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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels July 19, 2004 Few council candidates so far By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings What should be a busy season in Ashland has slowed to a near snail's pace. Filings for elective office in Ashland have been nearly nonexistent since a flurry in June, when paperwork became available. The filing period closes at 5 p.m. Aug. 6. John Morrison has filed to run for mayor and thus vacated his opportunity to run for reelection to his council seat. Cate Hartzell filed for her seat on the city council and is opposed by planning commission member Mike Morris. Joanne Eggers and Jim Lewis also filed for their respective Parks Commission seats. Since then, it has been pretty quiet, with only Don Laws and Gary Smith filing for council seats. Laws is running for reelection while Smith has filed for Morrison's open seat. Smith, who works at Market of Choice in Ashland, said affordability and livability is important to the city. "I think jobs and bringing in new business and keeping business in town is important," he said. "I think some accountability for how money is being spent in the city is also important. Smith has thought about running for mayor also. He did so four years ago. "It depends on whether or not John goes unopposed," he said. "I feel strongly that being a leader of our city, there must be challenges along the way other than the questions you are asking." Smith says he hopes to be speaking for those frustrated by the system. "I promise I won't take anybody to war or take our local National Guard to war," he said jokingly. "I think what I will do is speak for a truly silent majority that is frustrated and tired of the system pro quo." Laws said this was a tougher decision for him this time. "It was a tough decision because my wife (Sharon) may be retiring soon," he noted. "This ties us down a little more than if I was completely free. But she hasn't made up her mind and even when she does retire she will be busy as a bee volunteering. So I figured if I was going to be able to contribute my time to something for the community, this was as good a thing as thing as many." Laws was first appointed to the council in 1975 and ran his first campaign in 1976. He ran for mayor in 1988 and lost and was appointed back to the council in 1990. He has been on the council ever since. 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