Mudita
Reading the article featuring incoming high school senior Finn Cargo’s epic 2,650-mile hike from the Mexico border to Canada on the Pacific Coast Trail filled me with vicarious joy (mudita). He accomplished the five-month feat as a solo trek but along the way developed tramily (friendships) with other thru-hikers. Finn planned, prepared, paid his own way, and earned the trust and support of his parents and school administrators (as he had to takes classes online) to go on such a challenging adventure. Truly an awesome and inspiring story of a local teenager living his best life and laying the foundation for an amazing future. I can’t wait to hear about Finn’s next adventures!
Bruce Ruttenburg
Hood River
Story thanks
“Turmoil at Comunidades,” written by Nathan Wilson, was the kind of story that needs to be told, and I hope stories like that on the local nonprofit industry will continue to get reported.
Esteban Ortiz
Hood River
Backpacks for Kids
October is Hunger Awareness Month. The board members of Backpacks for Kids would like to ensure that the community is aware of a county-wide program that is beginning its 18th year of existence in Klickitat County.
Backpacks for Kids is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. This group, with the help of other community members and organizations, provides easy-to-prepare nutritious snacks to approximately 500 students each Friday across Klickitat County during the school year. The program started in 2009 as an outgrowth of the WSU Horizon Project and has grown in scope to include nearly all schools in the county.
This program is critical to many families, ensuring that students have adequate food on weekends, which helps families supplement their food budgets. In 2026, we estimate a budget of approximately $50,000.00 to continue this program. Current information indicates that about 14% of children in Klickitat County live below the federal poverty line. This percentage has actually improved over the years, but there is still a need to make sure that no child goes hungry, especially with the increasingly higher cost of food.
For the program to continue, it is essential to recruit new board members and to receive donations. Currently, we receive money only from private donations. If you are interested in serving on the board of directors, please send a letter to Backpacks for Kids at 304 Fish Hatchery Road, Goldendale, WA 98620. Donations can also be sent to the same address. For more information, contact Lynn Wanless at lwanless@icloud.com.
Lynn Wanless
Goldendale
For Zoller
I strongly support Lori Zoller for Klickitat County Commissioner. I believe she is the only qualified candidate in this race, bringing the experience, work ethic, and proper judgment of our county needs.
Lori has more than 30 years of professional experience, including service on several county boards before becoming commissioner. She is an extremely hard worker who researches each issue thoroughly before making decisions.
One significant accomplishment was her instrumental role in bringing Washington Department of Natural Resources firefighting resources and air support to Dallesport. We saw the value of having those resources nearby during the Burdoin Fire and especially during this year’s Lyle Hill Fire.
Lori is also pushing for a fire retardant loading lane at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport so aircraft can reload locally instead of making lengthy trips to reload at facilities outside our area. That would reduce time spent away from fighting fires. A commissioner’s responsibilities are substantial. Commissioners adopt local laws, oversee budgets and allocate public money, and sometimes serve a quasi-judicial role, acting much like judges in specific proceedings. These duties carry significant legal responsibilities and require careful attention to laws, procedures, and processes.
Klickitat County residents need to look past the current rhetoric and examine Lori’s accomplishments during her first term. Voters should consider her record, preparation, and understanding of the office.
The last thing our county needs is two of its three commissioners lacking the necessary experience, attention to proper procedures, and understanding of the importance of their role. Decisions affecting public resources, county services, and residents’ rights demand informed leadership.
For me, this election comes down to trust: Trust that our commissioner will come prepared, understand the responsibilities of the office, and make informed decisions. Lori has earned that trust through her work and service.
Lori has earned my trust and my vote. Please join me in supporting her for Klickitat County Commissioner.
Kaylee Towle
Lyle
Yes for EMS
On Nov. 3, voters in Klickitat County are being asked to approve Proposition 1 authorizing a permanent regular levy to support the valuable Emergency Medical Services provided by EMS District 1. As a long-time supporter of our EMS service, I urge a vote of approval for this proposition. Approval will not raise your taxes; it will simply provide much-needed permanent funding. Consistent funding is at the heart of the EMS District’s ongoing efforts to replace outdated and inadequate facilities and to provide and maintain a reliable, adequately equipped ambulance fleet that delivers the paramedics and EMTs to our door when we call for assistance.
