Document text
Mayor passes on Navickas, Thompson for planning post By Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings Two city council candidates have been rebuffed in their attempts to join the Ashland Planning Commission. Brent Thompson and Eric Navickas - who came up short by narrow margins to Alex Amarotico in November in their council bids - were passed over for the commission by Mayor Alan DeBoer in favor of David Dotterrer, chairman of the Traffic Safety Commission. "I can't say enough about David," DeBoer said. "He's going to be a real asset. He really does a lot of homework." Dotterrer, also president of the Clay Creek Gardens Owner's Association for two years, brings that experience to the commission. "There are lots of issues we have in planning that involve homeowners associations," Dotterrer said. "It's an important part of the city and virtually every new subdivision has one." Dotterrer was up against some pretty stiff competition, but the 51-year-old retired Marine Corps Colonel impressed DeBoer with his previous commission work. The decision came despite the recent history of taking into consideration close election losers when making appointments to public bodies in Ashland. Chris Hearn was appointed in 2001 to a vacant seat on the council after dropping a tight council race to Cate Hartzell. Thompson and Navickas were qualified, according to DeBoer, but they both had other aspects which brought them up short, in his opinion. Thompson served 10 years on the Ashland Planning Commission before being elected to the city council in 1994. He served on the council for two years before resigning to devote time to family affairs. He also served on the 1991 Governor's Task Force on Growth Management and Transportation. But he also buys, renovates and rents housing in the city. "Brent would be classified as a developer. I can't appoint anyone builder or a developer and can't appoint an architect because of state rules on the makeup of planning commissions," DeBoer said. Thompson was unavailable for comment. There are already too many developers and architects on the commission, according to DeBoer. "What I'm really looking for is just a citizen," he said. There is also a history of giving city critics a chance to put their money where their mouths are. Vocal city government gadflies Russ Silbiger and Colin Swales rode their rhetoric into seats on the budget and planning committees. Navickas - a 12-year Ashland resident - is a graduate of the architecture program at the University of Oregon. He has been a vocal opponent to some forms of growth in the city and an advocate for environmental issues, high-density development and affordable housing. "I really like Eric, but we have to be careful on the planning commission of appointing people who are too outspoken on issues," DeBoer said. "It can leave city open to lawsuits." Navickas - who was once arrested for sitting in a small tree slated for the chainsaw at the Ashland Public Library - was saddened, but not surprised. "I'm pretty disappointed the mayor didn't see to take advantage of the skills I have which could have been applied on the planning commission," Navickas said. "He is showing his interest is in facilitating uncontrolled development and unconscious growth in Ashland. His efforts to manipulate the election shows he isn't a man of integrity and I shouldn't have expected him to appoint me to the commission." There were 10 applicants for the two open seats on the commission, but DeBoer only made the one appointment, putting out a second call for applications in hopes of having more people from which to choose. "It will be a real short re-application process and I hope to make another recommendation in two weeks," DeBoer said. Thompson will have another chance at a commission seat Tuesday when the Ashland City Council elects a new member to the Citizen's Budget Committee. Thompson, former Ashland City Councilor Steve Hauck and resident Allen Douma have applied to fill the seat left open by the resignation of Diana Goodwin Shavey. Thompson - who also owns a home in Gold Beach - was recently rejected as a city council candidate by the Gold Beach mayor, who thought Thompson too liberal. The candidates Other applicants for the planning commission position: Dr. Aaron Corbet - Experience on a city council-like body in Portland; public safety committee in Portland, worked on low income housing issues; fought against gentrification. Craig "Gorse" Gorson - Ashland Schools Foundation; degree in accounting; former finance and business consultant; involved in Miami Beach, Fla. redevelopment efforts. Don Greene - Builder and developer; five years on Jackson County Planning Commission. Vance Popelka - Former truck driver, former retail food clerk, former assistant grocery sales manager and former dry-cleaning laundry plant manager. Robert Saladoff - Architect with a bachelors degree in business; five years in Ashland; masters in architecture; certificate of historic preservation; member of the Ashland Historic Commission. Richard Shavey - Architect; resume with extensive experience on low income housing; city planning commissioner of Seattle, Wash. for two terms. Juli Teitelbaum - Owner of a small business in the downtown; retired private practice councilor; Ashland resident since 1977 LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -