ID required for purchase, but not for vote?

I went to a store where I made a purchase of less than $10. I handed the clerk my credit card. She asked me for a photo ID. I gave her my government-issued driver’s license. She looked at the license, looked at me, looked at the credit card and then accepted it.

We know there is voter fraud in the U.S. Dead people have been known to vote, and some people vote more than once. One method that has been suggested to combat this fraud is with a government-issued picture ID. But the Democrats are vehemently opposed to this, claiming it’s a violation of the person’s civil rights and an intrusion of their personal information. Also, they claim, it’s an inconvenience for some of the people to go to their local DMV for the ID card.

So, let me get this straight. For a retail purchase of less than $10 I had to show a government-issued photo ID. But, for a person to vote in a municipal, county, state or federal election that affects the course of that government, to show a photo ID is unacceptable, according to the Democrats.

John Sabo

Bend

Flaherty deserves 2nd term

The noncontroversy surrounding former at-will employees aside, let’s take a look at Patrick Flaherty’s record as district attorney. He has made good on his promise to improve the productivity of the DA’s office, as is evident by reducing case backlog, and his conviction record is stellar. His work and collaboration has earned the endorsement of both the Bend Police Officer’s Association and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Association. I believe Flaherty has demonstrated his concern for the safety of our community and deserves a second term.

Jeff Blackburn

Redmond

Vote for Hummel

I’m voting for John Hummel for district attorney because he understands that keeping people safe is about more than just prosecuting criminals. Hummel believes that the best way to keep Deschutes County safe is to prevent crime in the first place.

I’ve been impressed with Hummel’s understanding of the relationship between mental illness and the criminal justice system. And his experience in helping to create Central Oregon’s first specialty court (the Crook County drug court) will be invaluable if we want to create a veterans court and expand our mental health and drug courts.

Our current district attorney, Patrick Flaherty, is a fine trial attorney and so is Hummel. The difference between the two is that Hummel has the personality and skills necessary to work with the community as part of a team to develop innovative and cost-effective crime-prevention strategies and programs.

Add to this the fact that Hummel has significant executive management experience and skills that will help us avoid further unnecessary costs to the taxpayers (Flaherty’s legal problems have resulted in taxpayers on the hook for more than $1.5 million in legal judgments and legal fees in just the past two years) and it becomes self-evident who is the right choice for Deschutes County. Please join me in voting for Hummel for district attorney.

Carolyn Clontz

Bend

Support Spear for judge

I have been a legal secretary and legal assistant for more than 30 years. I have known Thomas Spear for the last 14 years. When Spear worked as a deputy district attorney in Deschutes County his reputation with the lawyers I worked with was excellent. He was tough but fair. His word was good enough to facilitate resolutions and if his cases went to trial, he most likely won. More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to observe his excellent work as a private practice attorney.

I know he does more than prepare cases for trial, he goes to trial. He has tried many cases and he is the only candidate who has tried a case before a jury in Deschutes County or any circuit court in the state of Oregon, and he has done so many times.

Spear’s knowledge of the law and courtroom procedures is excellent. He handles the most complex and difficult cases and does so with great composure, even under the most difficult situations. Working with a litigation law firm, we understand how important it is for our clients to have an experienced trial attorney as our next circuit court judge. Finally, Spear was appointed by the Oregon Supreme Court as circuit court judge pro tem. He has the real-life experience of presiding over cases for seven years. This type of experience is invaluable. Please join me in voting for Spear for judge.

Patti Miller

Bend