We have outstanding EMS personnel serving us. They deserve our support in approving permanent funding for our EMS District 1. Vote to approve Proposition 1.
Charles Virts
White Salmon
Hank, Nicole
In this campaign season, it’s a lot. A delightful upside is the two young, energetic folks running for our state legislature. Hank and Nicole are both smart as a whip, savvy, energetic and gracious. I’m excited to see them take their turn down in Salem. I invite you to join me in voting for them.
Mayor Paul Blackburn
Hood River
For Mosbrucker
Paul Mosbrucker has been my neighbor for more than 20 years. He’s raised his family here, and he’s been a good neighbor. Like most in Underwood, most of his work and volunteer life has been outside Skamania County.
Paul served for 15 years on the White Salmon Valley School Board. When he arrived, they were so broke that they almost lost their bond rating. Paul worked with other members to restore the district to solvency. He managed a log yard in Dallesport, so he understands the timber industry from the inside. The Trout Lake Herb Farm he worked at in its infancy is still going strong up there, providing lots of good jobs. Most recently, Paul was a manager at Mt. Adams Fruit (formerly Underwood Fruit), which employs many Underwood residents.
Paul is a workhorse, not a show horse.
His opponent has been in office for almost 4 years, and he talks a good game, but what has he accomplished? The county is still broke, job creation is slow and housing costs have gone through the roof. Given $500,000 by the state legislature, the best thing they could think of doing was purchasing the park at the former Northwestern Lake on the White Salmon River. Meanwhile, the Cemetery District sold our cemetery’s expansion area and stuck Underwood with a residential driveway on a very dangerous curve.
Underwood residents had to form a parks district to save their park when the county decided it could no longer afford it. The board says they will collect fees from the rafters and kayakers to support their new acquisition. There have never been fees at that site. Will this require staffing? They can’t even find anyone to staff the Underwood Transfer Site reliably.
I’ll vote for Paul to restore fiscal responsibility and responsive government to our county courthouse and to bring an Underwood perspective to county government. For too long, District 3 has been represented by Carson and Home Valley, while Underwood, Mill A and Willard go unheard. Please join me in voting for positive change: Paul Mosbrucker for District 3 County Commissioner.
Sally Newell
Underwood
Choose Duresky
Recent surveys report that many Americans are disgusted by the level of corruption boldly displayed by the president and his MAGA elites. As he says, it’s “unlike anything we have ever seen.” His greed and incompetence are now his MAGA legacy. But Trump is not up for re-election.
For the last two years, the MAGA leadership in Congress has failed to do its job. They handed over their power as an equal branch and supported Trump’s destruction. Our retiring MAGA representative voted to strip healthcare funding because he believed that the people who elected him were fraudsters. It seems the only requirement to be a MAGA representative in Congress is to support whatever Trump wants.
In this election, Washington’s 4th Congressional District has a real choice: Amanda McKinney, who states that her primary commitment is to Trump’s agenda of corruption, crime, and cruelty. Or we can choose John Duresky, who has honorably served our country for 37 years and understands the everyday challenges working families, farmers, retirees, veterans, and public lands face. We need a representative who listens to everyone and will fight for affordability, economic opportunity, healthcare access, and the future of our country, our freedoms, and our standing in the world.
Vote for competence, commitment, and courage to stand up to tyranny. Vote Duresky.
Sue Kusch
White Salmon
Vote early
Since his arrest
I cannot attest
to whether her opponent
is still running.
Lisa Gambee’s the one
who’ll get’er done
for Wasco County.
My vote for her
for County Commissioner
is my vote against
utility breaks
& water guzzling
& tax breaks
for Google.
My vote for her
for County Commissioner
is a vote for an economy
that benefits the people
not the $4 trillion company.
My vote for her
for County Commissioner
is my vote to protect immigrants.
Your vote is your voice.
If Lisa Gambee’s your choice
she will fight
for what’s right
a better quality of life
for all of Wasco County.
