Full Forecaste

Past Month's Most Commented Stories

Home > Area News

Illegal immigration a key issue on Columbia County ballot

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 11:44 PM PDT

By Leila Summers

Font Size:
 
 

If Columbia County voters approve Measure 5-190 Tuesday, employers in the county would face $10,000 fines if they knowingly hire illegal aliens after Dec. 31.

Columbia County voters also will rule on a companion item, Measure 5-191, which would require employers to post work signs saying “Legal Workers Only” around most construction projects.

Opponents say the “mean spirited” measures would hurt small businesses, but supporters say threatening hefty fines and penalties — including shutdown orders — would prompt companies to scrutinize workers’ documentation more closely.

“I’ll tell you the truth, they’re not going to risk it,” said Scappoose resident Wayne Mayo, a general contractor who authored both measures.

He collected 1,500 signatures of registered Columbia County voters for each measure to get them on the ballot.

Opponent Marcy Westerling of Scappoose said the language of 5-190 puts people in a “guilty until proven innocent” situation. Stop work orders would be especially damaging to small businesses found to have hired illegal workers, she said

“What we oppose is they really put small business, which is all Columbia County has left, in a really tough position at a time when our economy is tanking,” Westerling said.

Measure 5-191 would require employers to post work signs saying “Legal Workers Only” around most construction projects, such as commercial and industrial developments and housing subdivisions.

The signs would have to measure 4 feet by 8 feet and would list penalties for hiring illegal workers. The sign also would list the telephone numbers of the county sheriff’s office and phone number to a Social Security verification pilot program.

Westerling called the signs “horribly mean-spirited.”

To call the Sheriff’s Office to “chase down potentially dark-skinned people you think might be illegal ... is somewhere between insane and totally racist.”

It’s Congress’ job to deal with immigration reform, not Columbia County’s, she said.

Mayo said his proposals aren’t meant to discourage minorities from finding work.

“They can be immigrants, but they’re legal immigrants,” he said.

The two measures highlight a general election ballot that is otherwise short of contested local races.

Columbia County voters will decide two contested county commissioner races. Incumbent Commissioner Tony Hyde, a Republican, faces a challenge from Democrat Pat Zimmerman, a software engineer and former Port of St. Helens commissioner.

In the race for commissioner position 1, Scappoose Mayor Glenn Dorschler, a Republican, is facing Democrat Earl Fisher, retired superintendent for Clatskanie School District and former Port of St. Helens commissioner.

Oregon voters must have ballots returned to the elections office by Tuesday. Postmarks don’t count, as they do in Washington. Ballots may be dropped off by 8 p.m. Tuesday at drop box locations throughout the county at the following locations:

RAINIER CITY HALL, 106 B St. West

CLATSKANIE LIBRARY, 11 Lillich St.

SCAPPOOSE CITY HALL, 33568 E. Columbia Ave.

VERNONIA LIBRARY, 701 Weed Ave.

MIST-BIRKENFELD RFPD OFFICE, 12525 Highway 202

COUNTY COURTHOUSE, Box located in lower parking lot

Previous Next

US CITIZEN wrote on Oct 30, 2008 7:51 AM:

" Everyone has to take a stand on this issue if you leave it up to the goverment nothing will get done, illeagel aliens are taking jobs we need like the artical says small business is all we have left,make it the law. "

greenbean wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:56 AM:

" Of course it's 'horribly mean-spirited' to get people who are BREAKING THE LAW to stop... oh brother! The only person bringing up race is Westerling. We simply ask that our country's immigration laws be followed, and then they are all welcome to come and live the American dream. "

Diesel wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:13 AM:

" re:greenbean - even those who are packing Smith's peas? Just a little joke about our esteemed Senator. I agree with you, if they come to this country following the rules I have no problem. But it is extimated that the FREE services that these illigals will receive this year will be around 1 trillion dollars. Guess where that comes from? "

Common Sense 24 wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:32 AM:

