September 13, 2007

Sixty-one elected city, school, education,county and state officials from 27 counties, representing every corner of the state and every congressional district in Oregon, have signed on to a letter being sent to Oregon’s Congressional delegation.

The letter urges the Oregon delegation to direct the Bush Administration to bring our armed forces home from Iraq and to cut off the funds for the Iraq War. Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson delivered the letter in person to the Eugene Federal Courthouse offices of Senators Wyden and Smith and Rep. Peter DeFazio, Sept. 13:

“Congress has the power of the purse and must assert its responsibility to do what is right and just,” said Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson. “We call on you to act in support of the safe and careful withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. This is the best way to support our troops.”

Rural America is home to a disproportionate number of soldiers who
have lost their lives in Iraq. The New York Times reported in July of
2005 that of the soldiers who have died in Iraq nearly two-thirds came
from more rural, less densely populated counties. Rural Oregon is
paying a high price for this war, both in terms of human costs and
lost investment in economies and human services.

The U.S. is at a critical deciding point in the future of the war
in Iraq. General Petraeus has called for the U.S. to stay the course
in Iraq but the elected officials who have signed this letter and many
others around the country are urging Congress to vote against further
funding for the Iraq war when the Iraq supplemental appropriations
bill comes up for a vote in Congress later this month or early in
October. “We represent a large and growing number of Oregonians who,
for many reasons, understand the need to stop this war,” said
Commissioner Sorenson. “It’s time to bring our troops home now.”

LETTER TO CONGRESS & SIGNERS
Dear Member of Congress, We are elected city, school, education,
county and state officials in Oregon sending this letter to Oregon’s
congressional delegation, urging you to direct the Administration to
bring our Armed Forces home from Iraq and to cut off the funds for the
Iraq War. We want to add our voices to those of the group of Oregon
county commissioners who initiated this message on June 22, 2007.
The Administration put forward the purposes of removing a dictator
from power and removing a perceived threat of weapons of mass
destruction. If these were once valid reasons to send troops abroad,
they are no longer valid reasons. Our brave Armed Forces–including a
disproportionate number from our state and communities–are now seen
as an occupation force and they continue to be placed in harm’s way
for no apparent reason. Congress has the “power of the purse” and must
assert its responsibility to do what is right and just. We call on
you to act in support of the safe and careful withdrawal of our troops
from Iraq. This is the best way to “support our troops.”

As elected officials, we are struggling to provide basic services at a time when
the Iraq War’s costs are mounting. We have been told by federal officials, time and time again, that federal funds for roads, schools, economic development, housing, corrections, tuition assistance, law enforcement, health care, mental health and all other purposes are limited because of the Iraq War. We are told to find “offsets” as the
cost of the Iraq War explodes. The former Secretary of Defense, Donald
Rumsfeld, was asked — at the beginning of the Iraq War — what the
cost of the Iraq War would be. At the time, he estimated the cost at
$50 billion. As a Nation, we had spent $440 billion by June 2007.
Oregon’s proportionate share of that cost was over $3.7 billion. Even
after the bloodshed ends, we and our sons and daughters will continue
to pay for this war and the care of physically and mentally wounded
veterans as part of the National debt. We represent a large and
growing number of Oregonians who, for many reasons, understand the
need to stop this war. Among us are those who mourn the deaths and
injuries of our neighbors. Among us are those who mourn for the deaths
and destruction suffered by the Iraqi people, and those who believe
the war is counter to the true long term interests of the American
people. And among us are those in cities where basic infra-structure
is badly in need of rebuilding and repair; and those in cities where
libraries have closed for lack of funds; and in counties where budget
cuts have forced long time employees out of work, where parks have
been shut down and essential services are at risk. We continue a
massive involvement in conflict overseas, while we cannot solve our
own pressing domestic issues. Please urge the Administration to
bring our Armed Forces home from Iraq and please cut off funds for the
Iraq War except those which are necessary for safe and prompt
withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq.

