family Health & Wellness Foundation in Kennewick, Washington, where he served as execu- tive director. The foundation was formerly a part of Trios Health. • • • Thursday’s menu for the Harkenrider Senior Activ- ity Center is baked chicken, red parsley potatoes, corn, fruit salad and cake by Sun Terrace. Friday is hot roast beef sandwich, mashed pota- toes and gravy, and dessert. Monday is barbecue pork sandwich, salad and dessert. Tuesday is ham, scalloped potatoes, peas and carrots, and dessert. Next Wednes- day is baked fi sh, broccoli, green salad and Jell-o. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 ents who survived the Great Depression. They taught me the true meaning of commu- nity; the importance of giv- ing back; and the value of hard work. That’s why I’ve given it my all for the peo- ple and the way of life we so enjoy in Oregon.” The son of former state Rep. Peter Walden, Greg Walden was elected to the Oregon House in 1989. He was Majority Leader for the 1991 and 1993 legisla- tive sessions. He served two years in the Oregon Senate from 1995 to 1997. While Walden’s depar- ture from Congress had been a subject of speculation, it came as a surprise to Repub- licans in his home state. Sen. Cliff Bentz said he’d talked to Walden months ago, shortly after specu- lation the congressman wouldn’t run again emerged. Bentz said Walden made no mention of future plans, and he’d assumed the longtime lawmaker would run again next year. “I would just hope that he is running again,” Bentz said last week. “ Please, Greg. Please.” Umatilla County Com- missioner George Murdock said Walden’s departure raises the broader concern of politics continuing to shift to the extremes at either end of the spectrum. Oregon is in effect a one- party state, he said, and political balance is crucial to good governance. He said he hoped Walden’s move out of politics does not continue the slide at the federal level. When it comes to spit- balling about which Repub- licans might run for the seat, Murdock said, “You have to look at who has the horsepower.” Bentz brings that kind of broader visibility, Murdock said, as does Knute Buehler. The former state represen- tative from Central Oregon ran a credible campaign for governor and tweeted Tues- day he was considering a run. “And nobody in Portland is going to vote on this one,” Murdock quipped. Murdock also said he appreciates that Buehler ran as a moderate, again advocating for that sense of balance. “We moderates could have a voice,” he said. Walden’s announce- ment took Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, by surprise. “He’s made a decision, and I respect that,” Hansell said. “It will be a huge loss for us in the district.” He said he hailed Walden’s work with local national forest plans and with securing funding for the Eastern Oregon Airport as some of the involvement that made him “a champion” for the district. “It’s an open seat, I think the Republican Party will work very hard to keep it,” Hansell added. Rep. Greg Smith, R-Hep- pner, who interned for Walden’s offi ce in the early 1990s when the congress- man was working as a state representative, wasn’t as taken aback by the Monday announcement. “I think after 22 years, elected offi cials get tired and want to move on and do other things with their life. Greg has been a tremendous statesman,” he said. “We’ll be losing a tremendous amount of seniority in D.C.” Smith said his “phone has been ringing off the hook” with people asking him if he’s going to run for Walden’s seat, but he feels like he’s better off serving as a senior legislator in Salem rather than a freshman repre- sentative in Washington. Smith predicted that the Republican primary con- test would be a “race to the right,” but a “mainstream” candidate would emerge as the nominee. Oregon Public Broad- casting contributed to this report. He chalked it up to a lack of trust in government. “It goes back to some organization, some institu- tion where they had a bad experience, or a relative suf- fered some consequences, and now that sense of safety is gone,” he said. Lindell said if people have distrust in the elections process or worry it’s rigged, they are welcome to come to the elections offi ce in Pendleton and be an offi cial observer while ballots are being counted, or just talk with staff to fi nd out how the process works. She said Oregon’s vote by mail system makes it very secure against hacking by foreign governments or any- one else, as it is unconnected to the internet and backed up by physical ballots the county has in hand. Some people said they didn’t vote in the last elec- tion because they didn’t receive a ballot. Lindell said ballots are mailed out 20 days before an election, which means people should get them about 17 or 18 days before the election. Any- one who notices they hav- en’t received one should call the elections offi ce at 541- 278-6254 or visit oregon- votes.gov to check on their registration. New voters must regis- ter at least 21 days before an election, but registered vot- ers whose status has become inactivated or are registered under the wrong address can get that fi xed. They can have a ballot mailed to them up until the Thursday before election day, or they can walk into the elections offi ce in Pendleton and fi ll out a ballot in person up until 8 p.m. on election day. During Monday’s city council meeting, mayor David Drotzmann noted that the city had endorsed the school bond, and encouraged residents to vote. “It’s one thing to say you support an initiative; it’s another thing to actually turn in your ballot,” he said. UMATILLA COUNTY From the archives of Athena Public Library, City of Echo, Milton- Freewater Area Historical Society, Pendleton Round-up, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute and Umatilla County Historical Society $29.95 $44.95 SAVE $15 TODAY! Pre-order this collector’s book today and save! “Umatilla County Memories: A Pictorial History of the mid-1800s through 1939.” We are thrilled to include photos of Umatilla County from our readers, in addition to photos carefully selected from local partners from the mid-1800s through 1939. Pre- price. Books ship Nov. 22, 2019. Learn more and pre-order at Umatilla.PictorialBook.com ☐ Ship my order to me ☐ I’ll pick up my order Order will be shipped to the address below Quantity: ___ x $36.90 = $______ total Quantity: ___ x $29.95 = $______ total Payment method: ☐ Check/Money Order Credit card orders can be placed online: Umatilla.PictorialBook.com Name Send form and payment to: East Oregonian Address or call City State Phone E-mail Zip