Suzanne Steffen
Mosier
Editor’s Note: Wasco County Commissioner candidate John Andrew Grant IV was arrested on several misdemeanor charges July 21. His name does appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Time stops
Those time stopping dates indelibly etched in memory:
Nov. 22, 1963: In a mountain view elementary school now enveloped by the Silicon Valley, I was sent home early.
My mother met me at the door of our house and told me the president had been shot and died. Washing up for lunch, I cried into a hand towel, tears never known before.
After lunch, in an effort to diffuse sadness, my mother taught me how to fashion holiday turkeys from marshmallows and tooth picks, using food coloring for the eyes and wattle.
That night, fearful of who killed JFK would kill me, my parents slept beside me on the hide-a-bed, usually only pulled out for company.
Dec. 14, 2012: In an elementary school on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, I’d just come from the library as a faculty member in the school’s Read to Rover program. For 30 minutes, young students read to my non-judgmental miniature terriers. Afterwards, everyone shared success and treats. When I passed through the faculty lounge, instructors were standing around a television specially wheeled in to cover Sandy Hook, a tragedy that occurred while I was reading to kids the same age as those innocents killed in Newtown, Connecticut.
I’d gathered with these same instructors before on April 20, 1999. Again, we stood around a television to see coverage of the Columbine School shootings in Colorado. “Which one of our students could also be capable of this? What are we not seeing?” we asked.
Oct. 15, 2026: Closer to home. Closer to the heart. I was between teaching art classes in my The Dalles studio when I heard about Silver Rail Elementary. All the past burbles up along with questions re-igniting shock, sorrow and grief. Where are the ... Marshmallow Turkeys?
Present Adults?
Little dogs?
Why are we seeing what we can’t forget?
Yvonne Pepin-Wakefield
The Dalles
Hege gets vote
As a long time Libertarian volunteer and activist, I decided not to run in District 52 this cycle as the Libertarian candidate. I did this because Scott Hege has made a public pledge to Libertarians in our district. This Liberty Pledge states that Scott will commit to the following:
• Work with Libertarians while in office, with regular communication and input on legislation
• Defend the 2nd Amendment and our right to bear arms
• Work on passage of the Defend The Guard Act, to keep our National Guard troops out of over-seas combat unless Congress officially declares war
• Protect individual liberty and our Constitutional rights
To Scott’s credit, he has enthusiastically agreed to being held accountable to all of these. Libertarians of District 52, you deserve to get Libertarian policy wins for trusting a politician with your vote. You should also have recourse if they fail to deliver on their promises. I personally tend to judge people as individuals, not solely on party affiliation. I’d like to request that Libertarians in 52 do the same.
This is not blind faith in a politician. These are clear terms for a coalition that we, as Libertarians, can decide if we rejoin in two years. Let’s give this a shot, for Liberty and for Oregon.
Vote for Scott Hege.
Will Hobson
Cascade Locks
Housing bond
I heard the Hood River County Democrats voted NO on the current housing bond. Surprised, I contacted them to ask why. This is the answer I got, and I think it should be shared with other city voters:
“HRCDems’ leadership team voted unanimously against the proposal because a careful reading of the bond measure and its supporting documents (all can be found at bit.ly/HRCDemsElect) shows:
• There are no specific housing deliverables (i.e., a project planned, or a specific goal such as X # of housing units).
• There are no specific due dates for deliverables (i.e. dates when X project and/or X # units would be started or completed).
• There are no metrics, points of oversight or accountability, or reporting requirements.
• There is no estimate of the proportion of the intended housing that will be federally subsidized or intended for specific income levels.
• There is no assurance that the housing created will not be bought or rented by second-home seekers or investors.
• There is no project-related financial rationale for the $8.7 million amount requested. The figure was chosen simply to mirror the police facility bond request (which DOES have specific deliverables and costs), and because the city (apparently) asked a consultant to determine an amount that taxpayers might support.
The Dems leadership did not vote against the idea of or need for affordable housing. We NEED the housing! We voted against this bond proposal because it contains no deliverables, no timeframe, no metrics, no accountability pathway — essentially saying just give us the money, and we have good intentions for using it in the future. This “carte blanche” style of fundraising would be a hard sell for any entity, even a large, expert group with laser focus and a long track record of success in the area of focus.
