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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 Computer crash hit Tuesday paper, website Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Local gas prices lowest in years Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Two injured in Hayes Hill crash OSP finds 68 pounds of marijuana in car during traffic stop Emergency services Providence in Medford on list of Ebola treatment hospitals Politics and Elections Local gas prices lowest in years Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Oregonians not in party mood Sign wars rage again in Phoenix Democratic contender not conceding victory to Walden Education Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown Environment Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? Ashland council calls for divestment from fossil fuel Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring State news Nation - World Obituaries Jassen M. Hatley Bess Hamers Donna Lee Norvell Faith Ann Honer Sherry Nell Bean Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Jose Canseco undergoes surgery after accidentally shooting finger Vick gets chance to prove himself Stanford trying to upend No. 5 Oregon a new way Ducks try to loosen up a bit for Stanford Mississippi State, Florida State top playoff list Varsity 541 College Sports Stanford trying to upend No. 5 Oregon a new way Ducks try to loosen up a bit for Stanford Mississippi State, Florida State top playoff list Georgia still waiting for ruling on Gurley Pac-12 passes reforms for athletes Pro Sports Jose Canseco undergoes surgery after accidentally shooting finger Vick gets chance to prove himself Colt is real McCoy in upset of Cowboys Los Angeles soccer team Chivas USA folds Royals hope to light up Giants ... and deer Community Sports Results / Standings LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Local gas prices lowest in years Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Business Briefs Volvo V60 R-Design is all work, all play Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Haunted White House 2014 Southeast center offers new approach to growth Eagle Point needs public transportation Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Granlund cartoon: Midterm elections Editorials Southeast center offers new approach to growth Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Our View: Kitzhaber is still the best choice Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 25 Guest Opinions Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Don't overlook importance of Jackson County commissioners race Lifestyle Latest stories Shayne Looper: Is religion a do-it-yourself project? Dr. Elaine Heffner: First building blocks Kitchen Call: A cookbook by its cover It Is What It Is: I feel pretty, oh, so pretty Jeff Vrabel: Daycare not a fan of Halloween Food Kitchen Call: A cookbook by its cover Community blog: Quick breads take well to gluten-free ingredients Community blog: Barrel Aged and Sour Beers Ledger David Cellars has a new winemaker and big plans Community blog: There's a method to mix, match alternative grains Home and Garden How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Dear Monty: Is your real estate agent a secret agent? Health Community blog: Finding My Roots Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Guide promotes better food system Where do all those leaves go? Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Community Events Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... Two injured in Hayes Hill crash ... OSP finds 68 pounds of marijuana in car during traffic stop ... Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... Two injured in Hayes Hill crash ... OSP finds 68 pounds of marijuana in car during traffic stop ... POINT / COUNTERPOINT Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections By Margaret Carter and Jim Kelly MailTribune.com By Margaret Carter and Jim Kelly Posted Oct. 26, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Margaret Carter and Jim Kelly Posted Oct. 26, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News Measure 90, the Open Primary, changes the primary election system so that all voters use one identical ballot in the March primary and the top-two vote getters go on to face each other in the general election. Voting yes on Measure 90 puts voters first, and makes the votes of 680,000 independent, non-affiliated and minor party voters who are now locked out count. The number of independent-minded voters in Oregon is growing. According to the secretary of state, between May and September over 74 percent of newly registered voters chose not to register with either of the two major parties. And most legislative districts (over 90 percent, according to media accounts) are so dominated by one major party or the other that elections are effectively over with the result of primary. The dominant party candidate picked in the primary by voters, many times less than 10 percent of the electorate, is all but guaranteed to win the general election. Often, no candidate from the other party even bothers to run at all. It is no surprise that people are looking for an alternative to special-interest agendas that are working for them. The political establishment cries that Measure 90 will limit choice. This is the "choice" they want to preserve: a general election race that pits one Democrat against a Republican (no non-major party candidate has won a legislative seat in 40 years). Ninety percent of the time it is a meaningless “choice.” Think how many Republicans are elected to represent Southeast Portland today, or how many Democrats get elected to represent Grant County. Zero. No wonder so many voters don’t even bother to show up. And the minor party candidates that opponents raise don’t exist either — the Progressive Party have endorsed no candidates for any statehouse races and the Pacific Green Party has only 3 candidates in these 91 races. Democracy works better when candidates have to appeal to all the voters and when all the voters are able to choose among the two candidates who got the most votes in the primary. It’s time for people — for voters — to make everyone’s votes count. Margaret Carter of Portland is a retired Oregon state senator and president pro-tempore, a former Portland Urban League president and former chairwoman of the Oregon Democratic Party. Jim Kelly of Kimberly is the chief petitioner for Measure 90. By Margaret Carter and Jim Kelly MailTribune.com By Margaret Carter and Jim Kelly Posted Oct. 26, 2014 @ 12:01 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. 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