Faulty reasoning on Wehby

The Bulletin has the right to make endorsements but has the responsibility to its readers to provide fair and accurate justification for its endorsements. Otherwise the process becomes a farce.

Such is the case for its endorsement Oct. 9 of Monica Wehby for the U.S. Senate over incumbent Jeff Merkley.

In regard to Merkley as a champion of the middle class, The Bulletin faults his policies for not “improving their lot.” While the economy is complex, and not a single action can improve “the lot” of the middle class, a higher minimum wage would be a major step in that direction.

Merkley supports Senate Bill 460, The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2014, which would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour. Wehby is critical of Merkley’s support of this bill and last December told conservative Portland radio talk show host Lars Larson that “the minimum wage is an important protection for workers, but my view is that it should be left to the states to determine what rates work best for them.” The Bulletin failed to mention those critical differences. Rather, Wehby would favor more tax breaks for corporations and millionaires who will ship more jobs overseas. How will this “improve the lot” of the middle class? Not in the least!

What ideas does she have to improve the lot of the middle class? None!

Linda Davis

Sisters

Wilhelm understands education issues

I saw an attack ad on television and felt compelled to share my thoughts on the upcoming election. Rather than tear down candidates, I’d like to focus on the issues that motivate me to vote. As a teacher and a mother, education is my No. 1 issue. I’m writing this letter to explain why local teachers choose Craig Wilhelm for state representative.

My main issues with the state of our education system are: too many students per class, too few teachers and too much emphasis on high-stakes assessments. Wilhelm understands what we experience. As a military commander, he knows what it’s like to be given a near impossible mission without the necessary equipment and be asked to execute it under tough public scrutiny.

Wilhelm knows the importance of teamwork in those situations of high stress and high stakes. He knows the outcome of our performance can have serious and lasting consequences for our nation. He doesn’t take our jobs lightly.

Wilhelm has taken the time to visit our classrooms, to understand our students’ needs, to listen to educators. We believe he is the candidate to best advocate for our community’s children in the state Capitol to fully fund schools and protect students from education policy fads.

Local teachers support Wilhelm. We hope you will too.

Amy Sabbadini

Bend

Support Capell, Ramsay and Roats

When I read Bend City Council candidates say water and sewer rates are too high, it demonstrates to me they do not understand the city’s rates or infrastructure needs. Bend has a “net zero” or break-even rate policy, meaning these funds do not make a profit. Water and sewer are independent funds and money cannot be transferred between them or to other city funds. The rates are calculated to pay for operation, maintenance and replacement of worn-out equipment. Candidates who claim rates are too high are pandering to the voters just as councils did during Bend’s period of rapid growth, keeping rates too low and delaying construction of needed infrastructure. Now the infrastructure need is critical and present.

Councils must fund improvements to prevent catastrophic failures. These essential improvements increase rates. If candidates who claim rates are too high can’t understand straightforward water and sewer issues, how can we hope they will comprehend complex issues facing Bend? I strongly encourage all voters to re-elect Councilors Mark Capell and Scott Ramsay and elect candidate Casey Roats. I worked with them on several infrastructure projects and know they have detailed understandings of infrastructure and other city needs.

Electing this team can assure the public that the council will have the knowledge and experience to develop cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions for issues facing Bend in the future.

Frank Turek

Bend

Misinformation on GMOs

John Valenti wrote that voters should read about a “really good study” before voting in November (“Read about GMOs,” published Oct. 10). In trying to view the subject study (which is elusive) I found more articles stating that the study is flawed and invalid (search for GMOs Seralini).

We the readers do not have a qualified source on which to base our decision. Do not base your vote on any single study. There is a lot of misinformation out there on both sides of the issue.

Wayne Linschied

Redmond

Vote for driver cards

The Bulletin endorsed Measure 88. They have done the right thing. I, too, will vote yes on Measure 88. This is why.

There are safety issues. I want everyone driving on the roads that I do to have passed the written and driving tests required by the DMV. I also know that the issuing of driver cards to undocumented neighbors will allow them to use it for no other purpose but driving. They cannot use it to obtain a passport, register to vote, enter a government building or get a firearms ID card. Their pictures will be taken and entered into a recognition database, which is used in tracking crime. It is also important to know that their immigration status does not change. They will still be undocumented.

