Letter: Our government leaders need to act like leaders
Published 11:50 am Wednesday, February 25, 2026
It’s the Blue Mountains front if you live in Pendleton or Milton-Freewater, the Wallowa Mountains in Union or Wallowa County, the Elkhorn Mountains in Baker County. It’s been warm and dry for long periods and our snowpack is disappearing. Our summers are dry and they can be hot. This is a huge concern for the ag community, and truly a red flag for all of us.
Oregon worked to prepare wildfire risk maps. The front page of the March 5, 2025, edition of the East Oregonian had this statement by Union County Commissioner Matt Scarfo: “I’d like to see that fire map set on fire.” This talk, the snark, the disrespect, the attacks on government as so-called leaders play to social media has to stop. Commissioner Scarfo is himself part of government. He needs to act like it. We live in this part of the world because of state, federal, and local support.
We’re in a difficult position. Long before Oregon had land-use planning people chose to live in the forested mountains that surround us. The state is trying to come to grips with that in a rapidly changing climate. The first efforts haven’t been perfect, but it’s possible to challenge those maps. Thoughtfully organizing for such a challenge doesn’t have to include that noise. That does not represent constituents.
The cost to deal with the risk is real, a serious hit to the pocketbook. People want leadership to help with affording that. We expect our representatives to lead with conviction, not bluster.
Norm Cimon
La Grande
