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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 21, 2004 Candidate Endorsements Vote Bates over dirty politics When Alan Bates chose to run for the Oregon Senate, and Jim Wright also filed, it presented a dilemma. While Bates was not a terribly distinguished member of the state House, he worked hard and was courageous when he and Lenn Hannon called on the Legislature to look at the entire dysfunctional tax system, including a possible sales tax, to solve our statewide budget mess. Wright, during a long private sector career, also has distinguished himself in volunteer service. I made up my mind who to vote for after receiving a second attack flier in the mail from the Wright campaign. His managers apparently convinced him that only misleading campaign propaganda attacking Bates and his record would win the election. I don't like that, and I think other voters don't either. I'm voting for Bates, to send a good person back to Salem and a clear message to Wright and his handlers that you don't win elections in this county anymore by playing dirty. John Enders Ashland Laws is a proven leader for city Don Laws has been a dedicated city council member for many years and has served with distinction. Among many other issues, he has had a lot to do with improving the quality of our water, and helped to squelch that crazy spray plan in the hills above North Mountain Avenue, that would have wafted waste water over the city night and day. But, Jack Hardesty, who unfortunately is running for the same seat, has received several warm endorsements, that may be well deserved. However, Don has a long record that has helped immeasurably to make Ashland what it is, and I think that he deserves to be re-elected Harry L. Cook Ashland No support for Hauck Yikes! I must have been babbling from a whacked sugar level when I talked with Tidings' correspondent John Darling at Thursday's candidates forum. (Evidently too many complimentary cookies from the back of the room.) How else to explain Darling quoting me as supporting Hauck's candidacy? Simply put, Hauck will never have my vote: he likes to spend taxpayer money on very ill advised and very expensive projects. He was the main architect and ramrod for the nascent AFN, now a $14 million albatross. And, as Darling correctly reported, and Hauck himself offered in our discussion group, he is very willing to pursue tax money to address Ashland's affordable housing jones, as evidenced by his supporting the failed real estate transfer tax. I give Hauck full marks for civic participation and his straightforward manner, but I can't afford the man in city government. And for the record, I don't believe any amount of creativity or visioning can jigger the price of land and materials, wages, and SDCs to affect the cost of building in Ashland. Without tax money, it's all pissing in the wind. But a vote for Hauck will certainly assure that tax money will be sought. John Gaffey Ashland Densmore has can-do spirit Sue Densmore has my vote! Densmore has two strong points in her favor. First, her broad experience in small business, infrastructure development and in the political process clearly prepares her for the complexities of County governance. Second, Densmore demonstrates true commitment to protecting and improving the quality of life for all Jackson County residents when she promises to maintain clean air while still working to increase employment opportunities. Densmore believes that we have the power to have both clean air and jobs. I applaud that can-do spirit. Lisa Buttrey Ashland Blessed with Bates, Buckley From time to time, we voters are blessed by unusually strong candidates. We know that their service as our representatives calls for considerable dedication and personal sacrifice. Two such individuals from our area, Peter Buckley and Dr. Alan Bates, have unusual abilities to work on a bipartisan basis to help Oregon meet our challenges and provide needed leadership to solve the myriad of challenges we face in Salem. Peter Buckley, candidate for House District 5, has a record of working with diverse groups to advance common interests. Dr. Alan Bates, candidate for State Senate, showed great ability and common sense as our representative in Salem, and deserves our continuing support. LeRoy Owens former state representative Ashland Here's to you Zell Miller Hey! Whatever happened to Zell Miller? I liked that guy. His red-neck rant at the Republican Convention was the highlight of the campaign so far. He injected a little humor into what has otherwise been very trugid proceedings. You'd think the media would be all over him. His sound bites would be good as gold. Doyle Hirsch Ashland 35 is flawed Despite claims by its supporters, Constitutional Amendment 35 does nothing to fix the problem of medical negligence. The National Practitioner Data Bank reports that only five percent of doctors account for 54 percent of malpractice cases. If we really want to do something to improve patient safety, we should be cracking down on those very few negligent doctors instead of limiting Oregonians' access to justice by amending the Constitution. Vote no on amendment 35. Julie Davis Ashland Cheney's words don't measure up Despite what Dick Cheney may have recounted in the vice presidential debate, he has said numerous times, on video tape no less, that there was a connection between Iraq/Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks! It has been widely documented that he promoted this falsehood while on the campaign trail within the last month! Now he lies about it live on national television with over 50 million watching? And he completely side-stepped questions about Halliburton's shady financial dealings in Iraq, Iran and Africa. How chilling. John Edwards was open, truthful, strong and clear during the debate. He showed his passion to fight for everyday people like you and me. He acknowledged the painful truth of 4 years of lost jobs & lost healthcare coverage and offered a vision of America doing better! I believe that with John Kerry and John Edwards, help is on the way! Gaia Carney Ashland 35 won't help Ballot Measure 35 is a change to our constitution being bankrolled by the insurance companies, HMOs and pharmaceutical companies as a cure for high medical malpractice premiums for doctors. But anyone in the financial industry can tell you the the real cause of high premiums is the slump in the stock market - that we all experienced - beginning in 2000. The insurance industry is covering its losses by jacking up the rates for doctors. Now the insurance companies want to limit Oregonians' right to a fair day in court. Measure 35 won't help doctors and will hurt Oregonians. I urge Oregonians to vote no on 35. Brent Warner Talent DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams