To the editor:

Being born and raised in rural Wasco County and working in The Dalles for many years, I have grown to appreciate the importance of having a true rural representative, like Steve Kramer, on the Wasco County Board of Commissioners. While commissioners (or want to be commissioners) who live in the greater The Dalles area may say they understand rural issues (they say anything to get elected) from my experience only those who live and have worked in the rural area truly know the struggles and challenges rural Oregon faces on a daily basis.