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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 Our View: Two-wheel transit ... Guest Opinion: Iran agreement has potential ... Guest Opinion: Build Phillips Field for both sports ... Our View: Two-wheel transit ... Guest Opinion: Iran agreement has potential ... Guest Opinion: Build Phillips Field for both sports ... OUR VIEW Our View: Elected or appointed? Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 14, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 14, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News City Council members are discussing making the city recorder an appointed rather than elected position. There are arguments on both sides, but at first glance it appears to make sense. Let's be clear that this is not a reflection on the job incumbent Recorder Barbara Christensen has done in 21 years in the position. She's performed admirably, and it's the fact that she doesn't plan to run again that has brought up the issue. City leaders fear the recorder's duties have become so complex that not just anyone could step in and handle the job. Depending on who wanted to run for office, the city would risk winding up with a good campaigner who wasn't up to speed. Also, the recorder doesn't set policy, so the position is not directly responsive to the wishes of voters. Ashland is the largest community in the state with an elected recorder. The two others have populations of less than 2,000. The debate involves City Administrator Dave Kanner's proposal to transfer the more routine duties — writing checks, maintaining accounts — to the Finance Department, and to lower the pay for the position, now at $83,712. Those are questions the council must answer, and making the change would mean amending the charter, which requires a public vote. That won't happen until 2016, and the change wouldn't take effect until Christensen's term is up in 2018. There's no clear reason that record-keeping and financial management require an elected official; choosing a qualified appointee makes more sense to us. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 14, 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