And whether this bond measure passes or not, there is a host of other tools and strategies (bit.ly/HousingToolsForCities) cities can use to boost their affordable housing production, which would also add value to the city’s efforts.”
Cecelia Goodnight
Hood River
Hege support
My first session serving in the Oregon Legislature was 2011, and it was historic for a variety of reasons. Coming out of the Great Recession, Oregon was in dire straits with high unemployment and a dismal budget picture. The election in 2010 had created an even 30 Republican and 30 Democrats split in the House. This meant that all legislation had to have bipartisan support in order to become law. Despite the huge challenges in front of us, we came together as public servants to balance the budget and fully fund education without raising taxes. The 2011-2012 legislative sessions were hailed nationally as a model for how state legislatures can work effectively to solve problems when the parties collaborate to find solutions.
Fast forward to 2026 — Oregon is again in dire straits: Unemployment is high, businesses and families are leaving the state, and our education system outcomes are some of the worst in the nation. Oregon needs serious problem-solving from its legislature. That’s why I’m supporting Scott Hege. Scott has a long and successful track record of serving as a county commissioner in Wasco County. He’s balanced budgets, he’s created new jobs, he’s increased the local housing supply and made sure that essential services are fully funded for his constituents. Scott has proven that he can work collaboratively with members of all parties to get the best outcomes. He’s been endorsed by Martha Schrader, Democrat and longtime Clackamas County Commissioner, as well as Betsy Johnson, former Democratic State Senator. But I was most impressed by the recent endorsement Scott received from Hood River County Commissioner Arthur Babitz. In it he said:
“As a county commissioner, I need a state rep who really understands our district and knows how to navigate government. Scott is one of the least partisan people I know. Salem needs reps focused on results over party. I don’t make endorsements often, but Scott has earned it.”
If we want to get our state back on track, we need serious and effective leadership.
Please join me voting for Scott Hege for House District 52.
Mark Johnson
Hood River
Better off?
Recently, Donald J. Trump and his administration authorized spending millions of our tax dollars to pay for a series of potentially illegal propaganda ads glorifying him as he promises America “will never be a Communist country.”
For those who support Trump, tell me how you can square these ads with Trump’s recent moves to support the Russian Communist Leader Vladimir Putin. Trump has removed sanctions on the sale of Russian oil on the global market, a way both to send needed money to Russia to fund its war on Ukraine and help Russia again become a player in the global economy (“Donald Trump Just Crossed a Red Line No One Ever Thought He Would,” National Security Journal, Oct. 17, 2026).
Trump and his trillionaire buddy Elon Musk appear to have deliberately slowed down Starlink and Starshield — two satellite systems that manage communications for defense and offensive drones, respectively — making them inaccessible during one of the heaviest and deadliest Russian bombardments in the war against Ukraine (“Elon Musk Blames Trump for Restricting Ukraine’s Starlink,” Newsweek, Oct. 14, 2026).
Under Trump, many, many people in this country are now poorer (due to inflation, job loss, rising housing costs, and cuts to needed food and health benefits), sicker (anyone you know healthier due to Make America Healthy Again, or that elusive and mysterious alternative to the Affordable Care Act?), crueler (ICE anyone?), and far less respected-we are seen by world leaders now more as a joke than as a world power (Canada? Greenland? Iran? The Board of Peace?). Corruption and self-dealing are rampant in this administration — Trump has gamed the system to benefit himself and his family to the tune of billions through cryptocurrency dealings, sneaky policy moves, removal of fiscal legal safeguards, suspected market manipulation, and more (“Uncovering Conflicts of Interest and Self-Dealing in the Executive Branch,” Brennan Center for Justice, Feb. 21, 2025).
When you vote Nov. 3, be honest and keep in mind how you, your family, your neighbors, co-workers, and your friends are truly doing.
Can you afford another two years?
Can you afford anything these days?
