| Letters to the Editor |
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| Nelson has the experience, desire to represent county |
To the editor: As our state representative Donna Nelson has done just that, she has represented us all whether we are of one party or another. She has asked for our opinions on many, many issues and considered what was important to us. I think it is very important that she has held town halls in every city in our county and listened to what we have said. As amenable as she is, we have seen her use persistence in getting something done when she knows it is the right thing to do. She is the one who worked to get Head Start to include all the kids, not just half of those disadvantaged children, in getting an early start at reading and math. She never gave up. Donna has given more to the families in this county than anyone we know. She used her own money to give jobless people a way to sell their crafts as flea market items to earn some extra money. She rented the fairground building and week after week would be pounding signs late at night to let the people know of the Yamhill County Market. She paid for all the costs and advertising. She also saw that none of the vendors ever went home without a sale by buying something herself from them. Now after eight years in the legislature, and after a long career as an executive with Evergreen Aviation, she is still willing to give her time to look after all of us as county commissioner. She says it is her honor to serve us, but we say it is our honor to have her care that much for us. Vote for Donna. She has never changed. She has never sought attention for all she does. She just does what is honest and right. God bless her. Lexi Fields, Carlton Lewis knows the job To the editor: I am writing in support of the candidacy of Leslie Lewis. I am impressed by the level of energy and hard work she brings to the job. She attends an extraordinary number of meetings, both day and evening, so she can keep up with the facts and also the will of the voters of Yamhill County. She does her homework on every issue: the committees for the bypass have had more than 100 meetings, almost all of which she has attended. The same is true for the urban reserve and transportation plan meetings, and most community events. We surely want to retain in office this person who demonstrates such dedication to the community and to the position of county commissioner. Ellen McClure, Newberg A brief nod to Kent Van Cleave To the editor: I voted for Kent Van Cleave for county clerk. I believe in him! Dan Corrigan, McMinnville Nelson has been very supportive To the editor: I would like to praise Donna Nelson for her support of the Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society. She is not only a perfect pet owner, but has a generous love of God's little creatures. Every week she delivers several bags of recyclable cans and bottles so we can redeem them and use the funds to support our shelter. She has purchased kittens, already spayed with all their shots, to give to senior citizens. As everyone knows, pets are wonderful therapy. Donna is very supportive of all things related to Yamhill County and I feel very fortunate to be in her friendship circle. Julie Julson, McMinnville Lewis represents the county well To the editor: I have worked with Commissioner Leslie Lewis for more than 10 years on projects involving the county's highway and transit needs. She has been the leader in converting a fragmented transit system into a unified Yamhill County Transit Area (YCTA), and has spent many hours filling out applications and successfully lobbying for more transit funding. The public, including seniors and persons with disabilities, have benefited from Leslie's hard work and leadership. She has been a major factor in working toward a solution to the Newberg/Dundee bottleneck. One part of this effort is now going to construction: the realignment and construction of the Highway 219/Wilsonville Road intersection. Commissioner Lewis has continuously sought public comment on transportation solutions, which I have personally witnessed on dozens of occasions at public presentations and information booths. Leslie's achievement of a profitable county fair is just one reflection of her extensive business and management skills. All of Yamhill County will benefit if Commissioner Lewis is re-elected. Dave Haugeberg, Newberg Faith in Action helps a senior To the editor: On May 3, a group of volunteers from Faith in Action came and did so much work for me. I was amazed. It was so much help to me as a senior and someone who is slightly disabled. I could not do these things by myself any more. I wish to thank them and the Faith in Action organization. Pauline Ogden, Newberg Nelson has done so much already To the editor: The May 2 primary is very important to the citizens of Yamhill County. The citizens have the opportunity to vote for a change in Yamhill County government. The individual who has done so much already for everyone is state Rep. Donna Nelson. I have known her for many years. She truly cares about the lives of people. She has been a representative for us all. I believe she will continue to do so as Yamhill County commissioner. A very important trait of Donna's is that she makes herself available to help wherever she is needed. She makes decisions on behalf of the people that are in their best interest, not those directed by any special party. I admire her love and respect for our veterans, troops and their families. When she was chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and she worked tirelessly on their behalf. Many will now be able to access benefits for education, healthcare, housing, jobs and emergency relief funds through the Oregon National Guard or Department of Veteran Affairs. It had been many years since veterans received the proper respect and help they need from the state of Oregon. Please vote for Donna for Yamhill County commissioner. Without a doubt, she will bring about a change in county government that is good for us all. Beverly Williams, Sheridan