Lines drawn on immigration
Critics blast immigration measures while Mayo defends his position
By Cecelia Haack

The South County Spotlight, Aug 13, 2008

Scappoose High School teacher Craig Frazier takes issue with Wayne Mayo's ballot measures targeting illegal immigration.

Cecelia Haack / So
Uncontrolled and illegal immigration is bad.

That was the only common ground Tuesday at a South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce forum.

Wayne Mayo of St. Helens defended the ballot measures he sponsored on the promise to clamp down on illegal immigrants. Marcy Westerling of the Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity argued the measures are based more on fear and loathing than fact.

Ballot Measure 5-190 makes it a county crime to knowingly hire an undocumented immigrant. That’s already a crime, but Mayo’s measure would add more penalties.

Ballot measure 5-191 requires building contractors to post signs with the words “Legal Workers Onlyâ€