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Submitted By: dmccalltillamook@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

When my ballot arrived, I remembered a piece from a few days ago warning of “a “fake” campaign funded by outside progressive money.” With a few minutes to spare, I took the author’s advice and researched the PAC’s campaign finances on Orestar.
Orestar is the state’s campaign finance transparency system, individually identifying each contributor giving over $100 to a campaign. As I’ve heard former Senator Betsy Johnson state many times, it works well because the legislature commissioned it. 

Right there, laid out in black and white, was the cold proof of who was financing this group. Dozens of people had donated less than $100 each, and only a handful over that. I recognized all but one of the names — people who live in Netarts, Tillamook, Bay City, Nehalem, Manzanita, etc. All locals. The largest contribution was $1000. I didn’t see any red flags here. 

Since I had a few more minutes to invest in this rabbit hole, I decided to check out some local races, since as Tip O’Neill told us, “All politics is local.” So on to the commissioner race! Not surprisingly, the average contribution was a bit higher, but once again, I recognized most of the names who were listed as contributors to Mary Faith Bell’s campaign as locals. Her opponent had not reported any contributions or expenses at all. 

So on to the state house race! New locals running for this open seat. The first thing I noticed when I pulled up Logan Laity’s info is a line highlighted in red. When Orestar was created, they must have wanted to make it easier for us to identify the red flags of out-of-state influences on our politicians. Well, it looks like Logan received $150 from someone in Montana — maybe an old friend or relative? Other than that, pretty boring looking at his list. 
Cyrus Javadi has managed to draw in about six times as much money. Although he has quite a few red lines, they appear to be from family members or fellow dentistry professionals. So where’s the money coming from? Quite a few political action committees have made significant contributions, with one giving as much as A Just Right has raised in aggregate so far! 
The third contestant in this race has not yet raised or expended any money. 

The state senate, not surprisingly, is a different story. Heading into an uncontested primary, the Democrat has raised about as much as the Republican. The number of “red lines” is about the same, though Melissa Busch’s appear to be from individuals in Kansas, whereas Suzanne Weber’s appear to be primarily from large corporations. I chuckled when I saw that Anheuser Busch Companies have given $3,500 to Weber’s campaign, rather than to their namesake. 

I’ll keep this in mind as I fill in my ballot. 

Submitted By: diannerbloom@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Fellow Community members, Help! Our county is in desperate shape. We do not have enough nurses and healthcare providers to take care of us. Nurses and health care providers are trained to assess, diagnosis, treat and evaluate (all nursing functions) folks with all types of conditions. If we expect to remain healthy and well or to attain a certain level of functioning as we age, we need good nursing care provided by a number of different types of health care practitioners. Voting yes on TBCC Measure 29-165 will enable our community to educate our nurses and health care providers. A local program will allow students to stay locally, both while in school and after graduation, along with making an adequate salary. We have had our local assisted living centers close because we don’t have health care providers. The Nehalem Bay Health District is doing all they can to make sure the Nehalem Valley Care Center (the only skilled nursing care center in Tillamook Co) stays open and is adequately staffed. We all have to work on this issue. Help your community, vote yes for the Community College Bond and TBCC’s efforts to deal with our critical nursing and heath care provider shortage. Thank you

Dianne R Bloom BSN, MSN, CNM
Nehalem Bay Medical Reserve Corp

Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

I was disappointed to find that the Measures on the Tillamook County ballot were not included in the voter’s pamphlet. A helpful employee at the County Clerk’s office told me they are available on the Clerk’s website. www.co.tillamook.or.us/clerk/elections/2022-may-primary-election

Here is some information about each of the measures and how I am voting.

Measure 29-161
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-161tillco2ndamendnoticeofballottitlecircled.pdf

Question: Should Tillamook County officials be prevented from enforcing most state, federal and local firearm regulations?

Paragraph 1 of Summary: This ordinance would prevent Tillamook County and its employees from devoting resources or participating in any way in the enforcement of any law or regulation that affected an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, firearm accessories or ammunition.

I urge you to join me in voting NO on 29-161. This measure is unnecessary, confusing, potentially dangerous and probably unconstitutional. I don’t believe that Second Amendment rights are under attack.

I also urge you to join me in voting YES on all three of the following measures.

A new healthcare education building at TBCC would be a great boon to our county. Currently healthcare positions are not being filled and/or cost the healthcare organization much more to hire temporary employees at higher rates. Many of these positions are not being filled because of lack of housing. This is a creative solution to the housing crisis by filling healthcare positions with local, trained residents who already live here.

The library is a vital resource that we cannot do without.

Many veterans endured trauma on our behalf and deserve our support.

If your home is ASSESSED at $200,000, these three measures would cost you $182 a year or a little over $15 a month at the published rates. For me that is equivalent to 3 lattes or 3 Wanda’s scones a month. I am definitely willing to forgo these treats to be able to pay my share for a library, a healthcare education building and support our veterans who sacrificed on my behalf.

Measure 29-165
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-165tbcc_bondmeasure5172022.pdf

Question: Shall Tillamook Bay Community College issue $14,400,000 principal amount of general obligation bonds to construct a Healthcare Education Building?

Summary:
If approved, this measure would finance the construction, equipping and furnishing of a new healthcare education building on existing TBCC land. The Oregon legislature has approved an $8,000,000 grant if the District can provide matching funds.

A new building provides the capacity to add a nursing program, additional healthcare occupations training programs, expand and add new degrees and certificates to meet the community’s growing workforce training needs. It will include state-of-the-art simulation labs, high-tech classrooms, office space and a large community event center that the college, local businesses and community organizations can utilize.

TBCC is the only community college in Oregon that does not have its own nursing program. TBCC students have to enroll in other colleges for this training and certification.

Bonds would mature in 20 years or less from the date of issuance and may be issued in one or more series. If approved the total bond tax rate is estimated to be $0.19 per $1000 of assessed value. Actual rates may vary based upon interest rates incurred and changes in assessed value.

Measure 29-164
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-164renewaltillcolibrarylevy5172022.pdf

Question: Shall Tillamook County continue countywide library operations by levying $0.65 per $1000 of assessed value for five years, beginning in 2022? This measure renews current local option taxes.

Measure 29-163
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-163tillvetlevy5172022.pdf

Question: Shall Tillamook County levy a five-year tax of $.07 per $1000 assessed value for County Veteran’s Office beginning 7-1-2022? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.

There is also a Bay City levy for fire protection that I am not able to vote on since I am not a resident of Bay City. www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-162cityofbaycityfire5172022.pdf