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Absentees help Walker, doom bond issues Commissioner re-elected; juvenile center loses By PETER WONG Absentee ballots helped Jack Walker win a second term as a Jackson County commissioner, but they also doomed multimillion-dollar bond issues for a county juvenile detention center and Central Point schools. Final unofficial returns from the county clerk Friday gave Walker, the Republican incumbent from Phoenix, 29,181 votes, and Democratic challenger Jon Deason of Medford, 25,917 (53 percent to 47 percent). The result hinged on the count of almost 23,000 absentee ballots cast for Tuesday's general election. Walker also needed absentee ballots to secure Position 1 four years ago, but this time, Deason led Walker in polling-place and early absentee-ballot returns. "Jon and his people made a gallant effort," Walker said Friday. "When I sat down the other night to figure out who was for me and who was not, I'm really surprised I won. "I've taken a different approach from others about how to solve problems -- a direct and businesslike approach. I've probably made a lot of people mad in the process because I've never done anything based on getting re-elected -- and I came close not getting re-elected." Though he did not regret any specific decision during his first four years, Walker said he would reassess his style and perhaps be "less of the bull in the china closet." Deason, himself a commissioner for non-consecutive terms between 1973 and 1983, said he would be pleased if that is the conclusion Walker draws. "It was close for an incumbent of the majority party," he said Friday. "I think Jack should hear some of the things that my supporters were saying. "My criticism of Jack is that he tends to shut out groups that do not agree with him. But we have to deal with a whole community, and we have to listen to diverse opinions. I would have had to if I had won." Deason, who campaigned on a platform of more managed population growth, said he would not have changed his stances on issues "but perhaps it's not quite time for them." Absentee ballots ended up defeating Measure 15-83, a $22.5 million bond issue for a 60-bed juvenile detention center and replacement parking in downtown Medford. It lost in final returns, 26,551 to 26,045, 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent. The margin is not small enough to trigger an automatic recount under state law. "It was the absentees that did us both in," Deason said. "Both were slightly ahead until the absentees came in." All four commissioner candidates supported the bond, which would have paid for the replacement of a 40-year-old, 20-bed center that sits in Medford's South Gateway shopping area. Walker said commissioners may refer another less expensive measure to voters next year. Such a measure would require a majority of voters to cast ballots as well as a majority to approve it. The double-majority requirement did not apply Tuesday. "But we have to get an upgrade of our juvenile center," Walker said. "There is no way we can provide any kind of objective programming for juvenile and family problems without it." Absentee-ballot counts confirmed other winners in close races: Ashland City Council, Position 6: Lawyer David Fine defeated neuromuscular therapist Bob Taber, 2,923 to 2,584, for the seat being vacated by Alan DeBoer. Phoenix city levy: A five-year supplemental property tax passed, 596 to 541. Shady Cove police levy: A five-year supplemental property tax to offset losses of federal grants passed, 438 to 361. Talent officials' pay: Voters approved $150 monthly for the mayor and $125 monthly for each council member on a vote of 773 to 717. Write-in vote counts starting Monday will determine the winners of Ward 2 on the Central Point City Council and Position 4 on the Ashland City Council. No candidate was listed in Central Point; Cameron Hanson won 2,584 votes as the only candidate listed for the Ashland seat, but 5,029 ballots were left blank. Cate Hartzell mounted a write-in campaign for the seat left vacant when Ken Hagen died Sept. 21. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA