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October 19. 2014 2:00AM Letters to the Editor, Oct. 19 History compromised Living in the historic core zone of Jacksonville for 25 years has "grown" to be challenging, frustrating and draining. Due to ignorance and, at times, hidden agendas on the part of the HARC/Planning commissions and Planning Department, my once quaint neighborhood is being compromised and has even resulted in a historic property being removed from the landmark list. Overscaled projects are being allowed to overshadow adjacent historic properties, including St. Andrews church (built in 1854). My property on North Fourth Street has been swallowed up by huge projects on both sides, and has compromised my property value. I have lost all privacy and am now dealing with unlawful exterior lighting issues illuminating my yard and glaring into my home. Gone is the sense of community — vacation rentals and new retail businesses (in a residential area) have taken that away. Quality of life gone — is the city's landmark designation next? Are these decisions being made within the requirements of the Jacksonville Municipal Development Code? Is it even a legal document? Just wondering. Laura Reavis, Jacksonville Dotterrer hits below belt The latest Dotterrer ad against Dr. Alan Bates is a low blow below the belt. Dotterrer must have scraped up the photos from an ancient horror film. If anyone deserves an "F" it's Dotterrer. Dotterrer a good guy? Apparently not! Vote for Dr. Alan Bates. William Meyer, Medford A tea party extremist Jackson County commissioner candidate Colleen Roberts is extreme and dangerous. Roberts opposes: adopting national standards for our health department, wrongly assuming such standards encourage abortions; regional and local planning and code enforcement; conservation efforts — she said "climate changes. Get over it." thinks the "free market" trumps GMO-labeling; She's demanded: that the sheriff forcibly reopen federal lands closed to the public during the federal government shut-down, and stop the state water master from draining three illegal lakes when the owner refused to comply with multiple OWRD and court orders; that Jackson County secede from the state of Oregon. She wants Oregon to be like Texas, and would trample provisions of the U.S. and state constitutions she claims to revere. Roberts' tea party "program" doesn't address any real county problem. She's just for cutting taxes, regulations and fees. But, she doesn't know which programs, fees or regulations she would cut! Eric Weisberg, Central Point Candidates skipped forum Oct. 8 brought an exciting and encouraging event to the Medford Higher Education Center. The Jackson County Candidate Forum on Clean Energy and Climate Change provided an opportunity for Jackson County voters to learn how candidates viewed these issues and what they planned to do, if elected, to deal with them. Co-sponsored by Rogue Climate and Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, local community groups dedicated to addressing climate change, it attracted over 125 voters. Those participating were Oregon Senate District 3 candidate Dr. Alan Bates, and county commissioner candidates Tonia Moro and Kevin Talbert. They displayed a remarkably informed and gratifying understanding of the issues, along with a commitment to helping the region address them. It was, however, disappointing to see that no other invited candidates deemed the issues of regional increasing temperature, wildfires and drought, decreasing snowfall or promoting clean energy, sufficiently important even to attend the forum. Kathy Conway, Jacksonville No longer supports Bates Although I try to consider both sides of any argument, I tend to lean left on most issues and have been registered as a Democrat for many years. But now that Dr. Alan Bates has supported the early release of felons, in particular sex offenders and perpetrators of domestic violence, I am changing my vote to support Colonel Dave Dotterrer for state Senate. The release of these criminals back into our community can only mean increased risk for our women and children. In fact, Bates’ position on this is one of several I have disagreed with lately. Cover Oregon has been a fiasco, the current state Legislature has been anything but transparent and I don’t think he has particularly championed the needs of us senior citizens. Is it possible I’m getting more conservative in my old age? Maybe I’m just paying better attention. Robert W. Hall, Ashland Moro is most experienced The Jackson County Voter’s Pamphlet is online. Comparing candidates, one race jumps off page 15-10. County commission candidate Tonia Moro is clearly the most experienced for Position 1. In this complex job, she won’t require very expensive “on the job” training, at full pay. This job is a highly paid position of top level expertise that demands a lot of experience. The chasms of professional differences between candidates are glaringly evident. Moro outlines a plan, not beliefs. Beliefs are nice, but I need to know that the candidates know what to expect. At the end, I found endorsements. Tonia included substantive recommendations, from people who know her work, and of importance to me, a woman’s opinion. For me it’s easy, experience matters a lot! Moro has experience. Her plan shows she knows what to expect. As a member of half the voter population, a woman’s opinion should never be excluded! Darby Stricker, Talent Lane would help us thrive It is time for a change in the city of Medford. As a real estate broker in Southern Oregon, I often provide community tours to executives and professionals from outside of the area when they are considering employment. Though the natural beauty and outdoor activities are rich, the lack of diversity, entertainment and cultural attractions often dissuade the sophisticated from relocation. Donna's vision for a stronger workforce, vibrant downtown and clean and inviting Bear Creek is exactly what is needed in this city. Her experience as a professor, coupled with her entrepreneurship lens, provides her with the skills to implement this vision. The City Council should be reflective of people and their desires living in Medford. Donna offers diversity, vision and commitment currently lacking in local government. Let's transition from surviving to thriving in Medford. Vote Donna Lane for City Council, Ward 4. James Harbison, Medford Bates has earned all A's Sen. Alan Bates is a long-time supporter of education in this state. Bates gets an A. Check the actual record, not out-of-area and out-of-state-funded and untrue propaganda. A for Bates, an enlisted veteran who supports veterans’ needs. As anyone with military experience knows, enlisted are the get-it-done guys. Don’t be fooled by titles. A for Dr. Bates’ tireless efforts to provide health care for all Oregonians. Results: 95 percent of Oregonians now have health coverage. A-plus for Bates, Kitzhaber and Oregon. The Dotterrer camp gets an F for misleading ads and commercials prevaricating about these and the strong support Sen. Bates has proven on women’s issues. The misleading opposition says we need change — from a hard-working, accomplished Sen. Bates to an unknown. Join me as a veteran and business owner in voting to re-elect Sen. Bates! Dan Davis, Talent Support nuclear diplomacy While conflict rages throughout the Middle East, the US and Iran are in reach of securing an agreement to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program by Nov. 24. Oregon's senators have spoken out in support of these historic negotiations. Sen. Wyden wrote in his constituent response letter that he believes "the United States must take this opportunity to avert a more serious confrontation," warning that "enacting additional sanctions now would risk jeopardizing the progress that has already been made." Sen. Merkley noted earlier this year that he opposed "additional sanctions legislation because I share the views of many foreign policy experts that it could undermine the ongoing negotiations and weaken our multinational coalition, ultimately making less likely our goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons." Diplomacy with Iran can also help de-escalate ongoing violence in Syria. Many politicans and commentators in Washington are calling for a simplistic, hawkish approach to Iran, but I hope Oregon's representatives will keep cooler heads.The Friends Committee on National Legislation is hosting a lobby day on November 20-21, during which citizen advocates can lobby their elected officials in D.C.: www.fcnl.org/lobbyday. Beth Gould, Ashland Talbert is a great fit The Mail Tribune editors were right on in endorsing Kevin Talbert for county commissioner. It is not every day of the week a person with his skills is willing to run for public office. Commissioners, as policy makers, must have a broad and in-depth understanding of the many areas over which the county has governing responsibilities as well as a large dose of what it takes to govern such an extensive enterprise. A successful commissioner must have the people skills, temperament and life experiences to build alliances with all sorts of personalities at all levels of government and throughout the private sector as well. Their decisions and personal actions in the area of human services, transportation, economic development, public safety, resource management, long range planning, land use issues and many other areas impact us all. Kevin Talbert is a great fit for this job! Stewart McCollom, Ashland Bates doing a notable job Not long ago I heard Dr. Alan Bates, our present state Senator (up for re-election), speak at our local library in Ruch. A full house of local residents gave him a standing ovation after he summarized his work and what issues he supported in the last session of the Oregon Senate. He also outlined a plan for needed legislation in the future and welcomed us to participate. There was no question in that gathering that Alan Bates is doing a notable job as our representative in the state Senate. His sincere expression of the issues, experience and concern for all members of our communities make him by far the most qualified candidate for the job of state