Letters to the editor: April 10, 2024 (print version)

Published 4:00 am Wednesday, April 10, 2024

I am writing to express my wholehearted support for Phil Hamm’s reelection to the Umatilla Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. Phil Hamm has proven himself time and again as a committed civic servant, dedicated to the betterment of our community.

Throughout his tenure, Phil has demonstrated unwavering integrity, sound judgment and a genuine concern for the well-being of our cooperative and its members. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding the cooperative through various challenges, ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for all.

Phil’s deep understanding of the issues facing our cooperative, coupled with his proactive approach to problem-solving, makes him the ideal candidate for reelection. His passion for serving the community and his commitment to transparency and accountability are qualities we need in our leaders now more than ever.

I urge all cooperative members to join me in supporting Phil Hamm for reelection. Together, we can continue to build a stronger, more resilient cooperative for generations to come.

Dave Drotzmann

Hermiston mayor

Hemiston

For more than 47 years I have practiced law in Hermiston, where Dr. David Drotzmann has been mayor for almost 12 years. Dave is wicked smart, financially astute, and has that wonderful gift of respectfully listening to constituents and fellow councilors, and working with them to do the right thing.

His leadership is one of the best I have seen politically. I know. I served with him on the Hermiston City Council and have known him for over 20 years.

Mayor Dave has also been instrumental in many civic projects — almost all with fundraised money and no bonded debt: building a state-of-the-art high school sports complex; moving the Umatilla County Fair out of the middle of town; and building an $8 million city hall.

Mayor Dave is an uncommon leader. He has accomplished great things for Hermiston. He would do the same for everyone and every public entity in our senatorial district

George Anderson

Hermiston

Maybe, someday, what is now the Russian Federation will no longer exist and the citizens of that “nation” will no longer be oppressed.

These people have been oppressed for the last several hundred years. The Mongols and then the Muscovites have lorded over them from the earliest days. Well, Putin is another dictator in a long line of rulers who have robbed the futures of their subjects.

The foreseeable future of Russia is pretty bleak. Putin is doing his best to destroy a minimum of two nations and probably more, if he is not stopped. I suggest it is high time to put a stop to his BS.

How many deaths are required before the west steps up to the plate and stops this war?

Bill Laffen

Umatilla