" GOOD JOB!! Now lets draft one for Washington. "

rs5 wrote on Oct 30, 2008 11:16 AM:

" Hey Westerling Title 8 USC, chapter 12, subchapter II, part VIII Makes it a federal felony to hire, transport, house, or assist an illegal alien. This law is already on the books. As Diesel points out 1 Trillion is spent on illegals, add to that all the money that is sent out of our country by them ( average is $200.00 a week X 11-20 million illegals ). This money should go back into the economy. "

blacarrow wrote on Oct 30, 2008 12:16 PM:

" I am an "immigant" to this state also. I lived in Utah and experienced first hand what the illegal immigrants did to that state. A couple of them broke into my 84 year old Mother's home, terrorized her, stole valuables, including her wedding ring and Christmas presents she had bought for loved ones, that she couldn't afford to replace. They were caught and paid a total of $36 in restitution.
On another occasion one of them stabbed a caucasion to death in front of my home in a dispute over a girl. This was in an upper middle class quiet neighborhood that knew no crime prior to this, and has since deteriorated into a cess pool of drug dealers and crime.

When are we going to wake up to the fact that these "immigrants" grow up with an entirely different set of
values? Theft and murder are a way of life for them and they don't change when they cross a river.

I wonder how Westerling would react if the one stabbed were her brother, son, father, etc?

Predudiced? Yes, but you should also know that a Hispanic man lived next to me that I would have given the shirt off my back to. Don't we all really act towards people the way we are treated by them? "

juanlesstime wrote on Oct 30, 2008 3:11 PM:

" Let's see...according to the Census Bureau illegal immigration in Washington dropped by at least 11 % last year alone. This trend is a continuation of one that has been on going for several years; the CB estimates the number of illegal immigrants here will decline by up to half in the next three years.
I'm sure you've all seen a corresponding drop in your health care costs? In the cost of groceries? In the taxes you payed last year? For sure in your taxes that go to homeland security...right? The crime rate?
After reading the posts above, after reading what passes here for reasoned thought...I despair for my country in general and public education in particular. From the outright racist to the generically stupid, the living proof of why we are in such bad shape is revealed above in all it's ugly splendor.
Here's a thought for you guys...try thinking for yourselves instead of being a tool. Use your own eyes to see that throwing people out of Cowlitz county hasn't lowered costs here one bit...probably just the opposite.
And strive to remember you live in an area where your illegal immigrant forefathers were welcomed by a people with far fewer material objects...but much more class.
I am a 100% disabled veteran of 22 months in two different combat zones...you guys embarass me. "

SM wrote on Oct 30, 2008 3:40 PM:

" As if the sherriff doesn't have better things to spend his time enforcing... It's already illegal to hire illegals so all this will accomplish is double enforcement against the same crime only with our own local police resources being used, our own local jails being filled, and our own local courts having to deal with the trials. What a waste of time and money. "

Eman wrote on Oct 30, 2008 3:48 PM:

" See Michael Savage's comment in the Savage Manifesto section F. Play by the rules or get OUT! "

justareader wrote on Oct 30, 2008 5:03 PM:

" Yes, we have federal laws on the books...
but they aren't being enforced. The State
needs to have laws that THEY can legally enforce to take care of this problem. The
census bureau cannot possibly keep accurate records of illegal aliens because there is NO accurate way to count them. Immigration abuse is getting worse, not better. If the Feds won't handle it then the states will have to. I would be very, very interested to hear the actual statistics as to what o/o of crimes are committed by illegals and what our savings would be if we had an agreement with their government to send them back to their country to serve prison time. I bet, even if we had to pay for it, it would be cheaper than housing them here. "

toledoone wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:24 PM:

" Hmmmmm, pass a law to punish people who are breaking the law. And someone has a problem with that? I just don't understand. We do need to have a state wide initative to do the same statewide. "

Resident wrote on Oct 31, 2008 5:48 AM:

