@Tarrah Pullen - Do prisoners currently get free health care? Or are they billed for the services they receive? Of course I agree that they should have access to health care - no rotting in cells, please - but why do they get it for free when law-abiding, peaceful people don't? And before you ask - I'm OKAY with the idea of someone getting out of prison and owing thousands of dollars in healthcare costs that they racked up while they were inside. They were real dollars, and someone has to pay them - why should it be the public?

Yeah, wouldn't that be awesome. 15 years in prison, little chance of finding a decent job (or any in this town at the moment), and now you're in debt for years to come. Shit, I'd try to get myself locked up again.

@Austin - It's important to remember, sometimes, that prison is a form of punishment.

Yes, that's what prison is for. Life outside of prison, however, shouldn't be. Unless it's like, a Kafka short story. In that case you're probably screwed either way.

With rights come duties, with liberty comes accountability. When we put people totally under our control, we assume total responsibility for their well-being, as well as the costs associated therewith.

That's a laudable way of looking at it, NWspirit. But I can't stomach the idea of taxing the innocent - many of whom don't have health care themselves - to provide free health care for criminals.

Re: “Meet A County Candidate: Chuck Currie”


Chuck Currie has championed all the WRONG ISSUES on mental health for as long as I HAVE KNOWN HIM.

As James Chasse is an issue,it is a mess bigger, then just money,and like most people like Chuck, his answer is throw money at it.

CHUCK...WE ARE BROKE!

You called for Adams to resign, then didn't back the recall..THAT IS POLITICAL AND HUMAN COWARDNESS.

We are a city /county/state..country, on the brink of fiscal ruin,and your answer is a SIN TAX(NO, I DON'T SMOKE)not one mention of the SELLWOOD BRIDGE,not one mention of the WAPATO JAIL. WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTIBILITY? there is none from a person like yourself...therefore you cannot lead.

Now for the old part..Chuck and I do not agree..at all, ever, that the "CRIMINALLY INSANE" (yes Chuck, they are mentally ill) need to be anywhere in this county..those judged guilty but insane of murder, arson or rape(good example of that would be a patient placed in WA.COUNTY,near Hillsboro, that raped a 3 yr old baby.

Chuck has refused to defend 3 yr old babies...the criminally insane have more rights.

Now before you or the interviewer go off on me as being against the mentally ill ,you need to call County commissioner John Lindsey in Linn county, and sheriff Rob Gordon in WA.county and ask them of my work with them on this issue.

WE will get this criminally insane thing resolved, IT HAS ALREADY KILLED ONE MAN RIGHT HERE.

No Chuck....your not the man for the job


Jack Peek