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The INDEPENDENT, May 6, 1998
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Measure 53 corrects I
inequity in voting ï
Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice
monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each
month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi
tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Sports Edi
tor, Caren McGaugh. Phone/Fax: (503) 429-9410.
Measure 53 on the May 19 ballot would repeal the
provision in Measure 50 that requires a minimum of 50
percent of registered voters to cast a ballot in order to
pass most local option money measures.
There is no doubt that more people need to vote,
whether on money measures or candidates, but the
problem that Measure 53 would correct is counting ab
sent voters (not absentee ballots) as if they had voted
“no”. Measure 50 rewards voters who don’t bother to
mark a ballot and penalizes voters who are conscien
tious.
If the problem is that too few people vote on tax is
sues, the solution is to make those people realize that
they need to mark a ballot. People who fail to vote
should be considered non-voters; that is what they are,
nothing more, nothing less.
As an example, in the Vernonia Fire District bond
election last March, voters overwhelmingly approved
the request for new equipment. But if just 19 of those
voters had decided not to vote, under Measure 50, that
overwhelming approval would have been just an exer
cise in futility.
Most Oregon elections are now held by mail, elimi
nating the need to go to a polling place. Even in the
elections that are held the “old-fashioned way”, regis
tered voters may request and use absentee ballots.
Vote yes on Measure 53. If people don’t vote, they
should not be allowed to interfere with those who do.
Differences sometimes
are hard to determine
Candidates in the First Congressional District race
seem fairly elusive, at least from Vernonia.
The choice between Democrats Linda Peters and
David Wu isn’t clearcut in many areas, but there is one
factor that makes us prefer Peters: She is from Moun-
taindale and knows our area. Many of you remember
that Peters helped lead the battle several years ago to
prevent Metro from siting a landfill on top of Green
Mountain, where it would have polluted the water
sheds of both the Nehalem River and Dairy Creek. Pe
ters demonstrated leadership then and later, when she
was elected to the Washington County Board of Com
missioners.
Wu, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to move far
from the urban part of the district except to attend can
didates’ forums.
On the Republican ballot, Molly Bordanaro has cam
paigned in Vernonia while her opponent, developer
John Kvistad, has not. Kvistad may not be interested
in the problems of rural areas.
Bordonaro, on the other hand, made some really
scary statements when she was in Vernonia. In one,
she said that all federal education funds should be
turned over to local school districts to do what they
want, without strings attached. What would happen to
special education or women’s sports?
No recommendation in this race.
G (MW A
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VOTE!
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V/ADbAYA 'MEAN ?
IF You bort'T V O TE . ‘
WHO WILL?
By Julius Dalzell
Vernonia City Council
“A Time for Action”
When the Vernonia Community Development
Corporation was established, it was apparent to
at least some of us that, to “truly make develop
ment happen" was not going to be a simple mat
ter. The size of the community, location, condi
tion of the infrastructure - both municipal and
privately held - and the mix of our economic ac
tivity, all present challenges.
The City is attempting to upgrade the public
infrastructure, albeit we have a long road ahead,
no pun intended. We are now addressing the
water system needs, and yes, undoubtedly up
grading the streets and roads is a comparable
priority. An equal partner in the equation of de
velopment is of course the private sector. From
this segment of the community comes the busi
ness interests, plans and investments in eco
nomic activity that eventually provide the basis
of economic health. It is the business owners
and operators, building owners and investors
who, through their commerce, make available
the goods and services so important to the com
munity’s eventual economic status.
What we are talking about, of course, is the
substance of our downtown business district.
Some of the problems recently brought to the
CDC’s attention include buildings not meeting
code requirements, a lack of retail space for
ventures wishing to open, financial resources to
meet these needs and for new building con
struction. The fundamental question to the CDC
has been, can you help? That is a major part of
the organization’s role and, yes, we are trying.
By the way, this is not an appropriate role for
City Hall! The City can assist in some regards
but should not be directly involved or responsi
ble. Several grants are in place to provide funds
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for downtown revitalization in areas such as
benches, banners, street lighting and improved
pedestrian and traffic flow planning and imple
mentation. But it is the business community that
has to work on business issues.
In the CDC’s attempt to be responsive, we re
cently received a boost and an opportunity in the
form of the Oregon Rural Development Council
(ORDC), which met here in Vernonia on March
27th
Since 1989 this organization— composed of
Federal and State agencies as well as private
sector interests— led by the Oregon Economic
Development Department has been meeting
with rural Oregon. Their role is to bring re
sources to bear, when possible, to solve prob
lems. The needs may be regulatory resolution,
solution of a land use problem or, most fre
quently, financial requirements. We have all of
these issues, and others, to deal with.
The ORDC agreed to work with us and, in
fact, to make downtown revitalization in Vernon
ia the basis of a pilot project. A June meeting is
tentatively planned at which interested parties
will be given the opportunity to meet with ORDC
members who may be able to provide direction.
The business community is encouraged to par
ticipate: the date has not yet been set.
Separately, the ORDC was instrumental in
bringing assistance in the area of business re
cruitment. Greg Jenks, Regional Development
Officer for the Oregon Economic Development
Department, is bringing to bear other resources
in our attempts to attract employment opportuni
ties to the area. One of our goals is to make
available an industrial facility in which an em
ployer could locate. There is much work to be
accomplished: however, if the effort is success
ful and job opportunities are made available, it
will be worth it.
County, State Rep. districts and a few others
R e c o m m e n d a tio n s
without explanation are
frustrating, but we’re out
of space.
Columbia County Board
of Commissioners:
Joel Yarbor, Rep.; Rita
Bernhard, Dem.
State Rep. Dist. One:
Sam Patrick, Rep.;
Jackie Taylor, Dem.
State Rep Dist. Two:
Elaine Hopson, Dem.;
Scott Bushnell, Rep.
Sup’t of Public Instruc
tion:
Stan Bunn or Margaret
Carter.
Judge of the Supreme
Court, Pos. Seven:
William Riggs.
Many candidates who
are running unopposed
are not mentioned at all
because they have no op
position.
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No matter who you
prefer, please vote!
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