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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2000)
OPINION: It’s time for a Madam Mayor in Vernonia By Noni Andersen Vernonia mayor candidates Cindy Ball and Mario Leonetti, are both City Councilors and both have demonstrated their com m itm ent to the com munity. L e o n e tti has lived and worked in Vernonia for more than 30 years, has served about 20 years as a volunteer firefighter and returned to the city council after taking some time off to re cover from a heart attack sev eral years ago. He and his wife, Nanette, own and operate Leonetti’s Pizza & Grill. Ball is a comparative new comer, having moved to Ver nonia with her husband, Dan, and two daughters a little over four years ago, but that hasn’t kept her from being a contribut ing member of the community. She works full time and at Voi. 15, No 20 tends PSU, but approaches community tasks with organi zation and skill. Currently work ing in Port land, she is seeking a p o s itio n closer to home. L e o n e tti and Ball share concerns about main taining Vernonia’s small town lifestyle while realizing that economic development is needed, but the mayor’s job should go to Ball for two rea sons: One, Leonetti will still be on the council next year, so his valuable input won’t be miss ing. Two, Ball’s organizational skills will be very valuable in the mayoral position. It would be a shame to lose either of these contributing members of our community. By electing Cindy Ball to the may or’s position, we will be able to draw community ideas from both of them. ‘ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” INSIDE: UGB subject of study........ pg. 4 WOEC board studying supply..... pg. *10 Banks Council and School District ....pg. 10 October 18, 2000 OPINION: Hyde is easy choice for BOC; Pulliam, Corsiglia harder choice By Noni Andersen Members of Cub Scout Pack 201 and the Vernonia High School Youth Transition Pro gram are reminding everyone that the annual Vernonia Cares Food Drive will start Oct. 21. Helping with the effort are, front from left, Kody Watts, Mason Roberts, Chris John ston, Trisha Lee and Rachel Lee. Looking over the banner are John Collins, Dallas Arm strong, Tyler Clines and Gavin Roberts. For complete information on the food drive, please see page 8. Tony Hyde is an easy choice for re-election to Position #3 on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. Aside from the fact that he is from Vernon ia and we need whatever rep resentation we can get, he has made great strides toward un derstanding the problems that face the county, and works hard to try and solve those problem. Hyde has drawn criticism for time spent in Salem, Washing ton, D.C., and elsewhere, but that criticism is misplaced. When we are represented by someone who will work with politicians or bureaucrats in higher positions, we are better off. It is no accident that Co lumbia County receives a great deal of assistance from both state and federal agencies and Hyde can take credit for much of that assistance. Shawna Sykes, who is no stranger to Vernonia, may well have a future in government, but not just yet. She is smart and capable of learning what is needed. Wayne Mayo, Hyde’s other opponent, sounds a bit am bivalent about fiscal responsi bility. He says “no” to more tax es, but advocates a $1 per ton fee on gravel depletion as though that didn’t come out of someone’s pocket. BOC Position #1 candidates Paul Pulliam and Joe Corsiglia are both capable of doing a good job, but which one is bet ter? Pulliam has been involved in economic development on county and state commissions for a long time - some of his work has benefited Vernonia and he knows Vernonia well. Corsiglia also has ties to Ver nonia, but hasn’t been involved directly. The third candidate, Scott Burge, isn’t yet ready, but he will be in the future. Pulliam’s experience has the edge and he should do well with voters in the Nehalem Val ley— his work on economic de velopment has also helped the Mist-Birkenfeld area. OPINION: Purvee and Parrow for Vernonia City Council seats By Noni Andersen Three candidates are seeking the two vacancies on the Vernonia City Council. Probably the best mown is Randy Parrow (whose fa ther, Art, is complet ing his second term as mayor) because of his position as manager at Vernonia Sentry and his com munity activity, par ticularly with the Boosters and the Jamboree committee, Parrow and his wife, Sharon, who also works at Sentry and serves on the city Planning Com mission, are now enjoying their first grandchild. Parrow said he is community orient ed and, with no children left in school, wants to expand his civic involvement. He describes himself as a team player. He feels that the workshops offered by organizations such as the League of Oregon Cities have much to offer and he would like to participate. He has at tended a number of council meetings. Glen Purvee is probably the least known of the three candidates. A Ver nonia resident for two-and-a-half years, he grew up in Maine and moved to Ban don about ten years ago. He and his wife, Christine, have children in school. Purvee operates two businesses, G & D Technology, which imports and ex ports circuit board components, and Ver nonia Packaging & Shipping. Both busi nesses operate out of 998 Bridge Street, where he is also con structing a miniature golf course. He has been at tending City Council meetings regularly for much of the past year and decided he would like to get involved. The third candidate, Chris Collins, has lived in Vernonia for a long time. We have no photo and didn’t interview him because he missed our appoint ment. At the candidates’ fair held Oct. 10 in the Scout Cabin, Collins said he was running because he wanted to be “a thorn in the side of the mayor,” and would represent citizens who are not currently represented. With two candidates who have shown willingness to participate in the mundane aspects of meetings, and one who doesn’t attend meetings and ex presses disdain for a cooperative ap proach to problem solving, the choices are easy. Voters should elect Randy Parrow and Glen Purvee to the Vernonia City Council.
