A WORD WITH THE SENATOR

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., addresses citizens during his annual town hall meeting in Enterprise. The senator holds a town hall in every county in Oregon each year. To date he has held 375 town halls throughout the state. (Story and photos by Gary Fletcher).

ENTERPRISE — Three dozen people turned out Tuesday for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden's annual Wallowa County town hall meeting at the senior

center here.

Social Security, health care and energy policies dominated the discussion. Other issues discussed included the replacement of retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and the high court's recent decision to allow condemnation of private property for private development.

Wyden, D-Ore., pledged when he was elected to his first term that he would hold a town hall in every county in Oregon once a year.

The Observer asked some of the people in attendance Tuesday why they came to the town hall and if they thought it did any good.

Here are their responses:

Jean Wiggins

Wallowa Lake:

"I go specifically because I like Ron Wyden. I think he's done an excellent job for Oregon.

"I've known him from when he was first with legal aid services. He was the instructor of a legal aid workshop I was taking at the Menucha Conference and Retreat Center, along the Columbia River when I was first at Community Connections.

"I like him, even if he's a Democrat and I'm a Republican. He's always willing to talk and listen. He thinks over what the people of Oregon want, not just his personal opinion. Gordon Smith is like that too.

"I think that's where the Supreme Court went wrong in their recent decision about private property rights; they incorporated their personal

opinion."

Diane Snyder

Joseph:

"I go because I think it's important to do so. One way for congressmen to stay grounded with the issues that are important to the community is to hear from community members.

"It's much better than going to D.C. Wyden brings his staff with him, and notes are taken as a way to know what issues communities may have in

common.

"People's voice can make a difference, and these meetings are a way to have a conversation with your

congressman."

Ralph Swinehart

Enterprise:

"I've always appreciated his pledge to come to all the counties (each year). I've been to a number of his town hall meetings.

"I always learn something, and it's interesting to get his take on things.

"The primary reason that I go is that our elected officials need to hear from us.''

Jerry Perren

Enterprise:

"Though Ron has his mind made up in some instances, he still listens.

"The worse thing that could happen is that (your opinion) wouldn't make any difference.

"What I said probably did not change his mind, but maybe he'll think about it.''

Perren doesn't agree with Wyden on whether to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for exploration.

"I flew over it 100 times in Air Force weather reconnaissance missions. It's the most desolate, God-forsaken area of barren gravel bars and an expanse of treeless tundra. The pictures of the pretty areas that the enviros hype on TV is 30 to 100 miles south of ANWR, and it's already in wilderness.

"It's a national security issue. We should at least go see what oil is there. If we wait until we need it, there might not be as much as we estimated, and it might be too late."

Regarding the town hall meetings, Perren said, "It's also good to go get a report from Washington, D.C. Unfortunately a lot of people are turned off by politics."

Steve Kliewer

Joseph

"I go to be an advocate for children, the elderly, the mentally ill and those caught up in the culture of poverty.

"I think that helping these people to move out of that situation to a better life is a measure of our moral fiber and whether we are a true democracy as our forefathers wanted us to be. I go to these meetings because I don't want our elected representatives to forget that.

"I think government now is kind of moving away from and sacrificing services for the vulnerable in our country.

"For as rich as our country is, we could do better for such people. Some countries poorer than us do a better job.

"It's my whole belief that it's really hard for Washington to stay connected to the rest of us — the constituency. Washington is a unique culture, a unique world of its own.

"That is exacerbated by the fact that anymore you have to be really rich to even run for office. So, there's a big gap between them and us.

"I think it does some good for congressmen to come out to these small towns. I think it's a grounding experience for them.

"I really appreciate it. You don't see a whole lot of people doing that.''