Letters to the Editor 10/19/2016

To the Editor:

How much do you know about your national congressmen and the way they vote on the issues? Instead of voting based on a TV ad or on a single issue, one can Google "On The Issues" followed by the name of representative Greg Walden or senator Ron Wyden, and it will enter a website in which that person's voting in 20 separate categories is listed. Examples of categories are economy, budget, corporations, crime, energy, environment, education, foreign policy, gun control, health care, jobs, social security, tax reform, welfare and others.

In each category it lists a one-line summary of what bills the congress-person voted on and how he voted, yes or no. One can, by doing this, decide if the person is voting in the manner which represents your preferences.

B. Graham

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To the Editor:

I believe the citizens of Deschutes County deserve better representation than has been provided by Alan Unger. Citizens that reside in Deschutes County, but not within any city limits, must rely on our county commissioners to look after our interests.

In my opinion, Alan Unger has failed to do that job.

In 2014 the small, local airport located in the county just outside the limits of the city of Sisters was a rarely used airstrip. It worked well within its residential neighborhood, providing service for local pilots. The airport was purchased by Benny Benson, a prominent businessman who convinced the City of Sisters to annex it so he could expand it for his own business needs and desire to pursue commercial aviation activities.

The property was and had been zoned as rural residential and needed to be rezoned to allow for that type of expansion. The County had to agree to that massive rezoning. Alan Unger championed that expansion and rather than notify his constituents of the planned rezoning, he published the bare minimum legal notifications to only the properties that immediately adjoined the airport. This was a major rezoning that would affect hundreds of homes that were located in the area but not within the city limits. It has since impacted the quality of life for many living in the area.

It would have been responsible for Mr. Unger, as our commissioner, to make these plans known; but Mr. Unger made no such effort. In fact, when the homeowners in the area became aware of the plans and personally contacted Mr. Unger to see how to understand and address these plans he put the effort on a "fast-track" program to speed the process up, virtually eliminating any possibility of action to understand and possibly delay or stop this rezoning.

That isn't the kind of representation that the residents of Deschutes County deserve.

I support Phil Henderson for county commissioner and urge you to consider that choice also.

Bob Norman

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To the Editor:

After visiting Sisters this last May for more than a week, I was hoping to relocate there. But in looking around at property and probable wages, I am not finding what will work.

Tiny houses would be a great addition to Sisters, easing the housing crunch. A tiny house village would be awesome! And Sisters could certainly use another RV park.

But in the meantime, how about keeping Creekside Campground open over winter? With the number of RV people looking for spots around Sisters on Craigslist, I think it would fill up real fast if the price was reasonable.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sandy Boyd, Grandview, WA

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To the Editor:

After considering the two candidates running for the open Deschutes County Commissioner position, I will be voting for Phil Henderson and here's why: Mr. Henderson has a very rational and reasoned approach to the key issues that affect Central Oregon today and will into the future.

Affordable housing, sustainable job creation, fixing our roads, and controlling property taxes are some of the issues that Henderson has set as top priorities and is prepared to take on with a real-world approach derived from years in the private sector.

Having previously served on the Bend City Budget Committee for five years, Henderson understands how public money is spent, and is committed to protecting our tax dollars from being carelessly spent on issues and projects that don't address our community's core needs and values.

After graduating with honors from Yale University and receiving a law degree from University of Oregon, Henderson, a fifth-generation Oregonian, established a successful career practicing law. He later became involved in the home-building industry, where he ultimately created his own successful business in Bend. Additionally, Henderson has served on the board of the Deschutes County United Way for several years, demonstrating his capacity to practice compassion.

Henderson's opponent, Alan Unger, seems to be quite content to play out his role as mostly a career politician, and has been criticized for wholeheartedly siding with special-interest groups while turning a deaf ear to the balance of his constituency. Unger's lopsided approach to the issue of marijuana land-use in rural areas being the most recent example of his failure to build consensus among parties with differing viewpoints.

Electing Phil Henderson County Commissioner will bring pertinent experience, fresh energy and perspective to the position. Please join me in "Filling out Phil" on this November's ballot.

Greg Werts

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To the Editor:

Like many residents of our beautiful town, I look forward each week to the five minutes of entertainment in the "Letters-To-The-Editor" section of our beloved Nugget. Although many letters elicit an emotion, self-control prevails and I remember there is a proper and more effective forum to resolve these issues. However, this week I shamefully allowed a letter to get under my skin.

I am referring to the submission from the individual who had the audacity to impugn Brett Hudson, the project manager hired to oversee the construction of the school bond-money projects. In some lame passive-aggressive style, he insinuates that Mr. Hudson campaigned for the bond measure with an ulterior motive: job security.

In addition, he ignorantly suggests that Mr. Hudson will be long gone with no accountability once his role as project manager is complete. Seriously? The author casts these aspersions in the guise of a lack of transparency in the hiring process. Kudos to him if he truly seeks more transparency. Now, get off your butt and go to the source before you attack someone's character, in print.

Brett, and his family, are pillars in our community and certainly don't need me to defend them or justify their many contributions. But foolish personal character attacks, especially in a small town, really ... um ... upset me! The Hudsons are like so many of the wonderfully humble people who operate inconspicuously to enhance this community. So I won't embarrass them by listing their many contributions. Just know that when there is something positive occurring in Sisters, there is a strong likelihood the Hudson family is involved.

The use of personal names, only supported by insinuations and/or conjecture is not responsible journalism. A public apology from the author of the aforementioned letter, and The Nugget for not properly editing the letter, is appropriate.

Quay Richerson