Editorial
It's up to voters
to stay involved
If citizens want a change for the better, they need to become more
involved in their city government Just as they did when they rejected the city's 301-acre
annexation request by a 2-to-1 margin in September, Canby voters have made themselves
clear.
Simply put, they agreed with the campaign slogan repeated by challengers Terry Prince,
Patrick Johnson and Teresa Blackwell. In the minds of citizens, it was "time for a
change."
About 4,650 of Canby's 6,853 registered voters cast ballots in the Nov. 7 mail-in
election, and citizens opted to oust longtime Mayor Scott Taylor after four terms, along
with incumbent Councilors Roger Harris and Barry Lucas.
The new council, to be seated in mid-January, will face many of the same issues the
current council has grappled with, and many decisions will have to do with growth. Few
will likely be easy.
Across the Willamette River in West Linn, voters also chose to endorse an anti-incumbency
coalition, electing a new mayor and sending challengers to the City Council.
The pace and nature of residential growth appears to have been a big election issue in
West Linn, whereas the pace and nature of industrial growth appears to have been a big
election issue in Canby. Both coalitions pledged to stop the potential for the
"Beavertonization" of their communities, and ran campaigns pledging to listen to
citizens' concerns.
Doubtless, the defeated incumbents will feel their decisions on growth and other issues
were made after lengthy processes aimed at attracting citizen input and involvement. In
Canby, councilors have lamented the fact that people often fail to participate during the
decision-making stages, instead raising questions or opposition after a policy has been
determined.
To keep its election flier promise - "It is time for local government to stop rolling
over citizen input, and start listening to it" - the new mayor and two new councilors
will need to find a way to truly engage residents on the important civic issues of the
day.
We wish Prince, Blackwell, Johnson and re-elected Councilor Randy Carson good luck with
the considerable work ahead, which will include assessing the impact of voter-approved
ballot measures, the ongoing Periodic Review process, anticipated belt-tightening in the
2001 Legislature, and how to utilize the $51 million, 20-year Urban Renewal District.
And we thank Taylor, Harris and Lucas for the countless hours they have devoted to the
city's business and community projects during the many years they have served their city.
We know they will continue to work for the betterment of Canby for the next two months
and, after their terms end, we hope they will remain involved with the many worthy local
groups and causes they are committed to. We applaud Paul Dawson, too, for his council
candidacy, and trust he will donate his time and talents to local projects and panels in
the future. The year 2001 will see Canby embarking on a new odyssey in city government, an
uncertain journey that will require principled leadership from elected officials and
greater involvement from citizens.
If the council is to listen to the more than 12,500 people who live in Canby, then people
who only participate in occasional elections will need to make themselves heard earlier,
more clearly and more often on issues of pressing local concern.
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Letters
to the editor
Canby Depot Museum
appreciates support
The Canby Historical Society and Depot Museum would like to take this opportunity
to thank sponsors and crafts people for their participation in this year's open house.
Big thanks to financial sponsors for allowing us to provide free carriage rides for
visitors. Thanks go to Hot Off the Press, Postal Annex, Three Rivers Farm, Teresa
Blackwell for City Council and Special T Carriage Co.
Bouquets of appreciation to our craft demonstrators for the day, who included Freda
Bergman, Jim Gibson, Kathleen Heynderickx, Jessie Turner, Teresa and Charles Blackwell and
Terry Garrison. They truly brought the past alive for our many enthusiastic and curious
visitors.
Thanks, too, to our network of member volunteers who baked classic treats, decorated,
advertised, provided vintage music, photographed and cleaned up.
And thank you to those visitors who spent your afternoon here at the Canby Depot Museum.
Peggy Sigler
Depot Museum director
Canby
Dorothy Hale's kindness
will not be forgotten
A friend, a counselor, an angel of mercy is what I would call her. Dorothy Hale was her
name.
For all I know, she had done so many good deeds for so many people, gone out of her way to
do so. She used to go to Oregon City to help an elderly lady do her grocery shopping and
put out her garbage every week. For six months she helped a family deliver cut flowers in
Portland, leaving her store (Canby Hardware) for half a day and would not take a penny for
her time and effort.
