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Yes to Smith
It was gratifying to see that The Oregonian newspaper (which usually
leans toward the Democratic Party) has endorsed Republican Patti Smith
for another two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives. In
its Oct. 7 editorial, the newspaper noted that it takes a “hardworking
and committed legislator” to cover the geography of District 52 and
Rep. Smith has been just that in her last six years as our legislator.
The editorial stated that Patti is one of the most personally popular
and politically effective legislators in Salem. For example, last
session she helped write Oregon’s far-reaching methamphetamine
legislation. She also introduced the bill that led to Oregon’s version
of Jessica’s Law, toughening sentences on sexual predators. Smith has
also carefully and consistently looked out for the needs of her
largely rural district on issues ranging from transportation to
education to alternative energy. The legislation that allowed Cardinal
Glass to build its manufacturing plant on the former Hanel Mill site
is one important example.
The Oregonian said Smith faces a solid opponent in the upcoming
election, but that the democratic candidate cannot match Smith’s broad
experience in Salem or the incumbent’s knowledge on the full range of
issues confronting this state. We wholeheartedly agree. Please join us
in keeping Patti Smith as our District 52 representative.
Tom and Carol Yates
Hood River
Yes on 46, 47
We are facing a bunch of ballot initiatives and the usual pleas
for and against are landing on my dining room table for a brief
inspection on their way to the recycling bin. Measures 46 and 47
are designed to put some long needed limits on campaign financing,
since we are one of the most “wide open” states in the country.
Who opposes 46 and 47? The Democrats, the Republicans, the
lobbyists for big business, and the unions. Every time a reform
initiative comes up they all join the chorus of “we’re for
campaign finance reform, but this is the wrong way to do it”, yet
they somehow never offer their own solutions to the problem of
huge amounts of money in politics.
The real deal is that all of the professional politicians and
their employees will have to go through some serious changes if
these bills pass. One of the best things that will happen is that
incumbents won’t be able to pull down $5,000 checks from the big
money interests with a single phone call.
They’ll have to pay more attention to their constituents. Vote yes
on 46 and 47.
Sally Streeter
Welches
Smith is excellent
What kind of mind set are we going to send to Salem? We have an
excellent State Representative in Patti Smith whose approach to
the people’s business is to run state government more efficiently.
Patti Smith’s opponent wants … “more money.” I’m voting to Patti
Smith because I don’t have bottomless pockets.
Brian Steeves
Hood River
Vote for Babitz
I first met City Council candidate Arthur Babitz several weeks
ago, long before campaigning began in earnest, at a small social
gathering he had organized in our neighborhood. Like our
neighborhood, the assembled group was an eclectic mix of long time
Hood River residents, very recent transplants and those, like me,
somewhere in between. As we discussed the issues facing our town,
I was impressed by Arthur’s ability to listen to different
viewpoints and mediate the conversation. Because he was well
versed in the history and facts concerning each topic, as well as
easy to talk to, our little group of citizens found a lot of
common ground we might otherwise have missed.
Since that evening, I have seen Arthur at other neighborhood
functions and have followed the campaign on his Web site blog. He
is always ready to listen and seems willing to work toward common
goals.
Tomi Owens
Hood River
Bikes can help
The Hood River Valley High School student-ran Cycling the Recycled
is a program at the high school where used bikes are donated and
students fix them up and give them to children. Right now our main
focus is children’s bikes for Christmas.
If you know of any used bikes in need of a new home please contact
Jessica at
jessliveslife@msn.com.
We are also running a silent auction for two new Trek 3700
mountain bikes (one medium and one small) up for silent auction.
The starting bid is $150 each; the auction ends Nov. 22. proceeds
from the sale will help fund the program.
Bikes may be viewed in the high school commons area. These bikes
have been donated by Trek bicycles for the start up of our
business.
E-mail bid to:
Jessica Ostler,
jessliveslife@msn.com
Jessica Ostler
Hood River
Party handmaiden?
