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Hood River News Editorial
October 21, 2006
At lease one bipartisan vote is in order on the ballot for the Nov. 7
election.
Incumbents Rick Metsger and Patti Smith deserve to be re-elected.
Sen. Metsger, the Democrat from District 26, and Rep. Smith, the
Republican from Dist. 52, frequently work hand in hand on behalf of
their districts, and in that spirit they deserve to be thought of
together, with renewed votes for their re-election bids.
Both have proven their willingness to meet face-to-face with their
constituents and listen to their concerns. They have regularly
sponsored informational visits by other public officials on topics
such as health insurance to education funding.
They are frequent visitors to Hood River County; both live within an
hour or less of Hood River, but have demonstrated that being present
at community events is more than just a convenience.
They have led or had a hand in transportation infrastructure funding,
emergency preparedness, the fight against methamphetamine production
and trafficking, the “payday loans” crackdown, and passage of
“Jessica’s Law” (requiring a minimum 25-year sentence for predatory
sex offenders).
Their opponents are experienced and highly capable people who are
hard-working public servants who have demonstrated dedicated civic
leadership. Democrat Suzanne VanOrman and Republican Carol York have
proven themselves in past and current public service and, whatever the
outcome on Nov. 7, it should not be the last we hear from them.
VanOrman, facing Smith, was the longtime Hood River Head Start
director and a former Oregon City commissioner and brings a wealth of
ideas to the campaign.
York, challenging Metsger, has regional and statewide experience as
Hood River County Commissioner and member of the Oregon Grown Advisory
Board, among others, offers insight and energy.
But it remains Metsger and Smith’s time. Both have worked hard, are
developing into real legislative leaders, and need to be given more
time to make use of their rising influence in the Legislature.
Both are committed to a lasting method of stabilizing school financing
by, as Smith describes it, favoring education as a funding priority
that precludes politics from the decision process. Meanwhile Metsger
points out that the real question with school funding is not “is it
stable?” but “is it adequate?”
“We need to break the gridlock” is a sound bite in general, but a
sincere goal of these two legislators. It will take the work of
experienced legislators such as Metsger and Smith to sway their
colleagues into meaningful change on the issue.
At a time when Salem needs what little true cohesion it has, Smith and
Metsger can point to their teamwork and willingness to straddle the
aisle in order to get things done.
*****
Ballots were mailed Friday to most Hood River County registered
voters. If you do not receive your ballot by Monday's mail, call
County Elections at 386-1442. |
