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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 3, 2006 Letters To The Editors 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. Pot is a gift from God As much as Detective Randy Snow of the Ashland Police Department ("Legal Green," Sept. 23) tries to understand the cannabis (kaneh bosm/marijuana) issue, he is hindered because he is biased and employed by prohibitionist government. To take the "greed" out of cannabis means completely eliminating cannabis prohibition. Ending the sinful practice of caging humans for using the God-given plant would also be Biblically correct since Christ God Our Father, indicates He created all the seed-bearing plants saying they are all good, on literally the very first page (see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30). Cannabis is a blessing to be accepted, not prohibited, persecuted and exterminated. Stan White Dillon, Colo. Forums for local politics A website has been established at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AshlandCouncil to enable direct dialogue between Ashland citizens and candidates for City Council.  Similar sites for other elected positions have been established at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AshlandRecorder; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AshlandJudge and at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AshlandParks. All four are open to all, free, have no sponsors, allow citizens to raise any issue desired and any candidate to respond as desired, and are moderated only to insure against personal attacks. David Churchman Ashland Support for Kate Jackson This is the time we voters think about for whom we want to vote for city council. My recommendation is to reelect Kate Jackson. She is an excellent community person dedicated to working with other community members. She has experience on the planning commission, which is a great asset to Ashland. She worked tirelessly to see that the Ashland Emergency Food Bank has a new home in the old True Value hardware store. She found ways to overcome all obstacles along the way so that the Food Bank could remodel the building for use. A big vote of thanks from all of us involved in this agency. Frances Petschek Ashland Bad choices for Seat #2 Is there a chance of getting a viable campaign started for a write-in candidate for Council Position #2?  Neither Eric Navickas nor Greg Lemhouse seems suitable for the job, for different reasons.  I'd like to be able to cast my vote for someone with proven experience of governance and of more mature years. The city needs moderation, not more of a schism.  The choice between Lemhouse and Navickas seems like just a silly dart-throw between two equally unsatisfactory, callow extremes. The full-time cop with a full load of family responsibilities or the high-jinking hippie who may know what he's talking about but breaks the law when it suits him to score points for his side.  I don't call this a clear choice; I call it no choice at all. Michaela O'Brien Ashland Get serious about watershed How about a large headline that says "Ashland Residents Loose" and proceed to tell how the drinking water of the town is going to be compromised for no good reason. That common sense is not in place. That attention is being given to how to monitor what is going on with the proposed bulldozing of trees in the headwaters of Ashland's drinking water, how to test the soil, how to manage the affect of the cutting and bulldozing, instead of leaving the watershed alone and building the ski run in another spot. Let's get very real about what is at stake and how it does not have to be that way. A win win would be expand the ski area but not in the middle of the drinking water. Ashlanders, those of you who drink water, we are all down stream. Get active. Linda Merryman Ashland Praise for school bond I applaud the Ashland School Board's decision to ask the voters to renew the current school bond. Replacing and upgrading out-dated facilities will protect our community's investment in education. This will enable our excellent staff to continue providing the quality education essential to our children's future. Please join me in supporting the Ashland school bond and protecting our future. Chuck Keil Ashland Former mayor's endorsements I support Greg Lemhouse for City Council. He is running for the position that Alex Amarotico now serves. Greg Lemhouse fills the position that Alex vacates as representing the people that have day-to-day jobs and a young family that is in the Ashland Schools. He will provide a fair and balanced opinion to items that come forward to our City and show respect to all Citizens. I also would like to support Dave Chapman, Kate Jackson, and Barbara Christensen for their re-election as they have served our City well. Congratulations to Alice Hardesty on her appointment and apparent victory in the upcoming election. I know her to be fair and will work hard for our City. I would also urge voters to vote for Ron Saxton for our Governor. We have problems in our state and need solutions. I voted for our current Governor and am extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership that he has shown. We will have a large growth in our budget this cycle and I would like to see it spent well. Our teachers lack support, education has taken a back seat as well social services; I believe that Ron Saxton will provide leadership to help our citizens. I hope we can get away from Democrat or Republican and choose Oregonians that will work together to provides leadership and solutions to our many problems. Please get involved, participate, and get out and vote. Alan DeBoer Ashland Current Comments: Michaela, you are half right. But you are 100% wrong about Greg Lemhouse. Do you even know him? Have you taken the time to meet him? Hear his ideas? Compare his vision? Or are you content just to throw darts at character? This is the only race where the distinction between candidates is clear and which puts Ashland first. Get to know Greg, Michaela. You will change your �tude. Take a cue from one who serves Ashland with distinction, charity and honor- Alan DeBoer. He's figured out who's best. Bill Bartlett ( [email protected] ) - Ashland, OR - October 3rd, 5:26 PM Bill is right, well, he's correct. Greg Lemhouse may be gainfully employed full time and have a family, but he's young and strong and is up to the challenge.I say give him the chance Michael. The city council positions are volunteer positions where you will have a tough time locating anyone other than a very dedicated high energy person like Greg or an unemployed activist with lots of time for protesting on his schedule. Hard working family man gets my vote. Do the best you can Greg, go get 'em. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 8th, 12:17 PM I could care a less as to who Alan Deboer endorses. humble - Medford - October 10th, 10:06 PM To Bill and Steve: Okay, I'd like to meet Greg Lemhouse. I don't want to go to the candidate forums, though, because I already know whom I'm voting for in the other council positions and attending would be a waste of my time. Is there any place where Mr. Lemhouse will be speaking before a group where he will be the only speaker? michaela - ashland - October 12th, 10:36 AM 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.