She would sit for an adult foster home once in a while for nothing. She drove a friend to
Seattle in real bad weather to get a passport, again leaving her store to her late husband
for the whole day and would not take any compensation for it. The most she would accept
for her time and effort helping this friend and family was a cup of coffee.
The moral support she had given this friend and family is unforgettable. I believe Dorothy
Hale is now with our Heavenly Father and may she rest in peace.
Beth J. Sheller
Canby
Letter 'misrepresented'
position, Harris says
At this point no one cares but me, but I need to respond to a letter to the
editor which was published in the Nov. 1 edition of the Herald.
My stand on an issue was misrepresented in that letter and, for my peace of mind, I want
to again be very clear.
As a City Council member I voted in favor of establishing Canby's Urban Renewal District
and in favor of the council sponsoring the industrial area annexation. At the time of
these votes I stated very clearly that my continued support for each would be contingent
upon our reaching an agreement with the Canby Fire District.
As the legal research and the negotiations progressed, it became apparent there were
difficulties I had not anticipated in reaching such an agreement.
Therefore, prior to the public vote, I wrote a Point of View statement in the Herald in
which I reiterated my position that unless an agreement was reached with the fire
district, I would oppose the annexation.
Bernie Levy then wrote a Point of View article in which, although critical of me
personally, Mr. Levy agreed with me and even paid the compliment of quoting my position
statement. I felt it unnecessary to state that position in the paper a third time, but I
certainly was very clear in my public and private conversations.
There still is no agreement with the fire district and, as I have stated repeatedly, I
believe such an agreement is essential. I appreciated the straightforward debate during
the campaign, but please, I am capable of stirring enough controversy on my own without
being openly misrepresented in letters to the editor.
Roger Harris
Canby City Council member
New councilor thanks
citizens for their vote
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me during
my recent campaign for Canby City Council. One week after the election, I am already
preparing myself for taking office in January.
I have received many phone calls and met with many people to talk about their ideas.
Councilor-elect Teresa Blackwell, Mayor-elect Terry Prince and I are hard at work on our
first 100-day plan that we are going to be sharing with the community soon.
On a personal note, people have been telling me they have never seen a city council race
like the one we just went through. I would have to agree. I am pleased that the majority
of people who voiced their opinion stayed on the issues.
I would like to thank Barry Lucas, Randy Carson, Paul Dawson and Scott Taylor for sticking
to the issues. Win, lose or even draw, when candidates stick to the issues, the voters
come out the real winners.
I intend to take on the issues of our city like I did our campaign - giving it everything
I have. My singular goal is to ensure that we make this community a better place to live,
work and play. For those who did not support me, I will do everything in my power to earn
your respect and trust.
I would urge any citizen who has concerns, comments or ideas to contact me directly. I can
be reached at (503)860-1455, or drop me an email at pat@canby.com. I look forward to
working with you.
Patrick Johnson
Canby
Dr. DeOna Bridgeman
came to the rescue
We would like to take a moment to commend a new doctor in town. Dr. DeOna
Bridgeman, at the Davies Clinic, was instrumental in the early detection of our 4-year-old
daughter's leukemia.
Our daughter is now being treated at Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital.
The doctors there were all impressed at Dr. Bridgeman's keen sense and good judgment,
which has enabled us to have an early diagnosis and therefore a good prognosis. Thank you,
Dr. Bridgeman!
The Marshall family
Canby
Please slow down
for school children
To all drivers out there who might not know this - a 20 mph school zone means 20
mph anytime of day or night.
"When children are present," means when children are using school facilities,
whether you see the children outside or not. That means all day on school days, not just
before or after regular school hours and any time on weekends or evenings when children
are using the school or school grounds.
It's too bad the police can't be at every school every day, rather than alternating
between schools. The city would make a mint off speeding tickets.
My child goes to Ackerman School. I drive him to school in the morning and pick him up in
the afternoon. Sometimes I drive down South Ivy during the middle of the day. I am
appalled by the number of people who disregard the 20 mph speed zone - including TriMet
buses, school buses (you'd think they would know better), fire trucks (not on emergency
calls), and Canby police cars (this is not a joke, Jerry).
So, to all of you idiots who ride my ass in the school zone, flipping me off and cursing,
back off and slow down.
N. Barrows
Canby |
