An article by Bulletin reporter Julia Shumway titled “Adair lacking typical GOP support” was printed in the Sept. 13, 2018, edition of The Bulletin. In her article, Shumway reviewed the fact that Commissioner Tami Baney lost to Patti Adair in the May primary. Shumway further, among other observations, showcased outgoing Commissioner Baney’s endorsement and her campaign’s monetary support for Democrat candidate Jack Cook. Unfortunately, in any political race, there is a loser, and in the case in point, the loser has chosen to support a candidate of the other party. One might wonder why, after losing to a primary opponent of her party, Commissioner Baney would throw her support to the candidate of the opposite party whom she would have faced in the General Election had she won the primary.

As her article title implies, Shumway devoted the rest of her article to support her thesis that Adair lacks typical GOP support. I submit that a different reporter could have written the same article and would have come to a different conclusion by emphasizing the GOP supporters that she does have rather than the ones she doesn’t have. Specifically, among many others — U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, State Rep. Gene Whisnant, Redmond Mayor George Endicott, Commissioner Phil Henderson, former Oregon Speaker of the House Bev Clarno, Oregon State Sen. Dennis Linthicum and Pine Tavern owner Bill McCormick, who was U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, support her.

But most importantly, what does Shumway’s article tell us? It can be presumed to be factual, but, again, what does it tell us? It gives us some historical perspective, but otherwise gives us only a snapshot of who supports who at a point almost two months away from the general election. I submit that Bulletin readers would have been much better served had Shumway devoted her 1,000+ words toward examining the positions of each of the candidates on issues of substance rather than allegiances, many of which may change before the November election.

But I digress. The citizens of Deschutes County would be well served by electing Adair for county commissioner. Adair is a fourth-generation Oregonian, a University of Oregon graduate, a former certified public accountant. She has taken leadership roles and managed fundraising for schools and hospitals and is a positive force in the community.

Among Adair’s concerns for Deschutes County are the barriers to the development of more affordable housing. Recent land use policies have increased the cost of housing, and housing is taking up a larger share of a household budget. Land use is regulated by the state and may work for urban communities but is not appropriate for Deschutes County. Adair would lead an effort to bring land-use decisions back to the county level.

Adair believes that local government can lower construction costs by streamlining and creating a fast-track approval process, lowering construction permit fees where appropriate, contributing underutilized buildings and raw land and by creating incentives to encourage higher density development closer to employment opportunities.

Deschutes County is at an increasing risk of large, high-intensity fires because of the effects of poor forest management over the past century. By the county proactively supporting forest management efforts by state and federal agencies, municipal watersheds and reservoirs, habitat for sensitive species and residential areas can be better protected.

Recently, the county commissioners’ office has been discussing amendments to marijuana regulations, and Adair anticipates that regulations and enforcement of production on rural lands in Deschutes County will change. She believes that this is a good start but that the law enforcement resources needed to impose the new regulations need to be available.

Adair’s goal “… that Deschutes County be regarded as a leader in providing valuable and high-quality services to our county residents and be respected as one of the most efficient and effective local governments in Oregon.”

— Keith Sime lives in Redmond.