I am pleased to hear that Sally Brandsen has decided to become a candidate for the Pendleton City Council, Ward 2.

I have known and watched Sally grow up in this community and was excited when she decided to return — particularly knowing that her training and experience could enable her to pursue her career in much larger markets. Instead, she placed family and her hometown in front of other considerations and Pendleton came out the winner.

One only needs to visit with Sally about her current business venture to get a feel for the passion she has for our community. There is no doubt in my mind that her love for Pendleton, her education, her innate skills, and her work ethic will all be of benefit to the city council. And you can add to that a magnificent personality.

One of the great challenges we have in public service is the need to engage new generations so that we conduct our business with a balance of perspectives. Pendleton is already on its way to having one of Oregon’s exceptional city councils. Sally would definitely add to that equation.

George Murdock

Umatilla County Commissioner

Pendleton

The East Oregonian will not run candidate endorsement letters of more than 400 words.

The East Oregonian will institute a deadline for letters to the editor, so we can be fair with all the letters we receive and allow for responses before Election Day, if necessary.

We run the letters on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please submit your endorsement letters to the editor by noon Wednesday, April 22. You can email them to editor@eastoregonian.com, or mail them to East Oregonian, c/o Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton, 97801.

We will publish our last letters on Saturday, April 25. Any letters received after the deadline will not run. Election Day is May 19.