Johanna Roe
Willard
A few facts
A few facts you WON’T be learning in any mainstream “news” source:
Average income is the highest and the poverty rate is the lowest ever recorded, with a 4.2% unemployment rate. New unemployment claims are the lowest since 1969, with 162,000 new jobs added in the last two months, as reported by U.S. Economic Snapshot and CNBC.
By comparison, Canada, which is doing EVERYTHING Democrats want to do, has a 6.5% unemployment rate, a $35,000 lower average income and LOST well over 100,000 jobs during that same period, according to CBS News.
Our third-quarter GDP growth was 4.4%; Europe’s was 0.3%. Stock market growth averages 10%. We’re the largest producer of natural gas and oil in the world. Illegal border crossings have dropped to historic lows, violent crime has declined 9.3%, and overdose deaths fell by 14%. The Chinese and Russians are out of South America, which is experiencing a seismic pro-American shift to the right. A very favorable Greenland/Denmark deal was signed. Our military is exceeding recruitment goals, and all NATO members hit their 2% defense mark in 2025, compared to just 6 out of 32 in 2021.
Yes, fuel prices are higher (highest in blue states), but oil has dropped under $100 a barrel and is trending downward. More importantly, Biden canceled the Keystone pipeline, halted all new federal drilling permits and froze ANWR oil and gas leasing, and that was just on his first day! Democrats have been waging war on fossil fuels for decades, with the express purpose of “weaning” Americans off our “addiction” to those fuels by making them unaffordable. To now score political points by gleefully pointing to those higher prices and overall inflation (after the skyrocketing Biden years) is the ultimate in projection and hypocrisy.
The fact that Iran is now urging Americans to vote Democrat is no joke. They know Democrats are Iran’s best hope because they will do everything in their power to prevent Trump (and America) from prevailing in this conflict. Democrats have a long history of doing that, but this “good news for America is bad news for us” mentality has reached a new low.
Steve Hudson
The Dalles
Substance
I’ve been investing time to be an informed voter on the important races on the November ballot. I’ve been especially interested in the race for HD 52. This morning, I listened to Hank Sanders interview on KIHR radio to learn more about him and why he is running for the legislature. He said his primary reason for running was because most of his friends had left Oregon because the cost of living, particularly housing, was too high and they couldn’t find good paying jobs. When asked by the host what he would do as a legislator to reduce costs, Sanders mentioned that he had heard from a builder that the codes require too much caulking when building new houses ... and he said that the state should reduce fees on outdoor recreation.
Wow. I was stunned by how little substance Sanders had when discussing the biggest issue that concerns local voters in this election, the high cost of living in the Gorge. Less caulk and fewer fees. I think most Gorge folks who paddle board or kayak can agree with the ridiculous fees that the state levies on water users. But what Sanders didn’t discuss is that his mother, the State Senator from Portland, voted for the fees on paddleboards and kayaks! Sanders spent the better part of the radio interview complaining about how bad things are going in Oregon, without a hint of acknowledging that its his party that has been in control of the state for a very long time. He is essentially running against his own party. And the actions of his own mother!
At the end of the interview, I had heard enough. It confirmed to me that Scott Hege is the best choice to represent us. The research I have done demonstrates that he has a solid record of success as a county commissioner. He’s brought new jobs to Wasco County, created more housing units and balanced the budget without new taxes. And he’s received widespread bipartisan support for his service. Please join be in voting for Scott Hege for HD 52.
Gaby Ugarte
Odell
Gambee is best
I am supporting Lisa Gambee for county commissioner. Lisa will do what is best for Wasco County. She has years of experience as a successful business woman and being a county clerk for Wasco County. Lisa understands the many facets of how Wasco County operates. She is articulate, honest, intelligent, thoughtful and willing to listen.
Colette Cox
Wamic
Pick Gambee
Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this, you’ll have already voted. But for those who haven’t yet made up your mind, please vote wisely by choosing candidates with integrity, candidates who have done their homework to talk with voters and understand what we care about, candidates who show up prepared and willing to answer hard questions.
Lisa Gambee is just that kind of candidate, and I encourage all Wasco County voters to use your vote wisely and elect Lisa for Wasco County Commissioner, Position 1.
