OPINION READER’S FORUM
Founded in 1906
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021
A4
EDITOR’S DESK
Contested races present an opportunity to speak up
E
lection season is upon us
once again, this time for local
taxing districts.
These May elections on non-pri-
mary years can be, to be honest, a
little boring to cover as a journal-
ist. They often feature race after race
with either no candidates
at all, or an incumbent
running unopposed.
This time, I’m happy
to see races across Uma-
tilla and Morrow coun-
Jade
ties draw multiple can-
McDowell
didates. Contested races NEWS EDITOR
pique voter interest and
spur candidate forums
and other opportunities for people to
get to know those who are running to
represent them. They bring renewed
attention to incumbents’ track records
and signal to all elected offi cials that
if they don’t do a good job, there
is no guarantee they will keep their
seat.
People like to complain about the
job that local elected offi cials are
doing. But, as Hermiston City Coun-
cilor Doug Primmer likes to say, the
world is run by those who show up.
The Hermiston Herald doesn’t do
endorsements of candidates or bal-
lot measures, but I would encour-
age everyone to make an eff ort to get
to know the candidates and make an
informed decision. There are numer-
ous routes you can take to do so:
You can read local media cover-
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald, File
A ballot is dropped into a drop box in Hermiston on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
age of the races, including articles in
the East Oregonian and Hermiston
Herald.
The Herald and EO have also
posted the full video of our group
interview with the Hermiston School
District Board of Education’s candi-
dates to our Facebook pages.
Some local organizations are also
posting video of candidate forums
to their social media pages. This
includes the Boardman Chamber of
Commerce’s videos of interviews
with Port of Morrow candidates.
The forms that candidates fi led to
run for offi ce are public records and
can be found on your county elec-
COLUMN
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Prioritizing valuable education
time in fi nal months of school
I
tions offi ce’s website.
I would also encourage every-
one to get to know the districts that
candidates are running for, as well.
On social media and in talking with
members of the community, I often
come across misperceptions about
the basic facts of how certain govern-
ment bodies are run. One common
point of confusion, for example, is
when people mistakenly believe that
the city of Hermiston funds or runs
Hermiston School District, despite
the fact that they are separate entities,
run by diff erent boards and funded by
diff erent revenues.
Informed voters make better deci-
n the past year, the Hermiston School
District has had a singular focus: pro-
viding the best possible educational
and extracurricular opportunities to our
students in the face of unprecedented and
challenging circumstances.
Our students don’t have
the ability to control the
spread of COVID-19, and
they don’t get a say in the
guidelines and restric-
tions required by the state
government. They rely on
their families, the commu-
nity, and the school district Tricia
Mooney
to provide a place where
they can safely learn.
We have taken that role seriously,
and as situations and regulations have
changed, we have made every deci-
sion by fi rst asking what’s best for our
students.
As we enter the fi nal months of the
school year, it’s hard not to think about
the opportunities that were lost this fall
and winter as COVID-19 case rates
climbed and we were restricted from
re-opening classrooms. It’s made the
last push toward summer that much
more important, as we work hard to
make up for lost time and prepare stu-
dents at all levels for the next phase in
their education.
That was the driving factor in the dis-
trict’s decision to opt out of statewide
assessments this spring. While the tests
are a valuable annual tool to measure
growth in reading, math, and science,
the trade-off is face-to-face instructional
time. That is too precious of a commod-
ity this year to give up, and we’re going
to do what’s best for both our students
and our teachers by keeping as many
instructional and engagement hours on
the calendar as possible.
This doesn’t mean we’re skipping
the important assessment part of edu-
cation. Our teachers are highly attuned
to each of their students’ progress, both
through virtual classes and now in the
classroom. They’re relaying these to
parents as they work to catch up on lost
progress.
Staff are also rebuilding connec-
tions with students, and we are explor-
ing summer education options to build
a bridge and maintain some momentum
between this school year and next.
For athletics and activities, we’ve
been doing everything we can to pro-
vide a full schedule as an addition to
academics. Because of the indoor nature
of “winter” sports, they were moved
to the end of the school year. Navigat-
ing the health guidelines as an Ore-
gon school competing primarily against
Washington schools has been a chal-
lenge, but we have cleared the signifi -
cant hurdles and are starting this week.
As we move forward, our focus will
remain the same. Even as things begin
to feel more normal with students in the
classroom and other activities up and run-
ning, we know that it will take a long
time to truly get back what we’ve lost as
a community.
We need to continue creating a healthy
community if we want to return to a
healthier educational environment. Now
that the vaccine is widely available, it’s
the fastest route we can take to make sure
our kids can stay in the classroom and
don’t miss any more opportunities.
———
Dr. Tricia Mooney is superintendent of
Hermiston School District.
Gardner the best candidate
for the job
I am supporting Dain Gardner for the
Hermiston School Board. I have known
Dain for over 20 years, both personally
and professionally. Dain steps up whenever
there is a need, so it was no surprise to me
that he chose to step up now, by running for
the Hermiston School Board.
Dain is extremely loyal, steadfast and
confi dent. These traits make him a natural
born leader and the most logical choice for
the position on the school board.
