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What issues should city candidates talk about? Ashland will elect a mayor, city councilors and Parks and Recreation Commissioners in November. Daily Tidings file photo Thursday Sep 8, 2016 at 8:24 PM Sep 9, 2016 at 10:43 AM John DarlingFor the Tidings In the upcoming November election, seven candidates are running for city council and four for mayor, including the incumbent John Stromberg, who is seeking a third term. These races always bring up the big questions of what should be on the front burner for the coming four years the winners will serve.  The big issues of recent years — homelessness, affordable housing, climate change, aggressive deer, downtown behavior, city debt management — are always being talked up and grumbled about and some, like the deer, seem to wander off after appropriate town hall blowouts. And sometimes, ordinances get passed and enforced, like the smoking issue, part of a passel of ordinances passed to address the downtown behavior issue, as well as because it's the healthy thing to do.  On the council, Greg Lemhouse and Rich Rosenthal seek to hang onto their seats, while three seek to fill the seat of Councilor Carol Voisin, who is one of the challengers for the mayor job.  For ballot measures, the city is asking voters’ choice on a 3 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana and an expansion of the purpose of the food and beverage tax for streets. It now goes 80 percent to water treatment plant debt and 20 percent to parks.  We asked Ashlanders, as they look about at this city, what they would like candidates and councilors to be talking about and working toward.  Sharon Levin — Keep the city clean and get rid of (the public works director) because he is not doing his job. The sidewalks should be white and not brown and salmon. The bathrooms in Lithia Park need cleaning. I have to hold my nose going in there. Clean up where the homeless sit in the Plaza. The (city administrator) wants to put the city more in debt, like Greece. We already have a big debt. The banks would own the city. We should get rid of him too. He’s not working for the people. We need dog sacks downtown. The homeless are not picking up after their dogs ... clean it up or we will have a plague.  Carita Culmer — I hope we find a way to help get a homeless shelter all winter. We should seriously consider a tiny house community, like Medford.  Sarah Larsen — The homeless issue is the top priority. A shelter and more help finding resources for them. That’s the top need for a lot of people, creating safe spaces for everyone who comes through our town.  Scott Murphy — I’m new here and love the city. I’m just getting familiar with what’s going on. I’d like to know more about (what’s) going on between Shakespeare and that book store. It’s he said, she said. Get them at the same table and talk it out. It’s a shame for a big organization to have a semi-boycott going on. The homeless and travelers are a big deal. With a lot of tourists, you don’t want to turn them off. Everyone deserves a place to live. Sept. 9: This article has been updated to correct what vacant council seat is contested by three candidates. It is Carol Voisin's position, not Pam Marsh's. Marsh has two years left on her term and the position will not be vacant unless she wins a seat in the state House; at that point, her successor would be appointed by the council. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected].