Make one trip to the mail box for two good reasons this week.
    First, cast your ballot for local government offices.
    Second, fill a bag for local food bank needs.

Elections happen once or twice a year, and the May 19 election is an important one.

Keeping the FISH food bank shelves full is a year-round need. That’s where the U.S. Postal Service “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive comes in, on May 9. Put non-perishable food in bags and place them at your mailbox and carriers will pick up your donations on Saturday. (Details on page B4).

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Ballots were mailed last week and should be in all voters’ hands by now. Deadline to vote is 8 p.m. on May 19 — postmarks don’t count.

Voting is always a way to get your two cents in, but this time it’s important to get your two cents on. Postage goes up to 49 cents on May 11, so if you mail it in on or after that date, please put enough postage on the envelope. (Contrary to an earlier report, if you forget the county will pick up the postage due.)

The election is highlighted by contested races for all three open positions on the Port of Hood River and for one of the positions on both the Port of Cascade Locks and Hood River County School District Board of Directors. There are numerous other special district positions that need filling, and thus deserve voters’ attention. Likely the name you see on the ballot is a friend or neighbor; if they are running uncontested you can always call them on the phone and ask for their views.

For more on the opinions and goals of the Hood River port candidates, turn to page A1.

There are some big questions facing the port candidates, and space required that we continue their comments in our May 9 edition.

The candidates’ full answers will be posted on our Web site, hoodrivernews.com, on May 8.

As you will see on page A1, all six candidates deserve credit for showing a considerable knowledge of Port issues, and possessing distinct views on how to respond to the county’s economic development goals and to the Port’s long-term planning and infrastructure needs at the waterfront and at the airport.

With policy decisions pending and hunger an increasing problem, the act of voting in the May 19 election helps in many ways; consider voting to be food for thought and food for our neighbors.