Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

To the Editor,

We are at a crossroad in our country. Most obviously at the national and state level, but also here locally. The decisions that we make now will assuredly impact our posterity. We have before us, freedom and liberty, or dependence and enslavement to the system. We must choose our pathway wisely.

When it comes to our way of governance in this country, most often we hear spoken “we are a democracy”. While there is some element of truth to that statement, in particular, a government ‘by the (common) people’, it is fraught with misleading notions of whatever the majority wants, they get. That is at a most base level, simply, ‘mob rule’. Our founding fathers of this great country were very wise in giving us a much more refined, but delicate system of governance; a ‘constitutional republic’. While the heads of state and representatives are indeed elected by the people, they do not have uncontrolled power. Their power is limited to what is written in the constitution. The constitution is what limits ‘state’ power and guarantees individual rights.

At our local level, the county commissioners are the highest elected executives. Chuck Amerein has been in this role for the last 3-1/2 years and has done an outstanding job. He understands and fully embraces freedom, liberty, and most importantly, the constitution. Chuck has honorably served our nation in the armed forces during a time of conflict and continues to volunteer his time with the local American Legion. Chuck is dedicated to preserving our rural, farming lifestyle in Columbia County and has a bent for being fiscally conservative. I see Chuck as dedicating his life to his responsibilities as a commissioner. It is not a part-time retirement ‘job’ for lack of other things to do in his life.

Please join me in voting to keep Chuck Amerein as a county commissioner for the next 4 years.

Steve Tapio

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

I am relatively new to Columbia County having lived here a few years. I haven’t been involved in or even followed local politics much, and I just recently started a subscription to your paper. I notice Jack Miller is running for County Commissioner and remember he ran for Port Commissioner last year. I have read his statements in the Voters’ Pamphlet and July 28, 2022 Dayton, Chronicle. He states Columbia County is/seems fractured whether in our friendships, government, projects or even how some people speak to or about one another. He continues by sharing his priorities to include uniting “the Community; Find Common Goals We Can All Support.” These statements are vague and quite general, and I wonder if Mr. Miller could provide some specifics? In what way(s) is our county “fractured?” Who or what has caused the fractures? Is he implying that the current County Commissioners have (intentionally) sought to divide? Was it “the virus” that caused division these past two-plus years? Or, have authoritarian politicians and bureaucrats brought about the divisions we see on so many levels as they have sought to expand emergency powers and impose executive orders using threats, coercion and silencing of other views? He includes the way some people speak to or about others. Is Mr. Miller suggesting or advocating for restriction of speech? What if the objection is not the manner of speech but the content? Should certain ideas be considered unspeakable?

It will help me greatly if Mr. Miller would explain what he means and what he would propose as a project/common goal “we can all support.” And if he would share what he advocated for/against these past couple of years regarding the issue that has touched virtually all aspects of our lives. Did he support mass mask-wearing; mask-wearing for children and if so, how young; closing schools; mask and vaccine mandates; restricting county residents who don’t “unite” on such issues? Will Mr. Miller advocate for top-down decision-making even when it comes to personal health decisions, freedom of conscience, and other rights/freedoms recognized and granted in our Constitution? Will Mr. Miller support the use of coercive policies, mandates, etc. and the threat of imposed penalties if Columbia County residents fail to comply (“unite”)? I hope in the coming weeks Mr. Miller will publicly clarify his opinions, claims, and policies he supports in pursuit of his goal to “unite the community.” I expect such clarifications will assist me and all voters to better gauge this candidate’s temperament, critical thinking, and ability to make good judgments.

Thomas Utt, DDS, LTC (Ret), US Army

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

I would like to show my support for Charles L. Amerein for re-election as Columbia County Commissioner District Number 3. Chuck does a lot for our County and the people who live in it. I have witnessed and heard of so many examples where Chuck has helped others in need. Whether it is mowing the lawns of the elderly, fixing flat tires of stranded cars on the side of the road, leading the American Legion, or washing dishes and clearing tables for a local restaurant in need, Chuck gives of himself more than most.

Commissioner Amerein cares about our community and it shows in all that he does. He cares about our freedoms, our rights, and our liberties. He wants what is best for Columbia County and works hard for us every day.

Someone recently said they want to bring “respect, truth and honor” to this Columbia County Commissioner position. Well, Chuck already brings respect, truth and honor to this position along with authenticity, bravery, humility, reliability…and much more.

Laura Aukerman

Dayton, Wash.