Letters to the Editor 10/10/2012

To the Editor:

Mayor Lon Kellstrom said, "... I am running to continue what we have been doing for the last four years." 

Consider that during the last four years, in spite of overwhelming public opposition, Kellstrom pushed to support the development of a destination resort in the Metolius. He almost singlehandedly engineered the selection of an economic development director, completely out of sight of the city council and the public, and stonewalled every effort to disclose the details. He tried for 18 months to raise the water rates to homes and businesses, even after the advisory committee he formed unanimously recommended a severely scaled-back capital-improvements plan. He pushed for rate increases that at one time exceeded 100 percent, but finally had to settle for four percent.

Like everything else Mr. Kellstrom has presided over, his approach was "my way, or the highway." That doesn't work in government.

Anyone who tells other councilors that their ideas are "silly" or that they are "playing a dangerous game" has no concept about what leadership is or what building consensus means. Trying to cut off and thwart reasonable citizen input and questions, as Kellstrom attempted to do during the water rates fiasco, shows a contempt for the democratic process.

Kellstrom says he wants to continue to "practice the fiscal discipline to protect our public resources." Consider the resources that were wasted during the 18-month water rates dustup. Think about what a council, working together, might have otherwise achieved.

How many times have you heard references to our city government as "dysfunctional"? It is, and it starts at the top. Unless voters see how desperately we need new leadership to end the dysfunction, we are doomed to suffer more of the same.

Haven't you had enough? Please support Brad Boyd and McKibben Womack for city council.

Ed Protas

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To the Editor:

I would like to express my gratitude to city council candidate Brad Boyd for his willingness to serve again. Dozens of us had asked Brad to run and he was reluctant. Given the political climate in Sisters and the difficulties caused by the council leadership over the past few years, his hesitancy was understandable.

Until the final day to declare, it looked as if the race would be uncontested and the council leadership would remain unchanged. Now, thanks to Brad Boyd, we have the opportunity to elect a more respectful, responsive and representative city council. 

I will have served eight years on city council when my tenure is up in January. During four of those years I served alongside Brad Boyd. Two of those years, Brad was mayor. Those two years were the best - not because we always agreed but because I could count on Brad's quick analysis of issues, transparency and fairness.

The council was run efficiently and clear direction was given to the city manager. During Brad's tenure the council would never have spent 18 months bogged down over water rates; the issues with the city manager would not have become a public circus; the hiring of the economic development director would not have occurred behind closed doors with no accountability.

And Brad's council would never have supported building destination resorts in the Metolius.

I also support McKibben Womack's candidacy for city council. McKibben serves on the budget committee and also served on the Water Technical Advisory Committee. He has a good understanding of the issues and his experience and passion put him in a good position to serve the interests of our town.

I'm voting Boyd and Womack on November 6. Thank you both for giving us a choice and for stepping up to serve. I know it's a big job.

Sharlene Weed

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To the Editor:

A city councilor should help the community, businesses, and the government to function at its best.

Brad Boyd is a long-time resident, who has experienced Sisters' glory days in a good economy and seen what the town is capable of. He's also been through the bad times over the last few years. Brad knows what Sisters businesses go through, day-in-day-out and through slow seasons and busy summers.

Brad has the key knowledge to help us with "smart growth" and doing the right things for the short term and the long term. We must remember that, when Brad left office, he left Sisters with $7 million in savings. We need people who won't spend right and left. Instead, we need people who are truly financially responsible. As the father of three young children, I think a lot about our school system.

Sisters is a small, tourist town with an Old-West theme.

Because Brad is a long-time resident he understands what Sisters is all about and won't try to turn it into something that it's not.

There are reasons why people come to Sisters, and he can help keep what is important and grow it.

Currently, one of the most important things for Sisters is the Cascade Avenue Improvement Project through downtown.

Talking to Brad, I feel that we, as businesses and a community, have an ally who understands what our needs are.

He's worked with ODOT before when ODOT was trying to divide our town with the couplet - and he stopped that.

Our economy depends on tourism to come in every year.

If downtown is closed for five months, not only will the merchants suffer, but the community will suffer as a whole.

Talking to Brad over the years I have come to understand that he is an approachable person who listens and is always willing to give you his point of view. This is important in trying to get projects done. He gives me a sense that he looks at both sides and it is always helpful to hear the pros and cons on the issues. This helps me and others to look at the whole picture. Merchants aren't politicians or part of the government. We look at the business side of things. We need someone who understands all sides to help us come up with the best solutions for all of us.

I encourage local businesses to get involved in this election and understand their candidates, because electing the right person will have profound effects on business and community.

Javier Luna

Owner, Rancho Viejo