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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW $60K grant aids oak restoration, bird habitat ... Stouts fire at 15,100 acres, 5 percent contained ... Signups for fall OLLI classes accepted through Friday ... $60K grant aids oak restoration, bird habitat ... Stouts fire at 15,100 acres, 5 percent contained ... Signups for fall OLLI classes accepted through Friday ... OUR VIEW Our View: Running in place Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Two Ashland School Board members who were elected in last month's balloting racked up numbers that would not have been out of place in North Korea. In this case, winning with more than 99 percent of the vote was evidence not of a rigged election but the fact that both candidates were running unopposed. Vice Chairman John Williams and Board Member Eric Strong are by all accounts conscientious public servants and deserved to keep their seats on the school district's governing body. But any time candidates run unopposed, voters are deprived of the opportunity to make a choice and to hear the issues debated during the campaign. This is no reflection on Williams or Strong, who already were serving on the board. If anyone disagreed with the votes they cast, there was an opportunity to run against them. It's impossible to know whether the lack of challengers was because no one took issue with either board member or because no one wanted to put in the time it takes to serve. Williams estimates he spends about 16 to 20 hours a month on district business. None of that time is paid, and that might dissuade some potential candidates. More likely, however, is that residents are generally satisfied with the district and see no pressing need to change. That's a good sign if you care about schools, and Ashlanders certainly do. But we also care about public discourse and that's something that we are deprived of when candidates run unopposed.   DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501