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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Thursday Emergency services Bunk beds would give comfort to kids sleeping on floor Get Up & Go: Dec. 11 Since You Asked: Goin' fishing? Yes, if you have no bananas Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Fire displaces Ashland couple and their baby Tires slashed on nearly 20 cars in north Medford Gunfire reported again in west Medford neighborhood Emergency services Politics and Elections Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Education A lesson in giving Hedrick student council works to clean up the language Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Eagle Point superintendent invited to White House Eagle Point secures perimeter of Table Rock Elementary with new fence Environment Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River Jackson County judge dismisses one Mt. View Paving case Advisory warns of blue-green algae bloom at Lost Creek Lake State News Congress keeps Coast Guard helicopter flying U of O, grad teachers reach deal Oregon seeks steward to buy Elliott forest Ernest Brace, civilian POW in Vietnam with John McCain, dies at 83 Judge declines to halt GMO recount certification Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Johnny William James Linda Katherine Heitkamp Mary Louise France Carolyn Sue Corzine Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Warriors keep on rolling Columbia gives No. 1 Kentucky a scare Wiggins, Wolves stun Blazers 90-82 OSU’s hire is a game-changer Andersen to OSU Varsity 541 College Sports Columbia gives No. 1 Kentucky a scare OSU’s hire is a game-changer Andersen to OSU Raiders land at 13th in postseason NAIA Top 25 Hall of Fame welcomes Bellotti Pro Sports Warriors keep on rolling Wiggins, Wolves stun Blazers 90-82 Bryant's late flurry lifts Lakers Blazers make it five straight Browns make the move, will start Manziel Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks State lags on grocery inspections Blog: Bear Creek Plaza next up on the market Silvio Calabi: The world loves a Wrangler Jackson County judge dismisses one Mt. View Paving case Real Estate News More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 People in Business, Nov. 18 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Dana Milbank: Jonathan Gruber's bad day George Will: The plague of overcriminalization Matthew T. Mangino: UN takes a swipe at torture in America Editorials Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends Our View: Find middle ground on timber policy Our View: Making sense of Medford crime numbers Our View: Land takeover a sincere but empty gesture Other Views: OSU rape case is a teaching opportunity Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 10 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 9 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 8 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 7 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Lifestyle Latest stories Religion news: Atheists launch holiday advertising campaign in Deep South Marketta Gregory: There is only one enemy Community blog: Choose presents cooks can cherish, not regift Michelle Teheux: The best gift isn’t what you think Blog: Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire . . . Food Community blog: Choose presents cooks can cherish, not regift Roasted vegetables are rich, flavorful Food for Thought: Meal-planning hacks to help you dine fast and healthy Kitchen Call: Hints for gluten-free holidays Community blog: Merry Christmas 10 Barrel! (Big Brewery vs Small Independent Brewer) Home and Garden Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Dear Monty: When a lawyer’s fee is four times higher than the quote Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Troubleshoot common water boiler problems Dear Monty: Ten helpful home-listing tips Health Community blog: Unsubscribe.com Community blog: Redefining Family Dr. Murray Feingold: Say it like you mean it Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health HealthStyle: Develop an attitude of gratitude Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Andy McKee plays Rogue Theatre Theater review: 'Fiddler' charms audience in magical Camelot performance Theater Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Theater review: 'Fiddler' charms audience in magical Camelot performance Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall Camelot presents 'Fiddler on the Roof' Music Andy McKee plays Rogue Theatre SOU presents all-percussion concert Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Community Events It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House 4 Things to do this Week Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 2014 Providence Festival of Trees Dining Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Overnight storm causes widespread power outages ... Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends ... Since You Asked: Goin' fishing? Yes, if you have no bananas ... Overnight storm causes widespread power outages ... Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends ... Since You Asked: Goin' fishing? Yes, if you have no bananas ... OUR VIEW Our View: Kitzhaber is still the best choice MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Oct 23, 2014 at 8:35 AM Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Oct 23, 2014 at 8:35 AM » Social News It's been a rough month for Gov. John Kitzhaber. Questions about a potential conflict of interest between his fiancee's consulting business and her role as an unpaid policy adviser in the governor's office were followed by revelations from her past, including a sham marriage for immigration purposes and her alleged participation in planning an illegal pot-growing operation in Washington state. Kitzhaber's Republican challenger, Central Point Rep. Dennis Richardson, has seized on the ethical questions as evidence of "corruption" in the governor's office, and there are signs the controversy may be starting to sway voters, which could chip away at Kitzhaber's once-comfortable lead in the polls. Nevertheless, we support Kitzhaber's re-election bid — albeit with a bit less enthusiasm — and we recommend voters give him a fourth and final term as Oregon's chief executive. Here's why: First Lady Cylvia Hayes' actions more than a decade ago are relevant only to her personal relationship with the governor. She is not running for office; he is. The questions about her consulting business and its relationship to the work she has done in the governor's office are relevant, but so far there is little evidence that they rise to the level of "corruption." In any case, Kitzhaber has announced she will mothball her consulting business for the duration of his term should he be re-elected. When it comes to policy, Kitzhaber is far closer to the majority of Oregonians than Richardson, and he can point to solid accomplishments during his term, including engineering a major overhaul of the Public Employee Retirement System, a compromise that involved tough concessions from Democrats and Republicans. Oregon's health care reform efforts also are showing results. The failure of the online enrollment system known as Cover Oregon was a major embarrassment, and Kitzhaber deserves some of the blame for that. But Oregon was not the only state to have similar issues, and in the end, thousands of Oregonians were signed up for health insurance, many for the first time. The state's innovative reform of Medicaid, involving coordinated care organizations, is held up as a model, and Richardson says he supports the concept. Richardson brings an energy to the race that seems lacking in Kitzhaber this time around. He vows to address unemployment in Oregon and focus on creating jobs, especially in timber counties such as Curry and Josephine, which face potential insolvency. But there are no easy answers there and his idea of appealing directly to the American people seems like a long shot at best. He built a successful legislative career as a hard-nosed budget specialist, and vows to weed out "fraud, waste and abuse," but sounds as though he wants to micromanage individual agency budgets, which is not the governor's role. Although Richardson is extremely conservative on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, he notes that court rulings have superseded state law, and insists he won't pick fights he can't win. However, activists on those issues who are supporting his candidacy will expect a sympathetic ear if he's elected, and it's hard to imagine they won't get one. Kitzhaber's job performance over the past four years hasn't been all positive, and he needs to step up his level of engagement to counter the perception that he's becoming too detached. But on balance, we think his approach is the better one for Oregon. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Oct 23, 2014 at 8:35 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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