The Dalles Chronicle Editorial Board is evenly split between political viewpoints and also includes Marilyn Roth, publisher. Following is a breakdown of our vote for endorsements in local races, as well some of our concerns and comments:
By a vote of 6-1, the Chronicle’s editorial board endorsed incumbent Rod Runyon for Position 3 on the Wasco County Commission.
Our stance was, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” in regard to Runyon’s service. He has been forward-thinking with budget issues during his first term and proactive about finding ways to make local government operate more efficiently and deliver better customer service.
We respect Runyon’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of 3,000 veterans in the county and their families. In addition, he travels long distances on his own time to honor fallen warriors as ride captain for the Patriot Guard Riders.
It was the consensus of our board that Runyon’s opponent Bridget Bailey, a local attorney, is capable of providing quality public service. We liked her connection to agriculture, the county’s economic engine, and the new ideas that she brings to the table for consideration.
Our board could not get beyond an uncomfortable and continuing concern that Bailey’s husband, Eric Nisley, is Wasco County’s elected district attorney. We believe having a consolidated power base like this muddies the waters between the judicial and legislative branches of government.
Although it is permissible under Oregon law to have both Nisley and Bailey in office, there are bound to be complications. His office operates with a combination of county and state funding and she would have to recuse herself when budget decisions were being made that benefit him.
City Candidates
Unanimous votes were given by our board to Taner Elliott for the at-large position on The Dalles City Council and Russ Brown for the Position 3 seat. We made this decision out of the belief that it is time for fresh viewpoints due to the high level of citizen discontent.
All of us applaud incumbents Carolyn Wood, who is Elliott’s opponent, and Bill Dick, running against Brown, for putting in years of valuable service to the community.
Their time investiture in a volunteer position has been a gift of great value and their intent has unquestionably been to make The Dalles a better place to live.
Conversely, we believe there would not have been such an outcry from the community – or the need for state intervention in a local decision — if the council had realized the frustration level of customers.
For eight years people sought a resolution to the high cost ($50,000 to more than $150,000) of dividing properties into two or three lots. Even though the council was willing to delay payment of this bill, they have never seemed to understand the real beef was over the $351 per linear foot charge, which was retained.
John Huffman, representative for House Representative for District 59, had to step in to provide citizens with financial relief. Add the cost increases for water and sewer rates approved by Wood, Dick and other councilors, and you have constituents who are ready for a change. Only now is the council looking at the budget to see if funding can be found to offset infrastructure costs so rate increases can be pared back.
We believe this kind of prudent evaluation needed to take place before our local representative had to step in to help mitigate a reasonable solution.
Benefits of change
We believe Elliott will be aggressive about searching out answers to questions raised by his constituents
He has shown himself to be persistent and determined in pursuing resolution to an issue. Those traits recently helped him win the appeal of conditions put on a minor lot partition by city staff and the planning commission.
Brown testified at numerous council meetings that city officials needs to do a better job of differentiating between budget “wants” and “needs.” For example, he believes the city should stop buying top-of-the-line but rarely used road maintenance equipment, or share with the county, during a time of budget constraints.
We believe Brown and Elliott have taken on a task fraught with political risk to repair and replace aging infrastructure with their stated opposition to the current rate increases that continue until 2020.
We also think that, if they are successful, we all benefit —so they deserve a shot at that goal.
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