" There is absolutely nothing "MEAN SPIRITED" for saying "LEGAL WORKERS ONLY". If you want to work in the United States of America, come here legally. Period. "

spete98611 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:14 AM:

" It would be way too rude and insensitive for us as Americans to tell someone who isn't an American to get out of our country. God forbid that we'd look racist for wanting to enforce our laws and protect our economy. I'm a legal citizen of this country and an enrolled member of a Native American tribe. I'm an American and I don't care who lives here. But you need to be a LEGAL citizen. Does anyone know what kind of trouble you get into going into Mexico trying to live without a Visa? Does anyone know what happens when you try it anywhere else in the world? The US government is a big baby considering the way you're treated by other countries committing the same crime. Does that make the US understanding? No...it makes us soft and easy to seize. Does anyone know how to drop an opponent that's bigger than you? You exploit their weakness. How do you destroy a company? You take it out from the inside; espionage. That's how you defeat a nation. You exploit it's weakness and you take it down from the inside. We have laws that need to be enforced and it needs to be done to it's entirety and no longer half...yeah. "

Dudebro wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:16 AM:

" To bad bush already singed a bill to make canada u.s.a and mexico borderless
thus making one country out of three immigration is gone and will soon be no longer enforced. "

toledoone wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:49 AM:

" Dudebro, keep drinking the Koolaide. So just what bill is this that President Bush signed? And just when did he sign it and who would have written said bill? "

juanlesstime wrote on Oct 31, 2008 3:32 PM:

" I have yet to hear one person here say they favor illegal immigration.
But every redneck neo-Nazi racist alive says he isn't against "all Mexicans...just the illegal ones!".
So how do we tell you all apart? "

spete98611 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 5:32 PM:

" juanlesstime:....You're a genius aren't you? I'm sick and tired of hearing people shoot back at someone calling them a racist just because they don't want illegals in the country. I feel sorry for white people and how often they are called racist or neo-nazi's just because they don't want to foot the bill for people being here in "our country". You know what, there was a time when English was the dominant language and the mandatory language. My people were shaved of their long hair, forced to learn the ways of the whites and beaten to learn the language. My grandfather would tell me the stories of what he saw as a child....and you know what? He fought for this country and he did well for himself and our family. Yeah, our people were oppressed at one time but oh well. Life is tough. Are illegals being treated tough? No. I say end human rights in regards to those in our country. Mexico doesn't go by our standards. China doesn't go by our standards. Those are the two countries that supply the US with the greatest number of illegals. So, for you geniuses out there, google how China and Mexico handles those illegaly in their country and then open your wise mouths on how badly we're treating the illegals. And Juan, I'm glad you learned the word "Racist" for I'm going to teach you a new word, "Mirror". Try looking in it. "

herenkelso wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:40 PM:

" Give it a couple months. The policies will be changing depending on who is in office. Obama has an aunt here illegally. She was ordered from the country 4 years ago and didn't go. So, will he be a hypocrite or an open-border policy changer? Not with my vote he won't. "

LongviewBiz wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:37 AM:

" I personaly cannot believe how unconcerned or enlightened people in this country are becoming. A border is just that, a border to our country. Try going to other countrys and crossing the boarder, possibly taking jobs form their citizens and then sending the money out of the country they earn. Illegal aliens are just that illegal and schould be delt with as invaders in this country. Employers that hire illegals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. On another note our right to bear arms is there to protect our homes and COUNTRY. What would happen if Americans started enacting those rights and protecting our borders? I cant believe that this is even a issue. "

Dudebro wrote on Nov 1, 2008 1:30 PM:

" http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50618 "

marcy westerling wrote on Nov 4, 2008 3:57 PM:

" This country needs Comprehensive Immigration Reform not piecemeal solutions that further complicate a mess. While we have every right to be mad at the poor leadership from Congress, lets not take it out on other low wage workers. Times are tough enough. "

Top Jobs
More Top Jobs
Top Garage Sales
More Top Garage Sales
Top Rentals
More Top Rentals