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October 27. 2014 12:01AM Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 No more old boys Most of us are aware of an Old Boy Network in Jackson County. This election we have an opportunity to change our county's political culture.. The county (a.k.a. the Old Boy Network) is endorsing Rick Dyer for commissioner, position 1, and Kevin Talbert for commissioner, position 3. Therefore, I will not vote for either of them. My primary question is: "Which candidate(s) will make it most difficult for the county to carry on with business as usual?" Curt Anderberg and Colleen Roberts would do that. Both are highly competent; neither one is in anyone's pocket. Richard Keleshian, Talent A leader is needed As a 30-year colleague of Dr. Bates, I understand the need for a sustainable health care delivery system. As members of a proud profession that demands attention to detail, we are rightfully held to a higher standard. With the current crisis in utilization manifested by the one-third increase in local emergency room visits, it is painfully apparent that Dr. Bates' Cover Oregon was ill-conceived and poorly designed from the start, leading to the inevitable fiasco in its implementation. The actual costs of this debacle continue to mount. As a former school-board chair, I’m terrified of the impact on education as we reimburse the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars for the Cover Oregon disaster. The next biennial budget will start in a huge hole. With his extensive experience in budgets with big numbers, it’s time to elect Dave Dotterrer. John Maurer, M.D., Ashland Talbert is Democratic choice Kevin Talbert running for county commissioner, position 3, as an Independent is the endorsed candidate of the Jackson County Democrats. Through a few write-ins on the Democratic ballot, empty during the primary election, his opponent will appear as both the Republican and Democratic candidate. Don’t be confused: Kevin Talbert is the Democratic choice. His experience with administration and large budgets and his ability to work with people to accomplish realistic goals makes him the most qualified for the job. Tonia Moro, running for county commissioner position 1, is also a well-qualified candidate. She is lawyer who has worked with many of the small towns in Jackson County and has a great understanding of how the county works. With Kevin Talbert and Tonia Moro at the helm, Jackson County will be in competent hands. Jan Waitt, Ashland Food Project says thanks Have you ever been hungry and not known when or where your next meal might come from? Did you know that about one out of seven adults and one out of six children in Jackson County struggle with hunger? The Medford Food Project (Medford, Jacksonville, and Central Point) humbly thanks the many generous donors and dedicated Neighborhood Coordinators for making our October food donation pick-up another record-breaking success! Our recent pickup of Green Bags netted 27,700 pounds of food, equal to 23,083 meals for local food pantries. Our sincere thanks to local sponsors, volunteers, food pantries, churches, and businesses for their support — and special thanks to the Texas Roadhouse of Medford, our October sponsor. Neighbors helping neighbors. What a wonderful community we belong to! Join us! For more info on how to become a food donor or Neighborhood Coordinator, visit www.medfordfoodproject.com. Virginia Oxendine, Medford Vote for Card Shouldn’t our legislative branch be able to have oversight of the executive branch in Oregon? Where were the representatives of the people, our legislators, when our governor was throwing away millions of our hard-earned tax dollars on the Cover Oregon fiasco and the I-5 bridge mess? It seems that our duly elected representatives and senators were asleep at the wheel. We will have the chance as citizens to cast judgment this Nov. 4 on the governor and his actions. I am tired of seeing our elected officials always blaming someone else, whether it is Oracle, the state of Washington, the other party or even the citizens. We need to hold those in charge responsible for screw-ups. So this November, vote out the old batch, especially people like Peter Buckley and John Kitzhaber. Let’s vote for some new blood, like Nick Card for state representative District 5. Gary Scarborough, Medford A basic right The right to know what we eat, to know what is in the food products we buy should be a basic right. After all, it is we the consumers who pay the bills. We should not have to do what the agri-businesses want us to do, which is shut up and eat what is put before us because they know what is best for us. Genetically modified organisms and the products made from them do have their purposes, such as vitamin-enhanced products for third word countries, and in many cases are safe. That is not the issue here; it is simply that the citizens of this country have the right to know what they are eating, and what they are feeding their children. As for the argument of increased costs for special labeling for Oregon, hopefully right-to-know campaigns will catch on in all 50 states and corporations will be spared special labeling. Bill McWhorter, Medford Editorial disrespectful I did not expect the Tribune to endorse Colleen Roberts for county commissioner, but I was very disappointed with your harsh characterization of Colleen as an extremist pariah who would not be able to govern our county. I would have hoped for a more reasoned and respectful tone. The last woman to sit on the county board was Sue Kupillas. A strong woman, a watchdog, a bulldog, and a credit to Jackson County. Sue Kupillas set a high standard. Colleen Roberts is cut from the same cloth — tough, fair, competent and honest. The Tribune would better serve its readership by bridging the partisan divide, lest one perceive the Mail Tribune as a foot soldier in the war on women. The Tribune owes Colleen Roberts an apology for its divisive choice of words. Doug Dusenberry, Gold Hill Not wasting my vote "The Colonel" has proven himself to me — proven that he's a man of low character that will do and say anything to advance his personal agenda. No thanks. I'm not wasting my vote on Dave Dotterrer. Nor should you. The last thing we need in Salem is another politician who must rely on half-truths and dirty tactics to get himself elected. M. Lewis, Central Point Vote for Falls I just read a letter stating that she will vote for Winters for sheriff because he's the man. Why would anyone vote for someone who has retired and endorsed Corey Falls? Why vote for someone who really doesn't want the position? Not smart if we want a sheriff who really wants to work for the citizens of Jackson County. Please vote, but for Corey Falls as the man who wants to be sheriff for the people of Jackson County. Donald Politis, Ashland Alan Bates has my vote The Oct. 17 edition of the Mail Tribune clearly outlined the many good reasons to be voting for Alan Bates for the Oregon Senate, all of them very valid and important. I would like to add my personal endorsement based upon several times that I’ve had the chance to speak with him directly. Each time that I’ve presented a question to him, he has listened closely, not from a political point of view but from one of trying to understand the question completely. He has always provided good ,clear responses along with reasonable options. It is clear that he works with a problem-solving goal in mind, exactly what we need in government. As a retired educator of 37 years, I value this type of processing. Alan Bates has my vote! Teri Stember, Ashland http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141027/OPINION/141029770 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->