Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Dwyer earns respect

The Register-Guard's attack on Lane County Commissioner Bill Dwyer (editorial, April 24) was as nasty a piece of yellow journalism as you'll find this side of The National Enquirer. And just as credible.

Casting him in the role of bully, the editorial pegs Dwyer as a disruptive presence on the county board. To the contrary, Dwyer is a popular, fair, everything-above-board representative of a broad spectrum of county citizens, and his accessible and refreshing populist style has gained the respect of his fellow commissioners. Commissioner Bobby Green, for example, recently sent Dwyer a note praising him for doing a great job and keeping county business on track.

Sniping behind an editorial screen, the editors tout the "Team Springfield" approach of their preferred candidate. In other words, by praising the sort of "low key, unabrasive style" favored by slick promoters of wholesale development, the newspaper wants to sucker you into a back alley shell-game that promises an avenue of prosperity while hiding the true costs in an economic dead-end.

Because Dwyer is not a member, he constitutes a threat to sleight-of-hand "teams" that continue to bankrupt Lane County - teams that take your money and run. Put your future in the hands of a man you can trust. Vote Bill Dwyer for Lane County commissioner.

ROBERT EMMONS Fall Creek 

Rubber-stamp politics

Recently, various opinions have been put forth regarding steps appointed officials are following in deliberating on proposed amendments for the West Eugene Parkway. Significant plan amendments are needed to comply with the Federal Highway Administration requirement for full project funding. the highway administration issues the ultimate decision on whether the parkway gets built, so the city must comply with its rules.

Several opinions have sounded like threats. For example, a west Eugene landowner hired a Portland lawyer to assert, in writing: "... we ask the city of Eugene to consider the legal ramifications if the city abruptly stops the project." Later, Mayor Jim Torrey lashed out at the Eugene Planning Commission, and refused to meet with the commission's chair. Evidently, he feels his authority has been undermined.

These assertions of authority on how appointed officials should vote are out of line. Yet, there is irony in the attacks. Of the four deliberating commissions, the Eugene Planning Commission stands alone in that commission members actually read and made sure they understood the complex amendments and their impacts before voting. Their deliberations took six hours. In contrast, most of the other officials voted after spending less than one hour deliberating, even though it was clear that doing so represented rubber-stamp politics.

I don't know about you, but I expect elected and appointed officials to read and understand the materials before they make recommendations. Threats and political pressure are no substitute for informed and well-prepared decision makers.

JOSEPH VACCHER Eugene

Burch has energy

Wow! I would call the Register Guard's April 25 endorsement of West Lane Commissioner Anna Morrison damning with faint praise.

It would seem that being "out of touch with a substantial number of her constituents who place a high priority on issues ranging from salmon recovery to protecting rural farmlands from development" is a very telling and damning comment.

As to her lapse in judgment, I would take issue with the term "lapse in judgment." I would think her meeting with Eugene Sand & Gravel President Michael Alltucker is a definitive example of the arrogance of power that many of us have witnessed while watching Morrison in action.

And, yes, no one can fault Morrison's energy. However, misdirected (as it often is) energy should not be rewarded. West Lane candidate Dianne Burch also has energy, and her energy is channeled in a constructive manner.

Burch has the capacity to listen and to evaluate. She would be an asset on the board, able to bring other commissioners together to reach decisions through a reasoned and less rancorous process. She has the background. She has the drive.

MONA LINSTROMBERG Veneta

Castillo seeks solutions

The recent attacks by state superintendent of public instruction candidate Rob Kremer on rival Susan Castillo are a bit much to take. The latest tactic is to attack Castillo as someone unpatriotic. Kremer's message to voters is, "Support Bush in the war on terror by voting against Susan Castillo." How does such rhetoric help rebuild our public school system and ensure that our children receive the best education possible?

Castillo is an advocate for building stronger working relationships among the superintendent's office, the governor, the Legislature and local school districts. She supports designing a system that is secure and stable with adequate funding. The education of our children is far too important to not examine this issue fully and honestly. School closures in the Eugene School District have been difficult to deal with, and I'm sure the situation is only going to get worse.

