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.