Gustafson was punished
for offending the wrong people

I have worked in the criminal justice system in Clackamas County for nearly 17 years, through the administrations of three district attorneys. I work with and among attorneys, both prosecutors and defense attorneys, daily.

I know, perhaps more than I would like to, about how the legal system works.

I have known Terry Gustafson throughout my career. She prosecuted many of the cases I investigated. When I had a case that required more time and effort or expertise to prosecute, I sought her out. She was hard working and aggressive in enforcing the law, but her overriding concern was always to do the right thing for victims and defendants alike. That is how the system is supposed to work. That is how she expected it to work for her.

In her zeal to do the right thing in one particular case, Terry offended some very high-profile Portland attorneys and a local judge.

If you are familiar with many professional organizations, you know there is always a pecking order, so to speak. In the bar, prosecutors do not offend those higher in the order than themselves, and that is really what her bar complaints and prosecutions are all about.

In an editorial in the Herald, "Vote for John Foote," it was stated that Terry has offered no proof of a conspiracy against her. I don't know about conspiracies.

They are hard to prove, but it doesn't take a legal genius to see that Terry Gustafson took on the wrong people, and they want her put in her place. If she is allowed to successfully take on the bar, others will, and we can't have that, now can we?

I have no doubt it would have all been over if she had apologized profusely and curtsied sweetly in the very beginning.

But Terry thought she was right and chose to fight. Consider this: Before Terry Gustafson, when was the last time the Supreme Court suspended a lawyer who was acquitted by the bar's disciplinary panel?

The answer is never. Terry Gustafson was then tried twice more for the same charges in criminal court, and both times acquitted. What happened to double jeopardy and due process?

Not satisfied with those results, the bar convened another disciplinary panel to examine the same complaints and finally got what they wanted.

Will the Supreme Court order her disbarred? Like I said, I don't know about conspiracy, but whatever it is, it obviously goes all the way to the top.

The Canby Herald's editorial did an excellent job of covering her accomplishments as district attorney, which are many, and her plans for the office.

She can and will accomplish those things with or without a law office. If you respect hard work and total, unwavering dedication to what is right, join me and vote for Terry.
Larry Beckwith
Canby

Kurt Schrader deserves
to be elected again

Kurt Schrader should be re-elected on the basis of his integrity, bipartisan work and leadership skills.

If these reasons are not enough, consider his voting record on education issues. Many legislators claim to be supporters of education, when in fact their voting records and actions prove otherwise.

Not true of Kurt Schrader. He is not only responsive and accessible to his constituents, but to those in the region and the entire state.

As a parent of children in the Oregon City School District, I have seen him get involved in local and state education issues, including fighting the Riverdale school's attempts to build in our district, creating parity among Oregon school districts and supporting and voting for measures to improve the quality of education in Oregon.

He is always willing to discuss problems brought to him by his constituents and others. What more can you ask for in a representative? Kurt Schrader has proven he is the one for the job.
Debi Poppe
Oregon City

The PTA at Knight school
is exceptional

The classified staff at Knight Elementary School would like to take this opportunity to thank our exceptional PTA.

During Classified Employee Week, each day our PTA presented us with a new surprise. One day it was a clear plastic glove filled with popcorn saying, "We appreciate your helping hand." Another day, a plastic carrot filled with orange candy symbolizing hearts of 14-carat gold.

Warm breads, muffins, fruit and other snacks were available each day in our staff room, and gift baskets, warm pies and gift certificates were distributed each day by drawings.

We just can't thank these ladies enough for all that they do for our school. They do all the work on our fund-raisers, help clean and organize our work spaces, run our school store, stamp new textbooks and do anything they can to help make Knight school a better place.

From all of us at Knight school, a special thank you to Deanna Schue, Susan Walkowski, Donita Hansen, Mindy Johnson and all of our PTA members. We truly appreciate all that you do.
Knight School Classified Staff
Canby

Our children deserve
a quality education

During the day, when I am working with children, I do not think about the effects of measures 8, 88, 91, 93 and 95. However, when the day is over and the little voices are out the door, my thoughts return to how the possibility of these measures passing would affect the education of children.

Teaching is my mission. It is my vocation, my service to society. I did not get into teaching for the money. Teachers will never get paid what they deserve and most of us knew that going into the profession.

Actually, I am paying to teach children; large monthly payments for student loans. I work between 60 and 70 hours a week. I don't have a house. I work during the summer. I teach because I love it! This is true for most teachers.

This letter is not about protecting my job. With the teaching education I received in Oregon, and the success I've experienced in the classroom, I can teach in any state.

