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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 19, 2006 More Letters To The Editor Letter Submissions Letters should be e-mailed in text-only format to [email protected] . Please include your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for confirmation. Letters are limited to 250 words. At Length submissions are limited to 400 words. Submissions may be edited for length, content and clarity. The Tidings gives priority to letters on local and regional topics of current interest. It seeks to encourage thoughtful, well-reasoned leters and to discourage personal attacks, repetitive messages and personal disputes. Form letters are not published in the Tidings, nor are letters identified as having been published in other publications. Support for Ron Grensky When looking at the two candidates for circuit court judge, Ron Grensky is the obvious choice. Ron Grensky is the one candidate with judicial experience and I want a judge with experience. We need someone like Ron who can get the job done with honesty, integrity and fairness. I urge you to join me in voting for experience. Vote for Ron Grensky for circuit court judge. Patricia Bureau Alvarez Central Point Support for Kate Jackson Only once in the past 20+ years have I publicly supported a candidate for Ashland City Council. This year I strongly support Kate Jackson's reelection, as I believe that it is absolutely critical that her experience and reasonable approach remain part of local government. This was greatly reinforced at the Candidate Forum held 10/7, where the glaring inexperience of most of the challengers was painfully evident. John Stromberg, whose limited tenure on the Planning Commission immediately increased both confusion and contention on that body, is now offering to bring that same approach to Council. He is running against Kate as a part of the Green Party's coordinated effort to gain total control of local politics. That's scary enough for me to vote otherwise but in a passing comment related to balancing Ashland's budget, Stromberg proudly mentioned that his past experience included work in downsizing industries following government deregulation. These included, in his words, transportation, banking, and communications. I don't know about you, but I don't think the post-deregulation efficiency of those industries is anything that we should be looking to as a model of how Ashland government should run. Nor, I believe, would most Ashland voters. That Mr. Stromberg apparently thinks government is an industry and can benefit from his experience with deregulation is just one more reason that I will be voting for Kate Jackson. I encourage everyone who cares for Ashland to do the same. George Kramer Ashland Support for School Bond Think globally, act locally. Here is your opportunity! We need to support our schools through the Ashland Schools Bond. This election season we will hear a lot of discussion about sustainable communities and sustainable economy. Both are worthy endeavors and important discussions. However, we sustain not for ourselves but for future generations and that effort must begin with our children and the quality of education we provide them. No one argues against "our children are our future." However, as a community we must make sure that it is more than just a nice thing to say and insure we give our children the tools to be our future. A big part of that happens in our schools with the really fine teachers we have in our school district. It also happens because we care enough to make sure the buildings and playgrounds are maintained so they last well into the future. Sandra and I do not have children. However, we believe this challenge is important to all of us. The quality and sustainability of our community depends on how we shepherd our resources. It is important to all of us to insure we maintain the quality of education we provide. We must pass onto future generations great schools in which they may educate their children and then in turn pass on to future generations. Sustainability. Please join us in supporting the Ashland Schools Bond. Please vote "yes" for sustainable education and community. Dennis & Sandra Slattery Ashland Support for Measures 46 and 47 Only five states have no limits/restrictions on political campaign contributions. Disgracefully, Oregon is one of them. So, deep-pocketed special interests corrupt our politics and trump the public good. Ultimately, all Oregonians suffer. In November we can cure this problem. Vote yes on campaign finance reform Measures 46 and 47. Measure 46 is a simple amendment to Oregon's state constitution allowing campaign donation limits. Measure 47, modeled after Colorado's and Montana's recently passed initiatives, states how. Measures 46 and 47 are grassroots and fair. They attracted 1,500 donors and garnered 280,000-plus signatures. Measure 47 permits political expression for ordinary, not just wealthy, Oregonians. It caps donations by individuals to state political campaigns. It limits candidates spending on their own campaigns, preventing rich candidates from having an unfair advantage. It prohibits contributions by corporations and unions. Since both political sides have big money donors, opposition comes from "liberal" and "conservative" groups and politicians. Because campaign reform is popular, its opponents use fear-mongering, disingenuous arguments or misstatements to confuse voters. Read measures and summaries yourself at www.fairelections.net . Some urge waiting for public financing of elections. Measures 46 and 47 don't prohibit public financing — indeed, they make it more effective. Unfortunately, the public financing of elections initiative lost in 2000. Given the current political-economic climate, voters are unlikely to soon pass another such initiative, perceiving it as just another tax. As for campaign money-addicted Salem passing meaningful reform legislation improbable! Let's get campaign finance reform rolling now. Vote "yes" on Measures 46 and 47! Irene Saikevych Talent Support for Don Steyskal I have had the pleasure of serving with Don Steyskal on the Talent City Council for three and a half years. While we sometimes approach issues from different perspectives, Don consistently brings an open-minded, balanced and common sense manner to council deliberations. He knows how to run a meeting — the main responsibility of Talent Mayor. Don brings experience and integrity to the position. Please vote for Don Steyskal for Talent Mayor. Wendy Siporen Talent Current Comments: The Slatterys well-intentioned letter supporting the school bond makes the usual vacuous "patriotic appeals" without one detail to justify spending one dollar. Meanwhile, the Tidings selectively refuses to publish detailed letters opposing the bond. The paper paper cannot serve the community by censoring its citizens. Michael L. Hays ( [email protected] ) - Ashland, Oregon - October 19th, 2:02 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.