More than 50 local residents filled the Trees Room at the Resort for the October Town Hall Meeting.

They listened to political hopefuls make their final
pitch for the Nov. 4 election, and they made their voices heard as well on
critical local issues.

David Robinson made his case for the county clerk’s position, while incumbent
Sherry Hall tried to fend him off.

Incumbent State Sen. Chuck Thomsen defended his record in Salem against
an insurgency mounted by hopeful Robert Bruce.

And State Rep. Mark Johnson held his ground against the attempt by
candidate Stephanie Nystrom.

Hall had problems overcoming the shaky track record she has piled up during
her tour of duty as county clerk. Robinson’s inroads were thoughtful and
incisive.

Bruce and Thomsen squared off in a refreshing display of civility, but Bruce’s
comments about Thomsen’s record scored significant points. Several in the
audience indicated that Bruce was getting another look.

Nystrom made her case of the need for change in representation for HD 52,
but Johnson’s smooth style set a high bar for any withering attack.

The candidates forum was lively and informative, and the Villages at Mt. Hood
board of directors should be applauded for hosting the event.

Community Survey
High on the list during the public forum was the future of the Dorman Center.
The Hoodland Women’s Club’s valiant effort to create a community center fell
$700,000 short in its attempt to fund the center.

In response, the Villages Board is soliciting opinions from local residents as to
what the next step should be. A community survey appears in the print
edition.

Options in the survey include: a community center with meeting space; senior
center and day care; assisted living center; park and ride for Mountain
Express; or a rest area with restrooms.

Regina Lythgoe, of Merit Properties in Welches, spoke during the public forum
and suggested another alternative: a community park.

“We don’t have places to push our grandchildren on swings,” Lythgoe said.
Later, in an email to The Mountain Times, she wrote: “I am hoping to have
some kind of park on the Dorman Center land which is the county parks
department land. AKA Park. People can write on Line 5 (of the survey) other
ideas. I envision a community park with picnic tables, covered area,
playground equipment like swings, slides, jungle gym, some kind of parking,
and keep the community garden area where it is.”

Community member Don Mench pointed out that the county’s insistence that
the Dorman Center is unusable is false. “We can’t lose what we have,” he
said, noting that the community has to step up.

Rep. Johnson supported Mench’s position, pointing out there were no county
commissioners at the Town Hall forum, suggesting their lack of interest in
local issues.

“What should happen is you (community members) take charge of it (Dorman
Center) yourselves,” he told The Mountain Times.

The survey also asks local residents of the importance of bicycle tourism in
Hoodland, and where would be the most likely places for bicycle-pedestrian
pathways. Options include Welches Road, Lolo Pass Road, Barlow Trail Road
and Salmon River Road.