Dain is a father of two daughters and
recognizes the need for education and
accountability, one that he will take great
care with and manage well. He will be a
huge asset for all of Hermiston.
Dain saw a need for our kids to get back
into the schools full time. He joined a group
dedicated to this endeavor, supporting those
parents who had like-minded goals. Dain
is methodical in his actions and thoughts,
looking at the totality of the situation,
reviews the documented criteria and then
moves forward, observing all the guidelines
and rules, with fairness and equality.
I hope you will join me in voting for the
best candidate available. Dain will work in
partnership with teachers, management and
parents to provide the best possible out-
come for our community and children. Isn’t
that what our ideal goal is when selecting a
candidate? Someone who will do their very
best for our kids? I believe that it is Dain
Gardner. Thank you.
Karen Primmer
Hermiston
Support public safety with
Measure 30-148
I’m writing in support of Measure
30-148 to fund critical equipment, vehi-
cles, and facilities in Umatilla County Fire
District #1. These will keep fi refi ghters
and EMTs safe in line of duty and ensure
CORRECTIONS
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
VOLUME 114 • NUMBER 16
Andrew Cutler | Publisher • acutler@eomediagroup.com • 541-278-2673
Jade McDowell | News Editor • jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4536
Kelly Schwirse | Multi-Media consultant • kschwirse@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4531
Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news,
advertising or subscription information:
• call 541-567-6457
• e-mail info@hermistonherald.com
• stop by our offi ces at 333 E. Main St.
• visit us online at: hermistonherald.com
The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN
8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston
Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838,
(541) 567-6457.
sions at the polls, but they are also
more likely to make a diff erence
throughout the year by speaking up
in a knowledgeable and construc-
tive way that elected offi cials will lis-
ten to.
Tuesday, April 27, was the last
day to register to vote in the May 18
election, and ballots are mailed out
on Wednesday, April 28. If you are
not sure if you’re registered to vote,
think you may be registered under
the wrong address, haven’t received a
ballot as Election Day approaches, or
have other questions, you can reach
out to the Umatilla County elec-
tions offi ce at 541-278-6254 or the
Morrow County elections offi ce at
541-676-5604.
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Tues-
day, May 18. If you mail them (you
don’t need a stamp to do so) they
must be received, not merely post-
marked, by then. And remember that
in Hermiston, the ballot drop box
was recently moved to the Staff ord
Hansell Government Center.
Between the low voter turnout of
local taxing district elections and the
number of contested races, it is likely
at least one race will be decided by
a mere handful of votes. If you want
your vote to make a diff erence, this
election is a great opportunity to cast
a vote that carries signifi cant weight.
Periodical postage paid at Hermiston, OR.
Postmaster, send address changes to
Hermiston Herald, 333 E. Main St.,
Hermiston, OR 97838.
Member of EO Media Group Copyright ©2021
It is the policy of the Hermiston Herald to correct errors as
soon as they are discovered. Incorrect information will be
corrected on Page 2A. Errors commited on the Opinion page
will be corrected on that page. Corrections also are noted in
the online versions of our stories.
Please contact the editor at editor@hermistonherald.com or
call (541) 564-4533 with issues about this policy or to report
errors.
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters Policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for the
Hermiston Herald readers to express themselves on local,
state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer
letters should be kept to 250 words.
No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person.
The Hermiston Herald reserves the right to edit letters for
length and for content.
ENDORSEMENT LETTER
DEADLINE
The Hermiston Herald will accept
endorsement letters for the May 18
special election until Monday, May 10
at 5 p.m.
Endorsement letters must be less
than 300 words and may be edited for
length, spelling, grammar or clarity.
They should include the author’s
name and city of residence, which will
be published, along with the author’s
phone number, which will not be
published.
Letters are run on a fi rst-come, fi rst-
served basis.
You can email letters to
editor@hermistonherald.com or drop
them off or mail them to the Hermis-
ton Herald, c/o Jade McDowell, 333 E.
Main St. in Hermiston.
We will publish our last letters on
Wednesday, May 12. Any letters
received after the deadline will not
run.
Election Day is May 18.
their ability to respond when an emergency
arises.
Nothing is more important than safety
when it comes to the men and women who
risk their lives to protect their community.
Having modern equipment and vehicles at
the ready ensures these fi rst responders can
perform at their best.
Because Western Umatilla County
is growing so quickly, the call volume
increases every year. This bond will keep a
high level of service and allow UCFD1 to
plan for the future.
Please join me in supporting this bond
and the men and women of Umatilla
County Fire District #1.
Terry Rowan
Hermiston
Letters must be original and signed by the writer or writers.
Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include
a telephone number so they can be reached for questions.
Only the letter writer’s name and city of residence will be
published.
OBITUARY POLICY
The Hermiston Herald publishes paid obituaries. The
obituary can include small photos and, for veterans, a
fl ag symbol at no charge. Expanded death notices will be
published at no charge. These include information about
services. Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper
punctuation and style.
Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at
hermistonherald.com/obituaryform, by email to obits@
hermistonherald.com, by fax to 541-276-8314, placed via the
funeral home or in person at the Hermiston Herald or East
Oregonian offi ces. For more information, call 541-966-0818 or
1-800-522-0255, x221.