In the Nov. 1 Hood River News there were three letters to the
editor regarding our Sen. Rick Metsger and candidate Carol York.
In each one the authors hold York up as one who “thinks through
the issues”, “does her research” and is NOT beholden to ‘special
interests”.
The most recent filings with the Secretary of State tell a very
different story. A full 72 percent (that’s $282,935!) of her total
campaign contributions came from the Republican caucus!
Only $100 (that’s .0003 percent!!) of the most recent
contributions came from INDIVIDUALS! Unlike York I am happy to
reveal MY source of information … Oregon’s Secretary of State’s
Web site will confirm these numbers:
www.sos.state.or.us.
Does she expect us to believe that the Republican machine spent
almost $300,000 in direct campaign contributions and that she
WON’T be beholden to them and their right wing agenda come
January?! She has made claims she is not willing to support, has
second hand sources she is not willing to reveal … and now we find
that she is the handmaiden of the Republican machine.
Take the time to see past the talking head that is Carol York.
Senator Rick Metsger has served us well over the years. He recused
himself on important votes when he had concerns about a conflict
of interest. He took stands on controversial issues that were
tough but morally (and constitutionally) spot on. And he has
worked diligently to remain connected to our community and OUR
concerns.
The Republican machine bought York’s campaign. Don’t let them buy
your vote!
Thank you to Senator Rick Metsger for staying above the fray this
election season. Congratulations on a race well run! And thank you
to the citizens of Senate Dist. 26 for seeing past the smoke and
mirrors and voting for the person who has been, and will continue
to be, here for us, Rick Metsger.
Vote! Vote! Vote!!
Elizabeth Mazzara
Hood River
Keep Patti Smith
Vote for Patti Smith – a moderate voice for us all.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my support and
appreciation for Representative Patti Smith. Throughout her tenure
as our State Representative she has consistently shown herself to
be a true representative of her constituents. From issues ranging
from agriculture to rural health, Patti has shown her ability to
work with all sides of the issues and to help promote bipartisan
cooperation on the issues critical to our industry, our health and
our children.
I worked with Suzanne Van Orman for six years in providing care
and education to the children in Head Start for our region and
together we achieved a lot. However, I am supporting Patti Smith
because I feel we need moderate voices that focus more on the
issues critical to our region and less on partisanship and “party
line” issues.
Help me return Patti Smith to Salem where she can continue to be a
solid, moderate voice for ALL Oregonians.
Dr. J. Kyle House
Hood River
CL mayor for York
Carol York is the best choice for our State Senator. As a county
commissioner, we have seen Carol York as a tireless leader on
behalf of Hood River County. She has made a special effort
reaching out to Cascade Locks and learning about the needs of our
community. As mayor I have seen Carol’s ability to work toward a
common goal. She is able to put aside preconceived ideas and
perspectives to work with all parties towards a solution. She has
always been committed to listen and learn first, before making a
decision. She has carried our issues to Salem and Washington, D.C.
and worked with all of our elected officials. Her attention to
detail on the needs of our community and her leadership will serve
us as well in Salem as it has on the County Commission.
Carol’s county commission term ends in December; please join me in
voting for Carol York for State Senate so she can continue to
serve us.
Ralph Hesgard, Mayor
Cascade Locks
Don’t ignore issue
I have the highest respect for those Hospice staff and management
whom it is my privilege to know. I do not think it “dis-serves”
either these fine people or the Hospice employees who brought the
Department of Justice complaint, that the Hood River News has
reported news of this issue to our community.
No, we do not wish strife among our friends and neighbors; yet we
do not wish to ignorantly sweep such a bleeding wound under the
metaphoric rug, either.
Paula Friedman
Parkdale
False threat
Recently an engineering report commissioned by the Coalition for
Oregon’s Future confirming what many people, including former
Governor John Kitzhaber, already suspected – the Warm Springs
Tribe can not build a casino on the site east of Hood River. The
report invalidates the threat of a casino east of Hood River,
which has been used by the tribe and its supporters as
justification for siting a proposed casino in Cascade Locks.
