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October 11. 2014 12:01AM Election Letters, Oct.11 Lane is qualified I have known Donna Lane since 2006, when I became the director of the SOU Small Business Development Center (SBDC). As the chairwoman of the SOU School of Business, Donna provided leadership focused foremost on providing high-quality education to students. She was instrumental in keeping the department strong, viable and cohesive through challenging times, and for producing graduates who were ready to enter the professional workforce. I attribute this to Donna’s ability to stand on good principles, her resiliency and willingness to put the well-being of her constituents first. As the director of the SOU SBDC, I am especially interested in Donna’s experience as a small-business owner. She understands the challenges involved with small-business management and what it takes to create a sustainable business that creates jobs. Donna’s blend of intelligence, business ownership and stamina to put constituent issues first make her a highly qualified candidate for city council. Jack Vitacco, director, SOU Small Business Development Center Dyer for business I would like to encourage all small-business owners to vote for fellow local business owner Rick Dyer for Jackson County commissioner, position 1. Rick owns an energy/construction business and is all too aware of the myriad problems we face. One of his goals is to help streamline the bureaucratic red tape that small business owners deal with. To learn more about Rick, visit his website at electrickdyer.com. Rick has a degree in accounting and business administration from SOU. He’s keenly aware of the importance of budgeting and sticking to a budget during both hard times and good times. Rick knows that making payroll, rent and utilities are all things that small-business owners face on an ongoing basis. Please join me in electing Rick Dyer, the best candidate for Jackson County commissioner, on Nov. 4. Ryan Vanderhoof,  Medford Voting for Talbert I am voting for Kevin Talbert for county commissioner, and, perhaps more importantly, I am voting against Colleen Roberts. I do not want to live in a place like Curry or Josephine County, where both public safety and public health services have been cut to the bone. The logical extensions of Colleen Roberts’ minimalist government ideas have come to fruition in these neighboring counties. I don’t know exactly why the two current county commissioners, Don Skundrick and John Rachor, both Republicans, have endorsed Kevin Talbert; but I suspect that they value county government. I don’t think that Colleen Roberts values government services. I would rather have a functioning government than one that is under attack from within. I believe in principles, but I also believe in practicality. Marc Heller, Ashland Vote for Dyer It's time for a change in Jackson County. Small-business owners know how frustrating it can be dealing with county bureaucracy. There is only one candidate, Rick Dyer, who sees this as a major issue for the future. Rick, who is running for Jackson County commissioner, position 1, is a small-business owner himself. He knows firsthand the potential pitfalls that small business owners can face in dealing with governmental bureaucracy. And, what's more, he wants to do something about it! If you go to Rick's website (www.electrickdyer.com), he spells out his goals. He not only wants to streamline the overall process small business owners face in dealing with the county; he also wants to do everything he can to attract new businesses to Jackson County, thereby creating new jobs. Vote for a pro-business candidate on Nov. 4, Rick Dyer for Jackson County commissioner! Kathryn Johnson, Medford Vote for Dotterrer Dr. Bates is without a doubt a very fine, honorable man. He is also a splendid doctor. His skills and training are urgently needed in the field of health care. Colonel Dotterrer is also a very fine, honorable man. His skills and training in leadership, budget management, working in and with legislative bodies to get a job done are proven. Let’s put both of these fine men to work for us where they can be most effective and productive. Vote for Dave Dotterrer for State Senator. Juanita W. Bright, Medford We need to know Measure 92 is about "right to know" if GMOs are in our food. I would change that to "need to know." We do need to know when we eat food that causes health problems. You cite 1,800 health studies with not one finding a health problem with GMO foods. That can be done, as long as excuses are found to leave out the studies that find problems. The United Kingdom hired a top scientist, Arpad Pusztai, to test GMO potatoes. When he found problems, the research was ended and the scientist was branded incompetent. That has been the pattern ever since. The Serelini study was better designed than any industry study, but an excuse was found to brand it "inconclusive." The Western Australia study was omitted, along with many instances around the world of poisoning and deaths from pesticides associated with GMO crops. I need to know. Ira Edwards, Medford Enlisted? Vote Bates Candidate Dave Dotterrer uses his rank, colonel, on all his TV and printed publicity as if it qualifies him for office. I was, quote, "the dumbest second lieutenant in Korea," but that did not qualify me for a political position. Alan Bates was an enlisted man in Vietnam. Since Dotterrer introduced the military consideration, I have a suggestion. All the colonels should vote for Dotterrer. All the enlisted men should vote for Dr. Bates. He already has the vote of the "dumbest second lieutenant." Jeff Cheek, Medford Impressed with Dotterrer I admit I have become quite concerned regarding our future. I am losing hope about what the future holds in terms of our safety, our economic stability or our freedom. Dave Dotterrer spoke with me recently about his bid for state senator. I was impressed. I realized that since most of us can't go to Salem and start knocking heads together, what we can do is start electing people who will represent what we the people want in our state government. The people I talk to want our freedom restored and greater respect for the Constitution. I respect what Colonel Dotterrer has achieved in his life, and he seems to understand what government should and shouldn't be doing for the people. He is the one I want to speak for me in Salem. Lee Fox, Ashland Limit or expand? Is it really true that more economic freedom will bring more political freedom? Is there really more virtue in big government versus big business? Is the political class more believable than monied interests? The election which we are about to participate in has two stark alternatives. Do we want government limited or expanded? If your answer is limited, vote for solid Dennis Richardson, industrious Dave Dotterer, steady Rick Dyer, reliable Sal Esquivel, maverick Monica Wehby and populist Colleen Roberts. Harry Truman once said, "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen." Politics is heat, money, judgment and integrity. Without the latter, there's no former as some past and present political class have demonstrated. Elected officials take a solemn oath to a higher power to protect and defend the Constitution. That oath, if not kept here, will be answerable there. Now it's time for ballots. Joel R. Marks, Medford Truth is important Truth is important! Jeff Bellah, my husband, has served as mayor of Phoenix for the past two years and is running for re-election. Last week, an Ashland resident wrote a letter describing Jeff as a "Washington- and Virginia-based outsider." To set the record straight, Jeff and I have lived in the same home in Phoenix for the past 24 years, and both of our daughters were educated through the excellent Phoenix/Talent school district. Jeff was born in North Bend, Ore., and has never lived in Washington, D.C., or Virginia. Jeff is an Army veteran, and was employed with the Department of Veterans Affairs for over 33 years before retirement in 2011. Jeff has worked hard over the past two years as the mayor to advocate for the citizens of Phoenix. Make your vote count — re-elect Jeff Bellah mayor of Phoenix! Truth is indeed important! Laura Bellah, Phoenix http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141011/OPINION/141019961 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->