I voted for Lisa because I know she will lead our county with integrity by being transparent and nonpartisan in her decision-making. She will do her homework to understand multiple viewpoints before making decisions. And, knowing it’s impossible to make everyone happy with every vote, she has promised to always explain how she reaches her decisions.
We should expect no less of any elected official, but yet we all know that’s not what we get. Lisa Gambee will deliver. Please vote for Lisa and return your ballot to a dropbox by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3; the sooner, the better!
Debi Ferrer
The Dalles
Hege knows
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Scott Hege on the Wasco County Fair Board, County Budget Committee, and Board of Property Tax Appeals. We’ve also worked together advocating for local agriculture and the families whose livelihoods depend on it. Through those experiences, I’ve come to know Scott not just as a candidate for public office, but as a neighbor, community member, and friend.
Public service isn’t always about speeches or recognition. More often, it’s about sitting through long meetings, asking difficult questions, listening to different opinions, and making decisions that affect your neighbors. That’s where you begin to understand a person’s character.
One thing I’ve learned through my own years of community involvement is that leadership isn’t about getting your way. It’s about understanding your responsibilities and working toward solutions that serve the people you represent. Our rural communities face serious challenges. Agriculture struggles with rising costs, increasing regulations, workforce shortages, and declining returns. Meanwhile, local governments, small businesses, and working families are being asked to do more with less.
Too often, decisions made in Salem fail to recognize the realities of life east of the Cascades. Scott understands those realities because he lives here. He knows our communities and the importance of accountable government.
I don’t expect to agree with every elected official on every issue. What I expect is someone willing to listen, ask questions, and consider the consequences of their decisions. Having worked alongside Scott, I believe he brings those qualities to public service. That’s why I’m supporting Scott Hege for Oregon House District 52.
Ken Polehn
The Dalles
Yes on 14-85
The City of Hood River’s proposed housing bond is a critical step to helping working and middle-class families live in the community. 1000 Friends of Oregon urges residents to vote yes on Measure 14-85.
Over the last decade, the cost of housing in Hood River has grown dramatically, pricing out local workers and adding more traffic and pollution. Fewer affordable options have fragmented communities and forced multi-generational families to live apart. Hood River has an urgent need for more attainable and affordable homes that the current housing market is not able to meet. 1000 Friends has worked for more than 50 years for accessible and affordable homes for all Oregonians. This housing bond aligns with that vision. It will help create infill housing and support local community land trusts, which steward land and preserve affordability for generations to come. By leveraging public-private partnerships to accelerate housing production, this bond will create more options for residents making 60-120% of Median Family Income (~$52-105,000 for a family of four) and ensure locals are able to stay.
Hood River voters supported this model when they voted overwhelmingly in 2018 to amend the state constitution to authorize these types of housing bonds. 1000 Friends was proud to support that ballot measure and sees the Hood River bond as a model for other communities across the state.
The bond builds on many years of the city working with community members, planners, and other stakeholders to close the housing gap without sprawling onto farms and natural lands. Hood River has already fought hard to regulate short-term rentals and worked to streamline permitting for housing construction. This bond allows the city to continue building on that progress. We urge voters to join us in supporting Measure 14-85 for sustainable growth in Hood River.
Gil Kelley
Mt. Hood-Parkdale,
1000 Friends of Oregon board president
Vote Kallinen
I know Andy Kallinen because we volunteer together on the High Prairie Community Council. I am impressed with Andy’s dedicated career of public service, his broad and deep knowledge of how government operates, his intelligence and his practical common sense. I highly value those qualities, but my biggest reason for supporting Andy also includes this: There is broad bipartisan support for a data center moratorium in Klickitat County, and Andy supports it. Lori Zoller has only equivocated and said, “There’s nothing on the horizon that’s an emergency.” The hell there isn’t! That’s not how her constituents on both sides of the aisle feel. Andy is listening to the people. Lori is not. Andy gets my vote, without question.
Anne Kanter
Lyle
Bassett a leader
Great leaders ask good questions before they offer answers. They knock on doors, show up for community meetings, and volunteer to understand their neighbors’ needs. That’s Nicole Bassett, who is running for Senate District 26. Whether she was launching a business in Cascade Locks, volunteering with Ansons Bike Buddies, or visiting a hospice patient, Nicole listens and shows up.