The report was commissioned by the Coalition for Oregon’s Future,
an organization made up of environmental groups, businesses, faith
based groups and the Grand Ronde Tribe. The Coalition hired two
highly respected and independent engineering consulting firms,
Golder and Associates and OTAK, to analyze the tribal land east of
Hood River to determine if a casino resort was feasible on the
property.
The report states, “…. a Hood River site is not a permittable,
practicable or potentially legal site for the Warm Springs Tribe’s
proposed casino.” For an executive summary or complete copy of the
59 page report, please visit
www.nogorgecasino.com. “We do not believe there is a
feasible or practical scenario for locating a casino at the
proposed Hood River site,” writes Grant Bailey, a Senior
Consultant with Golder Associates who prepared the report.
Beyond the legal impediments, the report estimates the site
preparation and road construction costs at approximately $200
million before construction of the casino resort even starts. The
only feasible road access goes through property owned by the
Forest Service, who has already deemed the project to be
inconsistent with federal law including the Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area Act.
The study was released following a statewide poll showing that
Oregonians oppose the Gorge casino proposal by a 3:1 margin. This
study and the statewide poll are just two of many setbacks this
year for the proposed off-reservation casino in the Columbia River
Gorge.
Elected officials can no longer claim that they support a Cascade
Locks location for the casino because the Tribe can build a casino
east of Hood River on a site that would be much worse. The tribe
can’t build east of Hood River; its time to drop this argument.
Elected officials should support a new on-reservation casino on
Highway 26 in Warm Springs. It would provide increased revenue for
the Tribe; more jobs for tribal members; would protect the Gorge
and its communities from the adverse affects of a 600,000 square
foot casino resort; would be fairer to other tribes and a better
all around fit for Oregon.
Peter Cornelison
Hood River
For safety’s sake
Now that it’s getting darker, earlier, I’m concerned about people
on bikes and Seniors on their electric Scooters.
When you’re in the shadow of a tree, and wearing dark clothing,
you can’t be seen! Also, those scooters aren’t easy to spot when
backing up in a parking lot!
They have Neon flags you can attach to your cart, that stick up
about 3 to 4 feet above your scooter, making it easier to see you.
Also, a light colored vest or even a Neon vest could save your
life!
As for our local bikers, it would help to wear a top that is light
in color so that you can be seen. Just yesterday on May Street
there was a lady peddling East in a dark top, with a dark
backpack, and not easily visible. Perhaps there were reflective
strips on her pack, but it wasn’t quite dark enough for
headlights, so we couldn’t tell.
And the scariest … the little carts in back of your bikes, with
your kids, those absolutely need a tall Neon flag!!!
They have the flags at our local discount store, they run about $5
and could save you hundreds, maybe thousands in medical bills.
Plus imagine how the person who can’t see you would feel if they
hit you!
Leilani Caldwell, Gloria Clark, Carol Reister
Hood River
Voice for Voisin
Yet again, Americans bear the insult of an election where
political dialogue hinges on ideology rather than fact. The
rhetoric is familiar. “Partisan politics” are decried. The
inflammatory issues of abortion and gay marriage reappear to
outrage moral sensibilities and to obscure the moral outrages
we’ve endured these past six years.
Chalk it up to fear or affected patriotism: America has suffered
her liberty degraded and lost 2,800 of her sons and daughters in
Iraq. Americans have excused or ignored illegal surveillance and
detention of American citizens, torture of prisoners in violation
of international law, blatant treason by White House staffers, an
incompetent response to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, and
enough deception to start a war. Eastern Oregonians are directly
complicit with these acts through the voting record of their
Representative in Congress, Greg Walden.
Party loyalty should be irrelevant in this election. We can and
should censure Mr. Walden for his compromising allegiance to the
Bush administration.
More importantly, we can elect a qualified candidate committed to
democratic values. Join me in voting for Carol Voisin.
Keir Bryerton
Hood River
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