April 28, 2009

Money matters face voters
Today is last day to register to vote in the May 19 elections

By Sam Craigy
of The Chronicle

     It’s voting time again, and unless you’re registered today, you’ll be waiting until November to have your voice heard.
     Four measures appear on the ballot in Wasco County, as well as a multitude of candidates.
     North Wasco County School District is asking voters for a local option levy for repairs, improvements and renovations to current facilities. The cost would be $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value on homes.
     In addition, the district qualifies for 30 cents from the state for every dollar raised. The local option levy, the district estimates, will raise around $8.72 million, plus more than $2.6 million from the state.
     Dufur Parks and Recreation District is looking for a three-year local option levy to help with operating costs. By raising property taxes by more than three percent in Dufur, Parks and Rec expects to take in $45,000 for three years, for a total of $135,000.
     White River Health District is asking residents of Sportsman’s Park, Wamic, Tygh Valley, Pine Grove, Juniper Flat, Maupin and South Junction to approve a four-year local option tax to cover general operations at the Deschutes Rim Health Clinic. At 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property, the district expects $400,000 over the next four years, claiming the money will keep the clinic running without having to shave off hours.
     Those in far southern Wasco County will be voting on annexation of parts of Crooked River Ranch into the Jefferson County Library District. The measure would raise property taxes permanently by 43.49 cents for those living in tax codes 270 and 272. If approved, the measure would eliminate fees paid by non-Jefferson County residents who use the library system.
     There are also many familiar names on the ballot for offices in Wasco County.
The North Wasco School District Board of Directors has four members up for uncontested re-election for their positions, Wayne Haythorn, David Jones, Brian Stahl and Ernie Blatz. Robert Bissonette is running for the office he was appointed to in January.
     The Dufur School District has two candidates running for election, Janet Stauffer and Stan Ashbrook, though there is no candidate on the ballot for Director of Position 4.
     South Wasco County School District’s race sees Thema Alsup and Dean Ferrell running alone on the ballot, while Director of Zone 1 is a face-off between Jerry Duling and Gretchen McCoy and Director of Zone 6 will be between Marcia Lewis and Lynn Ewing.
     In Jefferson County, the race is heating up for several board posts. For Position 1, four people are running for the same position, Roya Leriche, Laurie Danzuka, Floyd Calica and Lyle Rhoan Sr. Position 2 has a couple of contenders vying for the spot, Lyle Rehwinkel and Ed Sites. Position 3 has David Jordan, Tom Norton Jr., George Talman and Dana Oppenlander squaring off, while Position 5 is Stan Sullivan by himself.
     Columbia Gorge Community College’s Directorial Positions are all uncontested, as is the post of Zone 1 for the Central Oregon Community College.
Columbia Gorge Education Service District’s Zone Director Positions are all uncontested, except for Zone 4, which has no candidate filed.
     The contests for the Port of The Dalles have only one candidate for each of the two positions.
     The Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue board has Charles Rosebraugh and Harry Larsen both running uncontested. Mosier Rural Fire Protection District’s board has James Matthisen and Glenn Bartholomew both alone on the ballot for their positions.      For Columbia Rural Fire Protection, the only candidate up is Richard Remington, with no candidate for Position 2. Juniper Flat Rural Fire Protection District has George Uhden running for Director of Position 3 with Positions 4 and 5 without a candidate.
     North Wasco Parks and Recreation has only one contested race. Going for Director Position 1 are Catherine Whalen and Eric Nerdin, while positions four and five are uncontested. Dufur Park and Recreation District is missing two candidates for positions four and five while Director Position 2 is uncontested.
     White River Heath District has no one running for Director Position 1, while positions three and five are uncontested.
     The Maupin Translator District has no candidates filed for positions.
     All three positions up for grabs in the Tooley Water District are uncontested, as are the Tygh Valley Water District and the Wamic Water and Sanitary Authority. The Pinegrove Water District has three positions with no candidates.
     There are no ballot measures in Sherman County, but plenty of candidates for office.
     Every elected position in Sherman County is uncontested, except for the Sherman County School District Board position for Zone 2, the Wasco Precinct which has Kelsey Richelderfer Hanning facing off against Verna Simantel.
     Check in with the County Clerk’s office for a registration form, or head to http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/vreg.htm to print out a form.