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CLEAR Temp: 82 °F Wind: NNW at 10 mph Friday, July 25, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 22, 2003 Fluoride pamphlets didn’t break law By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Jackson County’s public health director did not violate state election laws when he mailed 500 pro-fluoridation brochures to area doctors and dentists in 2002, the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office ruled Monday. The timing of the mailing, which cost taxpayers about $5,000, just missed conflicting with the filing of an initiative petition to place the question of water fluoridation on a Medford city ballot, the ruling said. "My understanding of what the Oregon election laws allowed and didn’t allow was correct," said Hank Collins, county health and human services director. However, officials warned Collins not to use public resources to promote or oppose the issue now that it could come up for a vote. Advertisement "We advise you to use caution concerning your activities during the circulation of this petition and measure, if it qualifies for the ballot," wrote Summer Davis, a state compliance officer. The Medford man who filed the complaint said Collins’ actions may have been technically correct but they were ethically questionable. "I think there’s the spirit of the law and there’s the technical part of the law," said Michael Framson, an anti-fluoridation advocate. "I think this met the technical parts of the law, but not the spirit of it." Framson complained in April that Collins violated election laws by spending public time and money to send biased information to area medical professionals. His complaint focused on a 56-page pamphlet, compiled by the American Dental Association, that strongly advocates for community-wide water fluoridation. "Water fluoridation continues to be a very effective method for preventing tooth decay for children, adolescents and adults," reads the brochure, titled "Fluoridation Facts." Collins said he sent two mailings, one in March 2002 to local dentists and one in November 2002 to area doctors. The second letter was sent about a week before a local group of dentists, doctors and health-care workers filed an initiative petition that would allow Medford city voters to consider fluoridation. They filed the petition on Nov. 6, and received circulation approval on Jan. 9. Framson claimed that was a violation of election laws. "I think this clearly crossed the line," he said. But Collins said he sent the mailings at the request of the Southern Oregon Dental Society and the group Healthy Smiles for Jackson County, well before he knew they were planning a public vote. He said he asked for and received approval from the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, whose members included a cover letter stating that the county advocated no position on fluoridation. Framson said he asked Collins to use public resources to send information opposing fluoridation to the doctors and dentists. "Let’s just be fair about it; let’s just be even-handed," Framson said. Collins declined to send the material and referred Framson to the commissioners. Framson said he is still considering the matter. Backers continue to collect signatures for an initiative that would add fluoride to the Big Butte Springs water supply that serves Medford and beyond. Organizers must gather 3,606 verified signatures to qualify for the ballot. The next possible ballot for which they might qualify is March 2004. Fluoridation is a particularly intense subject among health workers and citizens. It’s widely endorsed by most mainstream medical groups and hotly contested by opponents. Framson said information such as that included in the ADA pamphlet, which was first distributed in the mid-1950s, is outdated and inaccurate. Past endorsements of fluoride are based on flawed science, said Framson, who has become a self-styled expert on the issue. Collins said requirements of the election laws are clear. "I have to remain mute about this issue because of the fact that they are collecting signatures," he said. "Maybe some day the citizens of Medford will be able to make the choice of 150 million other Americans in 10,000 American communities in deciding whether to let their water be fluoridated." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times