Senator. Christopher Bratt, Applegate You're on your own Vulnerable to horrific attacks by radical Islam, we must recognize the danger of Islamic radicals without condemning the millions of well-intentioned Muslims. As a Green Beret sergeant in Vietnam, I know the horrors of war, but this new enemy is like none I could have imagined. As I write these words, I listen to news of a terrorist plot to bomb subways in New York and of an Islamic radical beheading a woman in Oklahoma. Unknown numbers of this savage, cowardly, growing enemy are within our homeland. They are clearly at war with us, yet our government won’t declare it. These terrorists plan to rape, bomb and sever heads. Their objective is to incite terror, their hatred so impassioned that to die in the act of killing Americans is both justifiable and honorable. Certainly our anti-gun element will criticize me, but I suggest this readership take my lead in arming your family. Mine has discussed emergency scenarios and how to respond. We are acquiring concealed weapons permits and shoot on a regular basis. We have developed a level of confidence and skill to react swiftly, enhancing our survival. Keep informed, alert and proactive, as you are on your own. John Vlasak, Central Point Dotterrer misuses his rank Dave Dotterrer has many signs in my neighborhood that feature the word "Colonel." Nowhere does it state that he is in fact retired. The DoD Joint Ethics Regulations, paragraph 2-304, certainly seem to require that a retired military officer who uses his rank for business, or even personal reasons, should clearly show that he is retired. Perhaps Mr. Dotterrer is unaware of the JER, but he certainly should be. I am a retired military officer myself and would not even dream of using my title without clearly showing my retired status. It troubles me that one of my fellow retirees is using his title incorrectly for political gain. Finally, I don't really see the advantage of using rank in a political campaign when one's principal focus is on espousing economic theories that have been tried before and have never worked. Former President George H. W. Bush was absolutely correct when he characterized "trickle-down economics" as "voodoo economics." Richard Melville, Medford Wait on legalizing pot Measure 91 asks Oregonians to approve the legal sale of marijuana. What is the rush for Oregon to follow Colorado and Washington until the consequences of legalization are available? Then Oregonians can better judge what happens when the sale of marijuana is made legal. Until then, vote no on Measure 91. Dr. Frank Hieber, Phoenix Dyer earns endorsements They say you are judged by the company you keep. If that is the case, then Rick Dyer is in pretty good company. The following individuals have all endorsed Rick for Jackson County commissioner, Position 1: U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, State Rep. Sal Esquival, All three current Jackson County commissioners: John Rachor, Don Skundrick and Doug Briedenthal, Former Jackson County Commissioner and Jackson County Sheriff C.W. Smith, Medford City Council members Eli Matthews, Daniel Bunn, Chris Corcoran, Dick Gordon, Bob Strosser and Tim Jackle. These individuals know what it takes to get the job done in county government. They know Rick, his background, his education, his work experience and his personal attributes, and they’re all endorsing him. Please join me, along with the respected list of individuals above, in voting for Rick Dyer for Jackson County commissioner, Position 1, on Nov. 4. P. Mann, Medford Dotterrer doesn't get poverty I repeatedly hear Dave Dotterrer say he’s opposed to raising the minimum wage, reasoning it would cost jobs. Consider this: A single parent with two children working 40 hours a week , 51 weeks a year at Oregon’s $9.10-an-hour minimum wage lives at federal poverty guidelines. This full-time working parent qualifies for food stamps and other government assistance programs, which taxpayers fund. Couple this with tax breaks we give corporations that pay minimum wage, and one might ask: What’s wrong with this picture? The minimum wage was set to pay people a minimum of what it costs to live, not to live with taxpayer assistance. It’s easy for someone who retired at 51 with a nice federal pension and insane benefits to accept this, but across the board, economists underscore that a higher minimum wage stimulates the economy, and so does Sen. Alan Bates. Mike Gorton, Ashland Support Phoenix charter change The city of Phoenix Charter change, Measure 15-129, needs our yes vote. The mayor, in his newsletter, declared that if you support medical marijuana facilities in Phoenix, vote yes. He has turned the measure into a referendum on medical marijuana facilities. I served 20 years in the U.S. Army and have always supported the Constitution, but it should never be used as a shield to deny medicine to people. People of Phoenix, please, please, vote yes on 15-129. Maurice Gilbert, Phoenix http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141019/NEWS/141019649 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->