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Lemhouse faces challengers for council seat Martin Kamenski, left, Greg Lemhouse, and Theo White Friday Oct 21, 2016 at 5:30 PM The following are contenders for Ashland City Council Seat 3. Ballots were mailed Friday and are due back to the Jackson County Elections Office by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8. Twenty-four-hour ballot drop boxes will open Monday at the Elections Office and Ashland, Rogue River, Central Point and Eagle Point libraries. Martin Kamenski Age: 34 Occupation: CEO, EMyth Business Coaching Education: Master's in accounting Political experience: None Top priorities if elected: My first priority for Ashland is a robust, diverse, sustainable economy that provides enough family-sustaining jobs for people who want to live and work within our borders. I'd like to see retired business leaders mentoring our current business owners and for the city to invest in creating clean-energy jobs. Second, I want to focus on making Ashland an amazing community for all of its residents: people of color, the homeless, disabled and elderly. There's more we can do to make our city a beacon of inclusivity we can all be proud of.   Greg Lemhouse Age: 43 Occupation: Ashland vice president for Workforce Development, Southern Oregon Goodwill Education: Bachelor of Science in sociology, Oregon State University Political experience: Ashland City Council since 2009, council chairman in 2011; Ashland Traffic Safety commissioner, 2005-2008; Ashland Audit Committee, 2006-2008. Top priorities if elected: 1) Use the relationships I’ve established with community leaders, government officials and elected leaders throughout the region and my experience solving problems at the council level to help our nonprofit and government human services-based organizations better collaborate so we can serve those most in need as effectively as possible. 2) Make Ashland affordable to live in by expanding our local economy to increase job opportunities and wages, funding our infrastructure improvements responsibly without putting the entire burden on Ashland citizens, ensuring that the rental housing markets are fair and equitable for all, and increasing our inventory of affordable housing.   Theo White Age: 35 Occupation: Ashland academic coach Education: Master's in special education Political experience: 2014 candidate for Ashland City Council Top priorities: My voters are tired of a corrupt government, rigged elections, government media and perpetual wars. Politically correct speech is an affront to the First Amendment. I stand firmly with Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision that we should not judge people by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Environmental health, affordable housing for working families, public safety and keeping Ashland a small town are my top priorities. We must work together as a community.