Letter to the Editor: Vote for change

Sherman County Court held a special session to address these editorials and how openly the fiber project has been discussed, planned and budgeted for publicly over the last three years.

The court provided information on the important mission of the system. Frontier TeleNet provides the radio system for police, fire, ambulance and 911 in four counties. It provides the only available Internet for several schools and Internet service providers to use so that our rural areas have options where there were none. The system helped create 14 jobs at the 911 center in Condon. It is now creating the opportunity for a back-up 911 center in Sherman County, bringing more jobs. Without Frontier TeleNet, these family wage jobs would not exist.

With changes in technology and the fiber-optic project, Frontier TeleNet’s Board found the need for a Marketing Director. An unbenefited contract position was advertised in multiple papers.

I have worked as a technology telecommuter for over 20 years in Moro; my employer has plans to move everyone to Ohio. We would prefer to stay in the area, so I checked with Oregon Ethics Committee and they confirmed that no conflict exists, so I applied. While commissioner is a full time job, it is only part time pay.

Frontier TeleNet is something we should be very proud of and not attempt to tear down. The editor/owner of the eNews (Mrs. Sherry Kaseberg) is a former county commissioner and one of the founders of this valuable entity. Writing inaccurate articles against it doesn’t make sense.

There was a “list of questions for candidates” published in eNews. When I attempted to answer them I was told by the editor that I was not allowed to. The county court has also been forbidden from providing any further information to eNews concerning eNews questions about the county court because it is “seen as promoting Mike Smith’s campaign.” Meanwhile, articles are continually published on ethics and trust of officials.

While this level of unfair and biased reporting has become normal at the national level, Sherman County deserves better. I am truly disappointed with this behavior.

Mike Smith

Moro