Have questions for local candidates, issues in Yachats, Waldport and Lincoln County? Send them to YachatsNews

Dear YachatsNews readers:

Your questions, please.

YachatsNews is preparing news stories on local candidates and issues for the Nov. 8 general election – and is soliciting your questions for candidates or on issues.

YachatsNews will be doing stories on races for Yachats mayor and council, Waldport mayor and council, a Lincoln County commission seat, and operating levies for the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District and Central Oregon Coast Fire and Rescue.

These should be appearing around Oct. 19, when ballots will be mailed to registered voters.

YachatsNews plans to run questions-and-answers with Waldport, Yachats and Lincoln County candidates and stories explaining the two fire district tax requests.

So how about sending me some ideas for questions – locally oriented – for the candidates? If you live in Yachats, suggest some questions for mayor and council candidates. Same for those of you in Waldport and anywhere in Lincoln County – what would you ask a candidate in a face-to-face forum?

Please focus on local issues on which they potentially have some impact or influence.

Do you have questions about city services or finances? Projects that should be tackled – or dropped? Parks? Water? The business climate? Or what about those really thorny issues like housing (including vacation rentals), the homeless, or public safety?

As for the two fire district levies, let me know what questions you want to have answered – in addition to the basics of how much it will cost property tax payers, what it will be used for, and the like.

Please email your questions to me at this address: YachatsNews@gmail.com or use the “comment” box at the bottom of this story. (No names will be attached to the questions; I’m just looking for ideas and feedback for candidates.)

After attending most all council and fire board meetings in Yachats and Waldport the past two years I have lots of my own ideas for questions. But I’d like to hear from you so I can get a better idea if I am on the right track, or if all of us need to better listen – and answer — to the public.

Also, some reminders:

• YachatsNews is collaborating with five other Oregon news outlets on issue-based stories on the three gubernatorial candidates on the economy, housing, education, abortion, health care, and climate. Look for these stories in the “Oregon News” section of YachatsNews beginning Oct. 19.
• I wrote an extensive reminder last week about political letters to the editor and the “commenting” function on this website. If you missed it, please go here.

YachatsNews appreciates your readership and support — and questions.

— Quinton Smith/editor-manager