While her opponent has been recording campaign videos from the front seat of his car, Nicole has been out of hers, meeting neighbors face to face. She has been traveling around her district interviewing community members from all walks of life to hear THEIR stories and struggles. I get goosebumps imagining what she could accomplish for rural communities as our state senator. To learn more, follow her on Instagram at @bassettfororegon.
Becky Brun
Hood River
No show Bentz
The five League of Women Voters local Leagues within Oregon’s Second Congressional District (CD2) have been working collaboratively on candidate forums for the seat currently held by Cliff Bentz. Offering forums reflects a key League mission to inform voters about their candidates. Our nonpartisan principle requires that we neither endorse nor oppose any candidate or political party.
Before the May CD2 primary, the five LWV local Leagues offered a nonpartisan, virtual candidates’ forum ,and eight of the nine candidates responded and participated. Despite repeated attempts by writing, email and phone, Mr. Bentz never responded or acknowledged the LWV outreach. Voters chose Chris Beck in the primary as Rep. Bentz’s opponent.
In August, the CD2 Leagues again invited both Mr. Bentz and Mr. Beck to a virtual candidates’ forum before the November election. Mr. Beck has agreed to participate, but Mr. Bentz did not respond or acknowledge our outreach, leaving us in a difficult position. A candidate League forum with only Mr. Beck appears to endorse his candidacy, violating our nonpartisanship policy.
So now we reset. The LWV invites both Chris Beck and Cliff Bentz to respond to the League’s Vote411 candidate survey. Responses will be printed in the League’s State Voter Guide, and posted on VOTE411.ORG, providing free candidate information to voters. The door remains open for Rep. Bentz to respond to the League of Women Voters. Congressional Representative Bentz, we hope to hear from you.
Marty Power, unit coordinator
League of Women Voters of Union County
Vote Hege
I hope all voters will take the time to do their homework on the qualifications of the candidates on the ballot in November before filling out their ballots. In no race is this more important than the contest for House District 52.
Scott Hege has served on the county commission for the last 16 years in Wasco County. Prior to that, he managed the Port of The Dalles and helped the community transition from an economy that was built around an aluminum smelter to the diverse economy that The Dalles enjoys today. During his time as a commissioner, Wasco County has been able to fund local services like public safety, roads, the health department, and veterans and youth services without raising taxes. Recently, Scott has been involved with the creation of an endowment for Wasco County that will ensure these vital public services are funded in the future without placing more burden on property owners. He also supported a public/private partnership that will result in dozens of new housing units being constructed in downtown The Dalles.
After my research its an easy decision for me: I’m voting for Scott Hege for House District 52. Sending his opponent to Salem would mean a continuation of the same failed policies that are driving families and businesses out of our state.
Barb Hosford
Hood River
Vote Morgan
I am pleased to endorse Kim Morgan for The Dalles City Council. I have known Kim and her family for more than 50 years and have had the privilege of working with her for the past three years. Throughout that time, she has consistently demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and a strong commitment to serving others.
Kim is a trusted leader who handles confidential matters with discretion and good judgment. She is an excellent listener, treats people with respect, and works hard to find thoughtful, practical solutions to challenges. These qualities are essential in public service and are among the many reasons I believe she will serve our community well. What stands out most about Kim is her dedication to making our community stronger. Whether advocating for students, supporting local organizations, or volunteering her time and talents, she approaches every opportunity to serve with genuine care and a desire to make a positive difference.
Having served on both local and state education boards, I understand the importance of electing leaders who are committed, trustworthy, and focused on the public good. Kim embodies those qualities, and I am confident she will be an outstanding City Councilor.
Bob Bailey
The Dalles
Editor’s Note: Bob Bailey included the following credentials: Cherry orchardist, past The Dalles School Board member, and past Oregon Higher Education Board member and chair.
Re-elect Kotek
This November, Oregon is not choosing between two candidates with different ideas about government. It is choosing between a governor who has spent her term protecting Oregon and a candidate who has spent it clearing the way for Donald Trump.