Lewis will get this woman's vote To the editor: I am writing this letter to ask you to join me in voting for Leslie Lewis for county commissioner. The primary election is on May 20 and because the commissioner positions are nonpartisan, the decision on this very important position may be made in the primary. I believe it is very important for Leslie Lewis to continue as our commissioner. She has lived in Yamhill County for more than 23 years and she knows our county and what makes it such a great place to live. She has a long record of outstanding service and volunteering in our communities. She does not seek public position for personal gain - she has a servant spirit and will continue to keep Yamhill County a great place for people to live and raise our families. I have known Leslie for many years and I know that she is fair, honest and has the highest integrity. Please vote for Leslie Lewis for county commissioner so we can continue to enjoy a well-run county government. Sara Pearson, Newberg Bledsoe a fresh face in the county To the editor: This primary election is very important. Leslie Lewis is seeking a third term. Donna Nelson is retiring from eight years as state representative and wants to serve four years as county commissioner. Kris Bledsoe, a political novice, offers change and new leadership. Curt Johnston, a local farmer, filed in opposition to both Donna Nelson and Leslie Lewis. The bypass has surfaced as a key issue. This expensive proposed design and route is dead as far as I am concerned. All the traffic assumptions are out-of-date. The Australian Macquarie Bank and Bear Stearns concluded that even tolling both the new expressway and Highway 99W there will not be enough money to build and maintain this expensive bypass. Transportation improvements are long overdue for the Dundee bottleneck. Whoever is elected county commissioner will have a great deal of influence over future options to ease congestion. Sometimes it takes a newcomer to help solve difficult public policy problems. Kris Bledsoe has no political baggage or track record on the contentious bypass issues. She claims strong mediation and financial skills. Maybe she can bring people together and earn greater credibility with ODOT and key state political leaders. I plan to vote for Kris Bledsoe and give her a chance. It is time for a change. Merilyn Reeves, Amity Lewis works for all county's citizens To the editor: I am supporting Leslie Lewis for county commissioner. She is a honorable and trustworthy individual and I want to encourage others to vote for her too. I've known Leslie since her time in the Oregon House of Representatives and she has always been available to those whom she represented. She is prone to look at issues of government from the taxpayer perspective and work to get the most value for the tax dollar spent. We as citizens of Yamhill County are well represented by Leslie Lewis. She knows how to get things done. She has the experience to work through the layers of government to get the job done; even when it seems like it will take forever, she does not give up. State and federal officials are impressed with her knowledge and intellect, as a result they make time to work with her on our local projects. We are most fortunate to have Leslie Lewis working for us. With a friendly, open and welcoming attitude to everyone, seeking the best for our county and giving her all to the job she has been elected to, she is one elected official I appreciate. I would encourage you to return your ballot before May 20 in this important primary election. Please join me in support of Leslie Lewis for County Commissioner. Tex Stevens, Amity County board doing a good job To the editor: Leslie Lewis and our entire Board of Commissioners are doing a good job for us. I think any board is as good or bad as the people on it, considering their personalities and their strengths. We are very fortunate that Yamhill County has a very well-balanced board. We are lucky that our commissioners put county business first over their personal political differences. They work well together and truly care about the people they serve. They carefully study issues and are not afraid to wait for more information before making decisions. They have held more local public hearings and they appear at more local service clubs and organizations than I can remember any previous board doing. Leslie Lewis is a great part of this team of county commissioners. She is one of the main reasons that this board achieves so much for our county. Leslie Lewis has worked hard for us. With our county doing so well, now is not the time to change our leaders. Please vote with me to return Leslie Lewis as county commissioner. Jim Hawkes, Yamhill Lewis is a sound decision maker To the editor: I write this letter in support of Leslie Lewis for her re-election as commissioner of Yamhill County. I support her common sense approach to the county and her willingness to consider all options when making a decision. Leslie's prior experience and two terms on the Board of Commissioners provides a depth of expertise as our county continues to deal with an ever-changing environment of economics, growth and rural life. She has exhibited a sound decision making approach when considering what is best for the entire county, not just special interest groups. Working directly with Leslie on the Yamhill County Fair Board has provided me with insight on how she functions within the county government. It has been a very positive experience and I relate it as an example of her leadership. Joe Sharp, Dayton Kent Van Cleave best candidate To the editor: We would like to voice our support for Kent Van Cleave for the county clerk position. Having known him for many years, we can vouch for his efficiency and organizing skills, his optimistic attitude, his community involvement, and his friendly and outgoing personality. He knows the job, having worked in the county clerk's office, and would be the most likely one to assume the responsibility. Yamhill County would be well off having Kent Van Cleave for county clerk. Dave