This letter is about protecting children's' rights to a quality education. If school budgets are cut (for the purpose of a privileged few), children who attend public schools in Oregon will not receive the enriched educations they deserve. B

asic teacher pay on student performance is unrealistic for teachers and discriminatory toward students.

Teachers cannot control how quickly a child progresses. Children have their own developmental time clocks, and some children have special needs that won't be met by a system that emphasizes progress based on tests.

In addition, the authors of this measure have left the specific details as to how teachers will be paid up to teachers.

Besides the extreme financial cost of setting up and implementing this measure (an estimate of $22 million annually), no teacher would want anything to do with trying to set up such an unjust system of checks and balances: given the myriad variables and complexities of public education and student achievement.

In the meantime, many talented teachers might have to leave the profession out of frustration and/or disillusionment.

I would like to leave you all with a final thought. How many of these measures will take the same path Measure 8 took a few years ago?

Measure 8 was supposed to save taxpayers millions of dollars. Instead, the measure was challenged in court and found to be unconstitutional and at a cost of millions to taxpayers.

If you are really interested in 'putting children first', join me in voting "No" on measures 8, 88, 91, 93 and 95. A vital system must have strategies that will respond to both current and future needs of ALL concerned. It's not a 'one Size-more fits all.'

Oh, yes! Please vote "Yes" on Measure 1. It requires the Legislature to adequately fund the goals it sets for schools or explain why they won't.
Mona M. Nicholson
Teacher, Canby School District

We must support
community college

The Canby area business community is facing a growing problem in recruiting and retaining trained employees, especially those that live in the local area. DirectLink has many employees that have received training and education at Clackamas Community College. CCC is a terrific resource for business, technical, horticultural and other career training that leads to growth opportunities for employees and small business owners.

CCC's bond request, Measure 3-97, is a modest proposal that will provide new and upgraded lab, shop and technology, training facilities. Passage of the bond measure will provide the facilities that will assist your business to grow and offer you and your neighbors the opportunity for training and skill development.

Measure 3-97 is a good investment for Canby and Clackamas County. Please cast your vote for your local community college.
Richard Ares
President, DirectLink of Oregon/CTA
West Linn resident

CCC bond measure
is a good investment

The election day is fast approaching, and by now we have all received our mail-in ballots. As you have seen, there are a great number of decisions to be made this time around.

I am most concerned about raising support for your local community college whose issues are covered under measure 3-97. Clackamas Community College serves over 1,600 students from the Canby community and nearly 1,300 from Molalla and Colton.

The college not only offers a quality education at an affordable price, but is proud to serve anyone who is in search of bettering their lives and their life skills through education.

In 1990, we had your support on the building bond that provided for several new facilities that were desperately needed. At that time, we made a promise not to ask for another building bond for 10 years - and we kept that promise even through a period of intense and unexpected growth.

Now we have all received our property tax bills and see increases due to bonds voted in that support our K-12 schools. I understand this dilemma for taxpayers, but we must remember that our local community is growing at an astronomical rate, and we all must share the responsibility for providing quality continuing education for our children, friends and neighbors.

We as a board fulfilled our promise, now we ask that you support our future. I have represented Canby and Molalla on the Clackamas Community College Board for the past 24 years, and will continue to represent your interests as long as I am a member of that board. Please join me in voting Yes on Measure 3-97.
Larry Wright
CCC board member
Canby

City leaders are out
of touch with citizens

Excuse me for writing, but my frustrations have gotten the better of me. I feel that the letters to the editor should be for the citizens to express their opinions and not for those actually running for office to sing praises of their fellow constituents.

The Canby Herald gave them precious political space in the Oct. 18th issue and I nearly came "unglued" when I read Roger Harris' City Council member letter applauding his fellow council members and discrediting others running for the same positions. To me, the issue of trust isn't there anymore.

Mr. Harris doesn't believe we are capable of making up our own minds and needs to re-enforce "his" point of view. Way back when the annexation issue came up, he was quoted as saying that he wasn't going to vote for annexation if the city couldn't make the fire district whole, but when the vote came, he voted with the simple majority, without discussion.

He and some of the other council members do not seem to realize that we not only love our town, but we read the Canby Herald and follow the articles closely. We also find that you easily discredit yourself by your actions that are part of the public record.

After the article printed Oct. 25, there was no doubt left in my mind that Mr. Harris and apparently those he mentioned in his article just don't seem to understand what the ordinary people and voters in Canby want, so I for one, voted for those, whom I felt, would really turn out to be the "the servants of the public": Terry Prince for mayor, Teresa Blackwell, Paul Dawson, and Pat Johnson for council. I believe, after reading what has been written, "It is time for a change," and I hope you feel and vote that way, too.
Donna Jean McManamon
Canby