Start with results. Under Governor Kotek, state emergency action has created or maintained more than 6,000 shelter beds, and the number of Oregonians sleeping in shelter instead of on the street has grown by nearly 50%. Unsheltered homelessness among families with children has fallen 40%. In the first half of this year, Oregon housing permits rose 11.3% while permits nationwide fell. She committed $65 million to add up to 146 new addiction and mental health treatment beds. That is real progress on the hardest problems we face, in a short time.
Now look at what Christine Drazan offers. She says Oregon’s sanctuary laws have “gone too far” and wants local police cooperating with ICE. We all watched what Trump’s immigration surge did to Minneapolis this year: Thousands of federal agents in the streets, and two American citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, shot and killed. Minnesota’s leaders fought back. A Governor Drazan would hand Trump the keys.
When Trump tried to send the National Guard into Portland last fall, Governor Kotek sued and won, in front of a judge Trump himself appointed. Drazan called Portland protesters “violent mobs and domestic terrorists,” blamed local leaders, and has never said she would have stood in the way.
Last year, Drazan voted against the bill funding the Oregon Health Plan, which covers more than half of Oregon’s children. She has not spoken out against Trump’s cuts to Medicaid and food assistance.
Christine Drazan is a vessel for Trump’s agenda: its cruelty, its chaos, and its contempt for the people it hurts. Tina Kotek has proven she will stand between that agenda and Oregon families. Vote Tina Kotek.
Jeremy Hogue
Indivisible West Linn Coordinator
Vote Sanders
I am enthusiastically supporting Hank Sanders in his bid to represent Oregon House District 52. This election pits him against former Commissioner Scott Hege, whose ties to data center development are a concern for voters in several Columbia River Gorge communities.
In addition to Hank’s opposition to rapid and environmentally irresponsible data center construction, he feels that tax breaks offered to these companies rob state coffers of money that could be better spent on education, affordable housing, health care support, fire prevention, and infrastructure.
Hank Sanders, at 25 years of age, represents the generational change that is so needed for our time. His experience as a journalist for the New York Times and Chicago Tribune has given him a wider vision that other candidates lack. Getting to know him in the primary and now again in the general election has reinforced my opinion that he has the energy, understanding, and commitment to serve us well as our Representative in the Oregon Legislature.
Mary Blankevoort
Troutdale
Follow your vote
Thanks for providing a forum for readers to give their opinions about the election. I particularly enjoyed the name for the Big Beautiful Bill: Big Betrayal Bill (“Rob the bank,” Columbia Gorge News, Oct. 21, 2026). It could also be called the Hunger Creating Bill, with its destruction of the SNAP program. There is no reason for hunger in the world’s wealthiest country. Let’s make sure those we elect turn this around. We can follow up our votes with our voices, making sure those we elect take action.
Willie Dickerson
Snohomish,
former Gorge resident
Editor's Note: The following were received after our Oct. 28 newspaper deadline and will appear online only.
Duresky has my vote
John Duresky wants to be our U.S. congressman in Washington’s 4th District. He isn’t a slick, polished career politician. He is a genuine, pragmatic, caring man with decades of real-world experience directly applicable to the job. He is the kind of wholesome, smart, dependable solid guy you want on your team. John served in the Air Force for 24 years and in the federal civil service for another 13. He is running for Congress because he is disgusted with corruption in Congress and has signed a code of ethics to increase accountability.
John’s philosophy on government is refreshingly old-fashioned. He believes government can and should work for the families of Central Washington, not against us. He believes a strong, stable economy helps working families by creating stable jobs with decent wages and controlling runaway inflation. He supports a business environment where government encourages innovation while setting reasonable limits to protect people from corporate abuse. John also has practical ideas for reducing everyday living expenses and understands the key role that immigrant families play in our communities.
What I like most about John is that his insider knowledge of both military and civilian government gives him the tools to make practical improvements that can make a real difference in our lives.
My vote for John Duresky is a vote for regional stability, practical problem-solving, and real, relevant experience to get the job done for Central Washington.
Summer Burdick
White Salmon
Commented