and Marj Howard, Newberg Commissioner Lewis works hard for the county To the editor: We would like to go on the record as supporting Leslie Lewis for county commissioner. I have work with Leslie many years. I have always found her willing to talk to me about anything that I have questions about. If she doesn't know she will find out and call back. I have always found her to be a very approachable commissioner. Leslie takes her job seriously, she approaches the job with the credo to get the job done and under budget. Every department in the county is important to her. She has always taken a personal interest in how that department is working to get the biggest bang for the smallest dollar. Where she gets her energy beats me, but lets put her back in office for all of us. So as for me and my wife we are proud to support Leslie Lewis for county commissioner. Gary and Linda Wertz, McMinnville Leslie Lewis sticks to her word on important issues To the editor: Please vote to re-elect Leslie Lewis for county commissioner. Leslie is not just a big talker, she really gets in and works to make changes happen. Leslie has worked tirelessly on our new communication system. When the project experienced some early setbacks, she took on the project and brought together the right people. By working with all the radio system partners, she helped expand the system into much more than was originally hoped for, better protecting the public and allowing our public safety workers to more effectively serve the citizens in our county. Leslie also has worked with the fair board to improve and maintain our county fair as a great program for kids and for the whole community. The Fair and the Fairgrounds Event Center continue to expand the programs for our youth and to bring quality family entertainment to the county. With her help, the fair is now self-supporting and financially strong. Leslie is supportive of our 4-H and FFA youth who depend on the fair to show and sell the animals they raise. Leslie Lewis does what she says she will do. She is respectful of citizens and she is committed to using our tax dollars as efficiently and effectively as possible. She does not waste our hard-earned money. She is committed to ensuring that our county departments are friendly and accessible. Laveda Anderson, McMinnville Keep Leslie Lewis as commissioner To the editor: I am writing in support of Leslie Lewis as our county commissioner. She really helps this county! As a former 4-H leader, I am so pleased to see the fair doing and looking so good - we almost lost it. Leslie's sound fiscal guidance and leadership helped save this fun institution for generations of kids and families. I also personally have had contact with her regarding public transportation. She has worked long and hard to help create a transportation district, not the jumble of overlapping or gaping services. We now have busses running north and south as well as east to west in this county. There are so many things Leslie is involved with which need her leadership, intelligence and creativity. Please vote - she's a keeper. Marilyn Shultz, Carlton Lewis part of a good commission To the editor: I would like to make a comment on one of the candidates for Yamhill County commissioner. I think it would be appropriate to share where I am coming from, so here is the short version. I was born and raised on a 500-acre farm near McMinnville. I have lived in Sheridan for 28 years where I have served as council member, president of the council and mayor for about 22 years. One candidate bears an extra word of commendation. I have known Leslie Lewis for all of her political life in this county. This lady brings a special quality to the room and that is a desire to fix what appears to be broken. An example is the county road leading into the federal prison. It is constantly blocked (both ways) on Saturday and Sunday (visiting days). At a recent candidate forum it was brought up by neighbors in the vicinity. She went directly to the site of irritation. On my tour of the federal prison today, the assistant warden said it is being fixed as we speak. They are making more lanes into the prison and now the neighbors will be able to go to Sheridan again on Saturday and Sunday. These present commissioners (I call them "our ladies in action") are an absolutely beautiful and coordinated team, Why fix it if it ain't broke? I urge you to retain Leslie Lewis as our Yamhill County commissioner. Bob White, McMinnville Bledsoe new face with fresh ideas To the editor: Fortunately, the upcoming election for a Yamhill County commissioner gives our citizens a real choice. Kris Bledsoe is a new face with fresh ideas and an impressive set of credentials; she is a rare and lucky find. A few examples of the dire need for effective management on our Board of Commissioners are the emergency services communications fiasco, and the chronic problems with mental health care. The poor condition of many county roads is not only a safety issue, but a deterrent to bringing in businesses and good paying jobs to the county. A commissioner's job requires a wide range of knowledge and expertise, including finance and personnel management skills. With a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Washington, Bledsoe spent years working as a financial manager. She has used her masters degree in pastoral studies to handle both employee problems in the work place and as a counselor to help people through difficult times. Her background shows that she can indeed listen and act. Bledsoe would be a nonpartisan commissioner, trained as a professional to set aside her personal bias. When developing and reviewing policies or contract negotiations, Bledsoe's decisions would be based on examining the facts from all sides of the issue. This intellectual honesty will find the best solutions for the problems that face us in Yamhill County. We are fortunate Bledsoe wants to be a commissioner who will work full-time on our behalf. I urge everyone to vote for Kris Bledsoe, clearly our best choice for Yamhill County commissioner. Erik Swensson, McMinnville |