Castillo's approach is to find real solutions by reaching out to people in this state - solutions that will allow our children to continue to receive a quality education and our schools to remain a valuable resource to all of us in our communities.

As a parent who relocated to Oregon to find better educational opportunities for my children, I support the candidate for superintendent of public instruction with vision and conviction. I support Susan Castillo.

KAT L'ESTRANGE Eugene

Protect Pell grants

I was appalled to see an article (Register-Guard, April 28) reporting that the Bush administration is developing a proposal that would raid the federal student Pell grants that are intended to ensure that low-income students can get continuing educations.

I am disabled and pretty much confined to a wheelchair, and have been preparing to go back to school this fall. I am middle-aged and am tired of having to live off of the government when I prefer to continue my education and get a real job and pay my share of taxes, as do most Americans. Now, I see that plan evaporating if the administration's proposal is approved by Congress. I implore all Americans - Republicans, Democrats and others - to contact their representatives in Congress and please ask them to vote a resounding no on this proposal.

Already, the state of Oregon wants to raid school funding to make up its budget deficit, and now the feds want to do the same thing. If I remember right, one of Bush's campaign promises was that he would ensure the right to an education for all Americans. Now, Bush wants to go back on his word. Go figure.

DENNIS HAGANS Eugene

Terrorist label misused

Why are we in such a desperate search for our own local "terrorists"? First, Mailbag contributors declare SUV drivers to be terrorists; now it is activists who protest by sitting in trees.

Using this word in such a cavalier manner seems to trivialize what victims of the New York City attacks and people living in the Middle East have endured. I believe terror is better described by not knowing if your loved ones survived or whether you yourself will live, rather than by being crowded on the road by SUVs or being unable to work because of a tree-sitting protest.

Prior to Sept. 11, I think we would have used different terms for people who cut us off on the road or live in trees. Possibly "jerk" or "lunatic" are more appropriate choices than terrorist.

A.J. CAMPANELLI Eugene

'Womanhood Monologues'

I admit that I've gotten some amusement watching the storm of controversy surrounding "The Vagina Monologues." Yes, I did a double-take when I first saw the ads - who wouldn't? But I didn't wig out over it. Personally, I thought the little ditty in Karen McCowan's April 15 column - "Virginia - 'vagina' !? I'm having angina!" was pretty darn funny. The best laugh I'd had in weeks.

I have to wonder what, if any, euphemism would suit some of these disgruntled folks? "Female organ"? Nope, that sounds like something you'd hear played in church. "Female part"? Naw, that sounds like an electrician's terminology. Oh, oh! I know! How about "womanhood"? There's a nice, discreet, old-fashioned phrase, poetic yet properly respectful. No one could possibly be offended by that, could they? Or would they?

DESIREE VALENZUELA Springfield

Wells has common sense

The April 20 editorial in which The Register-Guard endorsed Kevin Wells' opponent, George Poling, for the Ward 4 Eugene City Council seat was a joke, right? I mean, go back and re-read it! It was an absurd mix of laughable and illogical reasoning.

For example, Wells has some impressive civic involvements, and his opponent has none. Well, said the editors, that's because the opponent had been working graveyard shifts for the sheriff's office. But working graveyard would mean that the guy had his days and/or evenings free, which is when most civic involvement occurs.

The other guy is retired and has more time to serve than Wells, who's starting a business, the editorial stated. Amend the charter so only retirees can serve? No working people need apply?

"No one has keener insights into social problems than those who are called upon to deal with them" in police work, said the editorial. No one? Hmm. Hold that amendment? Make it only retired cops who can serve?

I don't know Poling, who may be a swell fellow. I do know Wells, having worked alongside him at the state Legislature and admired his lengthy volunteer work on the city charter review committee and in his Harlow neighborhood association.

I know he's smart, mature and loaded with common sense, contrary to what the editors wrote. I know he cares about people (supporting the living wage ordinance, for example) and progressive government (even though he's a bit too middle-of-the-road for my radical preference).

And I know that Kevin Wells deserves better than victimization by an illogical editorial. Ward 4 voters should laugh and elect him to the Eugene City Council.

DON BISHOFF Eugene

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