Finally, though, a driver card is an issue of justice. For example, a family I know has been in the USA for over 25 years. It is a two-parent family raising three children who are American citizens. They both work hard in low-paying jobs, attend church regularly, do not drink or take drugs and take no government welfare. They are modeling all the family values that we admire. But they do have to drive to work, the grocery store, take kids to doctors’ offices, etc. I believe they have earned the right to do one thing legally, and that is drive. I hope you will join me in voting yes on Measure 88.

KaRene Lehman

Bend

Richardson is the antidote to what ails Oregon

State Rep. Dennis Richardson is the Republican candidate for Oregon governor. His qualifications to lead this state are impressive.

Richardson was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He flew combat missions, sometimes under heavy enemy fire, and was awarded 19 air medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. His courageous actions were responsible for saving the lives of numerous young Americans, allowing them to return home to their loved ones.

He has demonstrated that same courage and willingness to take bold action throughout his more than 12 years of service in the state Legislature.

Richardson’s vision for Oregon is to form a fiscally conservative state government that will focus on the stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Its primary job will be to improve the incomes of working families.

Richardson recognizes that the most effective way to create private-sector family-wage jobs is to allow the free market to work by getting government out of the way of small-business development. As governor, he will be positioned to help make that happen.

We strongly believe that Richardson is the antidote to what ails Oregon.

Voters are provided a clear choice between the status quo and a new and vibrant vision for Oregon. We have the opportunity to “take Oregon back” this November.

The only question is “if we will act” on that opportunity.

Sen. Doug Whitsett and Rep. Gail Whitsett

Klamath Falls

Barram is right for the job

Yes, it’s true. We are clearly biased in our enthusiasm for Jodie Barram’s candidacy to serve as Deschutes County commissioner. For 20 years, we’ve known Jodie very well as our beloved daughter-in-law. We have watched her as a wife, mother, businesswoman, teacher and civic leader, both as a volunteer and as an elected official.

Her four years on the city planning commission and six years on the Bend City Council have impressed us with her commitment to excellence. She is comprehensive in her studious attention to all issues, articulate in her convictions and gracious in her relating to people on all sides. Barram clearly understands how the county connects with cities and with the state of Oregon. Barram is known as a careful listener, ready to engage with all perspectives and decisive in taking action when the time is right.

Barram was born and raised in Deschutes County. She knows the history of the area and the heartbeat of people who call this home. Barram’s passion for the future health of all aspects of our lives here is strong. We totally concur with all of the reasons The Bulletin’s editorial board so enthusiastically endorsed Barram for Deschutes County commissioner.

Doug and Loretta Barram

Bend

Christofferson could shake up Washington

Aelea Christofferson is a fresh face on the political scene. She is a businesswoman who could help shake up Washington with her ideas to change the tax structure of business. She faces a superfunded 16-year congressman, Greg Walden, for Congress. If you are one of the people tired of Washington the way it is, she would be a wonderful change. I am voting for Christofferson, a woman with ideas for Eastern Oregon to represent me.

Mayme Trumble

Redmond

Support Roats for Bend council

I am writing to express my support and endorsement of Casey Roats for Bend City Council. I appreciate his insight into the city’s infrastructure challenges, and his part in identifying and endorsing solutions that have lowered the overall cost to city ratepayers while building needed infrastructure, including his participation in the Sewer Infrastructure Advisory Group. Roats’ private-sector management and utility-operations experience give him practical experience in balancing compliance with regulatory requirements, risk and level of service where his own finances are at stake. His engagement in our community, and in his business affairs, has shown me he is collaborative and solution-oriented. I trust Roats to hold city staff, stakeholders and colleagues accountable and through leadership to give all of those parties something to reach for.

R. Brady Fuller

Bend

Roats is most qualified

For the past four years, I have had the pleasure of serving with Casey Roats on the city of Bend’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee. This is one of the three committees that Roats has served on that provides input to the City Council on water, sewer, stormwater and transportation issues. His background as an owner of a private water company serving a portion of the city has provided him a great deal of knowledge and experience to effectively deal with these issues.

