Thank you for a very good article on the Hermiston mayoral race.

As Nancy Peterson is my wife, I am biased. I can tell you, however, that both candidates are passionate about their town. They love to serve, and either Nancy or Jackie Linton would be a good choice.

Best wishes to Hermiston. Under the leadership of Nancy, Jackie or whatever other quality candidate who may enter the race, our town is likely to have a sweet future.

Erick Peterson

Hermiston

The following is from Jonathan Karl’s book “Tired of Winning,” where he quotes an anonymous staff person in the Trump’s administration. Karl also served in the White House during Trump’s term of office, and I quote:

“He (Trump) lacks any shred of human decency, humility or caring. He is morally bankrupt, breathtakingly dishonest, lethally incompetent and stunningly ignorant of virtually anything related to governing, history, geography, human events or world affairs. He is a traitor and a malignancy in the nation and represents a clear and present danger to our democracy and the rule of law.”

Trump has brainwashed millions of people to blindly follow him to establish an authoritarian dictatorship in our precious country. The mere fact that he has said he will persecute adversaries and destroy our Constitution, if elected, should alarm everyone and be reason enough to disqualify him. These actions alone would prevent him from taking the oath of office and swearing before God that he will protect and defend. One who intentionally flaunts our laws must never be allowed to hold office.

Al Van Cleave

Walla Walla

You would think the recent research conducted by New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and published in JAMA Psychiatry (Sept. 27) should cool the disturbing rhetoric about how Measure 110 is causing more problems than it solved.

The research identified 13 states with fatal drug overdose rates that were similar to Oregon for the three years prior to Measure 110 passing. They found the rate did not go up more in Oregon after the enactment of Measure 110 any more than these other 13 states. The study also found that Measure 110 reduced the number of arrests for drug possession but didn’t lead to increased violent crime. That’s a good thing because arrest and/or incarceration increases the likelihood of drug overdose.

Knocking arrestees out of the job market is another effect of punitive, rather than health-oriented drug policies. It would be wise for those who are urging the repeal of Measure 110 to look into NYU’s research before spreading unwarranted fear about Oregon’s step toward a different approach to this significant public health problem.

Claudia K. Little

Ashland

Oregon House Republicans: How dare you interfere with teachers’ right to strike? Do you see the irony in you proposing legislation banning teachers from striking on school days? Members of your own party did exactly that by avoiding the last legislative session.

How dare you! Get your own house in order first.

And if indeed you are successful in getting this bill passed, teachers should just challenge your bill in court as the absent Republicans are doing now (which is pathetic by the way).

Instead, why not work at a bill that adequately funds schools? We are understaffed, overcrowded and underpaid. Has anyone considered redirecting the kicker to fund schools? Also, what happened to all of the marijuana money that was to be used for schools?

Come on, get with it and solve some real problems before creating useless legislation.

Marc Saccoman

Bend