Gillam

County JudgeFive candidates on the ballot

This week: Nick Sheedy.

Nick SheedyOur next county judge needs to be tactful, responsive, principled, flexible, a good communicator and a positive leader. County government needs to be transparent and progressive in its policy decisions.

I was born in John Day, received my primary education in Canyon City and Halfway, attended junior high school in Garden Valley, Idaho, and graduated with honors from Bigfork High School, Mont., where I was member of the local school board, student body president, editor of the newspaper and captain of the speech and debate team. I received state and regional honors for journalism excellence, and was a finalist and state champion each of four years in individual speech and debate competition. Participating in the YMCA Youth Legislature, I was elected president of the senate and represented the State of Montana at the National Governors conference in Washington, D.C., in 1991.

I attended Linfield College in McMinnville on an honors scholarship and was enrolled in the honors academic program, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1996. My major was political science, with an emphasis on property rights and land-use policies. I minored in philosophy, with an emphasis on Christian theology. As the political cartoonist for the campus newspaper for four years, I received regional and national recognition. I was employed as a graphic layout artist, producing all promotional brochures for the college’s conference services and summer programs. I served on the student-faculty judicial review board, was a member of the campus security team, co-hosted several radio programs, was a charter member of the Campus Conservatives, and my college debate team placed seventh at nationals my senior year.

During the 1995 Oregon Legislative session, I worked as an intern for Van Natta Public Relations, a lobbying firm in Salem where my duties included tracking bills, researching previous legislation and attending and reporting on committee hearings.

I was employed as an initial attack forest firefighter one summer on a Forest Service engine crew stationed at Keeney Camp near Long Creek. In 1997, I enrolled in Eastern Oregon University’s teacher education program and completed the class work, but decided against a teaching career.

Since that time, I have been a weekend radio announcer at KJDY where I have enjoyed providing our area with local news, weather and emergency broadcasts. I have also been engaged as a freelance artist and have produced literature and drawn political cartoons for clients such as Montana’s Tax Equity Action Movement and Oregon Taxpayers United.

For six years, I was engaged in private business in Grant County, owning an interest in timbered land, patented and unpatented gold mines and a forestry company that managed our private land, contracted custom logging and thinning projects, produced split fence stays and was one of the largest firewood wholesalers in Eastern Oregon. For the last year, I have been engaged in masonry and general construction, working with my brother, Tyler Sheedy, who is a local contractor.

I have been married for one year, and am very happy that my wife, Sammi Jo, likes the John Day Valley well enough to make it our home.

Having lived in small ranching and logging towns as well as high-traffic tourist areas, I am well aware of the issues and potential problems that face our county. I have conducted extensive historical research, am knowledgeable about past and present political policies and trends, and have been a consistent advocate for agriculture, forestry and natural resources. Having never served in county government before gives me the advantage of bringing a fresh perspective to the County Court and the opportunity to develop good working relationships with citizens and public officials.

Our greatest challenges during the next few years include budget shortfalls (especially in education), declining enrollment at some of our schools, drug and alcohol abuse, and public and private land-use issues brought on by state and federal policies and a changing population. We need to be forward-thinking and prepared to address issues before they become problems. I believe that my values and perspective on most important issues are consistent with the vast majority of the people in our county. We want our economy to grow and change for the better while protecting what is good about our way of life and promoting sensible solutions that work for us.

I have the abilities to perform the duties of this office effectively and the willingness to be a progressive and positive leader. I appreciate your consideration to serve as our next county judge.

County CommissionerThree candidates on the ballot

This week: Randy Gillam.

Randy GillamMy wife, Kathy, and I and our two daughters, Jodi and Randa, moved to John Day 30 years ago, and have found it to be a wonderful place to live and raise our children. I could only hope that the same opportunity would be there for our children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, the opportunities are just not available at this time. I am running for county commissioner, in hopes that with a lot of hard work and dedication to the many issues faced in our community, that I may be able to assist in making a difference.

I was raised in a timber family, as my father worked all his life in the industry, as he set up and managed plywood mills, including with Edward Hines in Burns. I worked all holidays, weekends and summers in the mills, putting myself through college. After attending University of Oregon, I married my wife (of 31 years), and went to work full-time at Edward Hines Lumber Company to support our growing family. I was employed there for six years.

After being laid off, we decided to move to the beautiful John Day Valley. I heard of an employment opportunity with Gardner Enterprises, and decided it might be time for a change, and was successful in landing the job.

This was a new trade for me, a new challenge. It must of stuck, as I worked for John and Charlene Gardner for 15 years.

We had another child after moving to John Day, Erik, which completed our family.

My wife and I both loved Eastern Oregon, and were set on raising our children on this side of the mountains, in a small town atmosphere, and the John Day Valley was perfect.

But, in the back of my mind, there was always the need to live the American dream, owning and operating my own business.

I purchased a small wholesale grocery distributorship, and have operated it profitably, with the help of my wife, and dedicated daughter, Jodi Brockway. I not only service this direct area, but service three surrounding counties. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life and feel I know the challenges they are facing, and feel that we are all in this together.

As for volunteer services, I was past president of Grant County Little League for six years, during this time the 7th Street Complex was being developed. It took many hours by a large number of volunteers to complete the two little league fields. Doc Mosier, Leonard Trafton and Art Thunnell were always there with help and encouragement. We were able to acquire funds from transient room tax for sod and backstop materials, and gave this complex a great beginning to what it has become today.

Experience in county government: I am currently on the Town of Canyon City planning and budget committees and have served on the committees for the past seven years, increasing my knowledge in these areas.

One of the biggest challenges I perceive in this community is the local economy, with unemployment being the highest in the state, compounded by many complex issues involving numerous agencies, and beaucratic red tape. I don’t think any one person can solve Grant County’s economic woes alone, but by working together, I would like to be a part of the team that leads Grant County into a productive future.

Challenges that are crucial to this community are: fighting and lobbying to assure that PL 106-393, Secure Rural Schools Act and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. (SRS), is reauthorized at its current level. Without it, loss to this community will occur, having an impact in our schools, cities, roads and county services, including Title II and III projects, which are another big boost to the community.

It’s necessary to continue work to lobby and review for better management of forest, to get more people back to work in the forest, and try to secure and develop other natural resource based industries, and possible retirement opportunities.

I advocate doing business locally whenever possible, and concentrate on working at keeping the people that are currently employed in this area, but also pursue various new avenues of economic development.

On the county level, I believe that trust and respect of your department heads is important. Trust, confidence and respect of all employees makes a valuable working relationship, which shows in the end result.

I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I am a hard-working, honest individual willing to listen to all voices, and can as a team member work to try to achieve changes that need to take place for the community to move forward in improving our crippled economy.

I really love Grant County, and think my commitment and dedication to doing a job well, and determination to make a difference, would be a benefit to the county, if given the opportunity.