Very truly yours,

BENTON

Patricia Daniels, City Councilor, Corvallis.

Bill York, City Councilor, Corvallis.

George C. Grosch, City Councilor, Corvallis.

Mike Beilstein, City Council, Corvallis

Tim Dehne, Director of Soil and Water Conservation District, Benton
County,

Matt Donohue, Board member, 599J School Board, Corvallis.

Annabelle Jaramillo, Benton County Commissioner, Philomath.

CLACKAMAS

Jim Needham, City Councilor, Molalla
CLATSOP

Joyce Compere, City Councilor, Astoria.

Jim Raskin, City Council President, Cannon Beach.

COLUMBIA

Joe Lewis, Scappoose School Board, Scappoose.

COOS

Mike Claassen, City Councilor, Bandon.

CURRY

John Hewitt, City Councilor, Port Orford.

DESCHUTES

Linda Johnson, City Councilor, Bend.

Peter Gramlich, City Councilor, Bend.

DOUGLAS

Elizabeth Belmont, Oakland School Board, Oakland.

Ed Francis, Oakland School Board, Oakland.

Katherine Goodwin, Oakland School Board, Oakland.

GILLIAM

Dale Thompson, Mayor, Condon.

GRANT

William B. Harrington, Councilor, City of Prairie City.

JACKSON

Peter Buckley, State Representative, District 5, Ashland.

James W. Lewis, Mayor, Jacksonville.

Dave Gilmour, M.D., Jackson County Commissioner

JEFFERSON

Mike Ahern, Jefferson County Commissioner, Madras

JOSEPHINE

Dave Toler, Josephine County Commissioner.

Bob Litak, Three Rivers School Board.

KLAMATH

David Crider, Crescent Rural Fire Protection District, Klamath
County.

LANE

Pete Sorenson, Lane County Commissioner, Eugene.

Bill Fleenor, Lane County Commissioner, Mapleton.

Kitty Piercy, Eugene Mayor.

Bonny Bettman, Eugene City Councilor.

Andrea Ortiz, Eugene City Councilor.

Betty Taylor, Eugene City Councilor.

Alan Zelenka, Eugene City Councilor

Vicki Walker, State Senator, Dist. 7, Eugene

Paul Holvey, State Representative, Dist 8, Eugene

Charles Martinez, Board member, Eugene School District 4J,

Carol Horne-Dennis, Lane Educational Service District Board, Eugene

Leslie Rubinstein, South Lane School Board, Cottage Grove,

Peter Howison, M.D., City Council President, Dunes City,

Diane Conrad, City Councilor, Cottage Grove,

Don Hampton, Mayor, Oakridge,

LINCOLN

Bill Hall, Lincoln County Commissioner, Newport.

Mark Camara, City Councilor, Toledo.

LINN

Ray Weldon, Lebanon City Council.

Sharon Konopa, Albany City Council

MARION

Bill Burgess, Marion County Clerk.

MULTNOMAH

Maria Rojo De Steffey, Multnomah County Commissioner, Portland.

Jeff Cogen, Multnomah County Commissioner, Portland.

Chip Shields, State Representative, District 5, N/NE Portland

Randy Leonard, Portland City Council.

POLK

Steve Milligan, Monmouth City Council.

TILLAMOOK

Tim Josi, County Commissioner Tillamook County, Tillamook.

UMATILLA

David Trott, Mayor, Umatilla, Oregon.

Marjorie Iburg, City Councilor, Pendleton.

WALLOWA

Sharon Sherlock, City Councilor, Enterprise.

Mark Lacey, City Council, Joseph.

WASCO

Bill Lennox, Wasco County Commissioner, The Dalles.

WASHINGTON

Dick Schouten, Washington County Commissioner, Beaverton.

WHEELER

Jack Lorts, Council President, Fossil City.

YAMHILL Ginger Williams, City Councilor, Carlton.