In running his business, Roats has to deal with many of the same issues that will be facing the city in the coming years. How to provide water, sewer and other services to meet future growth will continue to be a challenge. Roats’ business background will be a valuable asset to the City Council in making the significant financial decisions that will be required. All four candidates for Position 6 on the City Council seem to agree on several major issues facing the city: revising the urban growth boundary, providing cost-effective services to the current and future residents and business in the city, and planning for and building the needed improvements to our infrastructure in a timely and economical manner.

I believe that Roats is the most qualified candidate to deal with these issues. He is passionate about the city and providing great services to his customers. He is a “hands on” manager, and you may see Roats out on one of his company’s construction projects with a hard hat and shovel working alongside his employees.

Ray Auerbach

Bend

Job for ‘first lady’

I think if Gov. John Kitzhaber is re-elected he should appoint his “first lady” as director of Oregon’s Office of Immigration Affairs. You just can’t beat experience!

Russ Winge

Fall River

Don’t mail your ballots too soon

People should consider not mailing their voter ballots too soon, as you might find out something at the last minute that could change your mind about a particular person or issue.

Think how you will feel if you wish you had waited for all of the facts to surface before mailing that ballot. Personally, I wait until final day, then take my ballot to one of the drop boxes around town.

Darlene Ashley

Redmond

Merkley deserves another term

I encourage you to support Sen. Jeff Merkley. In an election phase bombarded with campaign mail, his opponent prefaces Merkley with the term “liberal.” I personally find that not the case.

I am a former farmer from Klamath Falls with over 100 years of family farm history. After the irrigation water shutoff in 2001, I made a decision to exit farming in Klamath and finally in 2010 achieved my goal. During a Republican administration, a water settlement agreement was created and supported by farmers in the Klamath Irrigation Project, among other stakeholders in the Klamath. In that time period a change in president and U.S. senator took place. The Republicans whom we thought supported the agreement ran for the “tea party hills.” Who was left standing at potential political risk? The newly elected Merkley. He realized this agreement was created with homegrown local support and he was there from day one.

Since then, my wife and I have moved to Bend. We bought a home on the east side with 10 acres of irrigated farmland. Just couldn’t get farming out of my blood.

I urge you to support and re-elect Merkley. He and his professional staff deserve another term.

Karl Scronce

Bend

Just say yes to Measure 92

Reading food labels is not new to me. My mother in the 1950s was concerned about hydrogenated oil (trans fat), so we drove to another state just to get old-fashioned peanut butter. We never had cold cuts because of the nitrites and nitrates (preservatives). It took many years for my mom to be proven right.

I personally don’t want to wait that many years this time. I still read labels and that is why I find it hard to understand why adding whether a food has GMOs or not is such a big deal. Why have I received three, four colored brochures, gotten two phone calls, viewed three television ads and listened to two radio ads in the span of three weeks for No on 92?

Why would anyone go to so much trouble? Bottom line, money! The farmers who are against 92 need to be worried. They must be GMO farmers and this would affect their bottom line. How? I will not be purchasing any products that contain GMOs. Only someone who has something to hide, or lose, would go to these lengths to stop having GMOs listed on a food label.

I want the choice to decide, and a “yes” on Measure 92 will allow me to do just that. A little information goes a long way and does not harm anyone — however, misinformation just might. Please do this for me, if not for yourselves. Vote yes on Measure 92.

Sue Despotopulos

Bend

At a defining moment

Our state is at a defining moment. We have a decision to make: Who will be our next governor.

What is the record of our governor? Is it one of competency or incompetency? We know the following:

• We have the worst or second-worst absenteeism rate in public schools.

• We have the worst or second-worst elementary/high school system in the country.

• We have the worst DMV in the country.

• We have an arrogant transportation department that attempts to steal people’s homes and businesses under threat of condemnation.

• We hired a schools chief who gratefully accepted wages but failed to work.

• We squandered a half-billion dollars on Cover Oregon and a bridge to Washington.

• The recovery jobs are part-time, low-pay.

• We have a governor whose personal life is far from being an exemplar for our youth to follow.

Do the foregoing examples suggest competency? Is it time for a change?

Thomas Triplett

Bend