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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 22, 2004 Giordano can break from stereotype While it seems that much of the city's attention has been focused on the race between Cate Hartzell and Michael Morris for Seat 3, an equally challenging and dynamic race is unfolding for the open Seat 5. With apologies to Gary Smith, whose plans for the city are vague and his interest in the council ambiguous at best, Seat 5 will likely fall to either of the other two candidates who together represent the divisions within the city. Seat 5 is a race where stereotypes could easily take over, painting the candidates into extreme corners of good and evil, with each side adamantly convinced that they are the good ones. The stereotypes hold that Russ Silbiger is a muckraking activist seeking to seize control of the council from the greedy capitalist power brokers who want to commercialize every aspect of our city. And his opponent, Tom Giordano, is a planning commissioner lackey, who takes his marching orders directly from the powerful unseen capitalist forces. Neither seems true. Silbiger has paid his dues with steady interest and involvement in city government, including a role as a watchdog for city overspending and bad backroom deals, but also by serving on the city's budget committee and on the Ashland Fiber Network programming board. Giordano is a member of the planning commission who is supportive of downtown development, but he says he is against expanding the urban growth boundary, in favor of maintaining local control over the watershed and supports the development of housing for the city's transient population. The city is lucky to have two qualified candidates who both are invested in giving back to the community they love. The difference is in the two candidates goals for the city. They diverge on specific issues. Silbiger says keeping kids in schools, which means families living in Ashland, his number-one priority. A close second appears to be reining in growth so that Ashland does not lose its small town charm. Giordano wants to encourage infill development in the downtown to enhance the city's economic vitality. So while they both offer far more than just votes on development issues, it is their respective approaches to development that divides them. We believe that a plan for reasoned development that enhances our small business economic base is a critical priority. Silbiger's opposition to some of the larger development may stall that needed growth. Plus, the notable goal of keeping kids in schools is equally dependent on the strength of the local economy. He cautions about the rampant commercialism driving out small business owners, but many small business owners want to see more investment from the city to ensure their own economic viability. Likewise, Giordano seems to be offering interesting and creative ideas, such as a referendum on the city's commitment to affordable housing, and the development of a master plan for downtown that allows for both growth and historic preservation. Right now it's talk. Giordano could in the end prove to be more like the stereotype than the candidate. If elected, we would want to see the full portrait of what the candidate is offering realized. We will take him at his word. We would rest comfortably with either man on the city council. Their respective commitments are proven and laudable. But in the end, we feel Giordano is the right man for this seat, at this time. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams