Our Opinion: Highlighting rural issues
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:18 AM PDT
A meeting this week in Cascade Locks signals a step forward in an effort to highlight rural issues with state authorities.
The Oregon Rural Congress will hold a two-day session designed to push rural issues and interests in front of state and federal officials.
More than six cities and 20 counties along with state agencies and officials will be on hand for the meeting.
Union County Commissioner Colleen MacLeod said earlier this week the conference is calculated to frame policy suggestions on such key Eastern Oregon issues as natural resources and economic development.
Sponsors of the rural congress session apparently plan to meet on an annual basis.
The idea is a good one, especially after the dissolution of the Oregon Office of Rural Policy.
If nothing else, the session will allow policy makers from across the state — including the eastern portion — to convene and discuss common challenges and, perhaps, work out achievable goals.
Even though the idea is still very much in the preliminary stages, the meeting this week in Cascade Locks is a good first step toward pushing rural issues up the state decision-making chain.
