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October 04. 2014 12:01AM Election Letters, Oct. 4 Bates is excellent Dr. Alan Bates is widely recognized as a truly excellent legislator. Of his many accomplishments the expansion and improvement of health care in Oregon is central. Appropriate, cost-contained care is his emphasis, leaving emergency rooms free for real emergencies. The landmark, bipartisan Healthy Oregon Act, which he authored, is a concrete step on the way. And talk about jobs! The economy of the state and our region will be boosted by this and other measures that he has supported. An air of desperation permeates the expensive ad campaign of Bates’s opponent. One wonders why he concluded that far-right brickbats will improve his chances this time. Voters in our region have an opportunity to support their expert, thoughtful, and, yes, “conservative” state senator, or they can reward the know-nothing, misleading, trash talk of the other guy. The choice is clear; I’m voting for Sen. Alan Bates. Wayne Slawson, Talent Voting record informs Regarding the Sept. 27 front-page article on Dave Dotterrer and Alan Bates: Personally, as an informed voter I am keenly interested in having Alan Bates' voting record made public. Dave Dotterrer's mailers, citing public record, have taken the space to let me know exactly how and when Bates voted on certain issues that affect not only the citizens of Jackson County but the entire state of Oregon. I am having a hard time discerning how that information can be termed "negative." Knowing how he has voted in the past helps inform me, and other voters, to make a critical decision on how he might vote in the future. If he voted in a particular direction then he should not be embarrassed to have it publicized. He is sounding just a little whiny. Janet Eck, Ashland Talk to us as adults I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. But I was interested in a TV ad by Dave Dotterer saying to elect him to the state Senate because he would vote to cut taxes for corporations. Of course, that loss in revenue would require cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from the state budget that supports local schools, state law enforcement, public health, and other essential programs. Or else individual taxes would have to be raised to make up the difference. The next day I got a postcard from Dave Dotterer saying that he would be a great supporter of education and that "it's time we truly invest in our children." This contradiction sounds like someone who will say anything just to get elected. If Dave Dotterer wants to make huge cuts in services for kids, seniors, disabled people and public safety and give that money to corporations, he should tell us specifically what those cuts will be. Matt Witt, Talent We need Talbert Kevin Talbert would be the most qualified candidate for county commissioner in most any election. Thoughtful, open-minded, inclusive, and creative, he brings a wealth of personal experience to this position: military veteran, Peace Corps volunteer, college senior administrator, RCC Board of Directors, land steward and master gardener. He knows what collaboration, problem-solving, and consensus look like because he has lived in that world his entire life. He strongly believes that the county commissioner position should be nonpartisan. Potholes, public health, economic viability, and public safety need not be ideological lightning rods. We need Kevin Talbert. Stephen Jensen, Ashland We need Dyer On Nov. 4, we will be faced with a very important decision. Though there are four candidates vying for Jackson County commissioner position 1, there is really only one uniquely qualified to serve our citizens: Rick Dyer. Rick, a lifelong resident of the Rogue Valley, a graduate of Southern Oregon College (SOU) with a degree in business administration and accounting, a small-business owner, a law school graduate, and an RVTD board member, possesses the skills and experience required. Rick's accounting background, law degree and previous experience in senior management for large Jackson County companies (as well as ownership of his own business) put him in a unique position to relate to the people of Jackson County and find solutions to our problems. Rick is a smart, experienced, sensible person, exactly what Jackson County needs right now. Please join me in voting for Rick Dyer for Jackson County commissioner! Paxton Hickey, Jacksonville Voting for Ankerberg In the race for county commissioner, position 1, there's only one qualified candidate, and that's Curt Ankerberg, CPA. I'm a senior citizen, and Curt has been my neighbor for many years. He's always been honest, kind, helpful, and generous to me, and to other neighbors. Curt has also donated a large amount of his time to public service, because he truly cares about his community. You'll never hear of his positive virtues from the liberal Mail Tribune, which tends to smear conservative candidates. The commissioners are the financial managers for the county, and Curt Ankerberg, with 30 years experience as a financial auditor, senior tax manager and chief financial officer, dwarfs his opponents, none of whom have any technical financial experience. The county manages a $300 million budget, with 900 employees. Being commissioner is not a job for amateurs. Please join me in voting for Curt Ankerberg for Commissioner. Charles McCracken, Medford Voting for Roberts Following last Friday’s debate between Colleen Roberts and Kevin Talbert, there is little left to question. On one hand, Republican Colleen Roberts and her straight talk about reducing government's reach into our lives, and on the other, Democrat Kevin Talbert’s solution that more government is the answer to nearly every ill Jackson County suffers. But don’t take my word for it — see it for yourself at www.whatwouldjeffersondo.net. Carbon taxes, global warming, marginalizing the timber industry, more monuments ... Jackson County residents: If you don’t want our county to become the ‘Multnomah of the south’ then you'd better educate yourself on what policies Talbert and his progressive counterpart in position 1 have in store for us — and vote accordingly. For me, I choose freedom — a county government constrained by the Constitution and managed with common sense. I’ll vote for Colleen Roberts for county commissioner position 3. Bryan Platt, Eagle Point   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141004/OPINION/141009889 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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