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ELECTION PREVIEW A look at the issues Jackson County voters face in the general election. Ballots are due at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 Measures Local bond issues Candidates Endorsements / News Stories This Election Preview was compiled from Mail Tribune & Associated Press stories. Measures Measure 85 - New counties Some East Multnomah County residents don�t like the idea of being swallowed up by Portland if city and county governments ever merge, and see Measure 85 as an escape route if they need it. Rep. Ron Sunseri, R-Gresham, said county residents outside Portland are concerned about inheriting expensive city debt if talk of consolidating the Portland and county governments ever comes to fruition. Counties now have to be at least 400 square miles with a minimum of 1,200 residents. The measure would permit smaller-sized counties to be formed, as long as they would have more than 100,000 population. The county from which they were formed also would have to be left with more than 100,000 population. Measure 87 - Regulating adult businesses Measure 87, which would let local governments tell sex shops where they can locate, pits advocates of community decorum against guardians of free speech. Oregon and Hawaii are the only states where local governments cannot regulate the location of adult-oriented businesses. Measure 87 would amend the state constitution to give cities and counties the option to do so. David Fidanque, head of the Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, contends the measure would "open the door to censorship in Oregon" and "partially appeal the Oregon Bill of Rights free speech protection." Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, got the Legislature to put the proposal on the ballot. "We�re not saying get rid of these businesses, we�re saying find reasonable places to put them," he said. Measures 88 and 91 - Deducting federal taxes Spurred by what some say is a "double taxation" system in Oregon, these measures would raise or eliminate the cap on federal income taxes deducted on Oregon returns. Measure 88, referred by the Legislature, would raise the maximum federal deduction from $3,000 to $5,000. A more aggressive approach is advocated in Measure 91, which would abolish deduction limits, authored by anti-tax crusader Bill Sizemore. "Even the big, bad IRS has recognized it�s not fair to tax us" on the taxes we pay in Oregon, said Becky Miller, a Measure 91 spokeswoman. Opponents say the estimated $870 million to $1 billion bite out of the Oregon budget makes Measure 91 hard to swallow. And under Measure 88, the budget would take an estimated $47 to $130 million hit a year. Measures 89 and 4 - Tobacco settlement money Disagreements over how to spend the $75 million a year or so that Oregon is due from the national tobacco settlement spawned these two measures. Both measures would funnel the payments into a special trust fund, which could grow to $2 billion or more in 25 years. Measure 4 would use all earnings from the fund for the Oregon Health Plan. Measure 89 would parcel out the earnings to a half-dozen programs, from domestic violence shelters to transportation for the elderly and disabled. The state�s major anti-smoking association, the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Oregon, opposes both measures because it says the money should go to anti-smoking efforts. Measures 92 and 98 - Union political money The battle over measures 92 and 98 is an extension of a power struggle between unions and Bill Sizemore, sponsor of both initiatives. Sizemore�s Measure 92 would require employees to provide annual written authorization before unions can levy payroll deductions for political purposes for public or private workers. Measure 98 would prohibit government from using public money or resources to assist in collecting union dues for political purposes via payroll deductions. Labor unions that represent government workers commonly use a portion of member dues to finance the union�s political activities. Sizemore said those activities amount to unions campaigning for more government spending and for more members. But the state�s top union leaders say Sizemore is only trying to make it easier to pass his own tax cuts by stifling the voices of working people. Measure 93 - Tax and fee increases Requiring voter approval on tax and fee increases would threaten public programs and projects, opponents of Measure 93 contend. The measure, another from Bill Sizemore, would require voter approval of fees and taxes raised after Dec. 6, 1998. For the government to collect a higher fee or tax, voters would need to approve it in two years by the same percentage that Measure 93 is approved. Backers say government officials are thinking about what�s best for government, not taxpayers, when they argue against the measure. The financial impacts of Measure 93 vary, depending on how many taxes and fees have been adopted or increased since 1998. Local officials say Measure 93 would jeopardize Ashland�s $1.7 million youth activities levy, development fees in Medford for road improvements and lodging taxes in Jacksonville for visitor information efforts. The measure, meanwhile, offers protection for recently approved bond measures, such as those for the county library and Central Point schools. Measure 94 - Repealing mandatory sentences Critics say mandatory sentences passed by voters in 1994�s Measure 11 unfairly treat first-time offenders the same as career criminals and give prosecutors too much power to coerce plea bargains. But opponents of Measure 94, the repeal initiative now before voters, say the 1994 law is not unfair and has helped bring down crime. Opponents also say that repealing Measure 11 would result in the immediate release of more than 800 violent offenders who�ve already served the sentences they would have received under earlier, more lenient laws. The 1994 law requires judges to sentence anyone convicted of serious crimes, including young offenders, to fixed prison terms with no possibility of parole or probation. The 1994 law set fixed terms from 25 years for murder to 70 months (five years and 10 months) for kidnapping, assault or robbery in the second degree. It took away all discretion from judges to reduce those sentences. Measure 95 - Grading teachers Measure 95 would amend the Oregon Constitution to require school districts to hire, fire and determine teachers� salaries based on students� academic progress � not teachers� experience or education level. If the measure passes, Oregon would be the first state to link teacher pay entirely to student success. The measure � sponsored by Bill Sizemore � doesn�t specify how student progress would be measured, nor does it say how often teachers would be evaluated based on their students� work. Critics say the measure undercuts teachers� hard work and doesn�t acknowledge the difficulties they face in the classroom � such as finding time to give students individual attention that could help them improve their grades. Measure 96 - Protecting initiatives Many lawmakers say Oregon�s much-vaunted initiative system has gotten out of hand and that it�s being misused by special interest groups. They point to the 26 measures on the Nov. 7 ballot and to the fact that six of them were sponsored by one person, Bill Sizemore, who makes a living promoting initiatives. Sizemore�s Measure 96, symbolic of his battle with the Legislature, would prevent legislators from passing laws or putting measures on the ballot that would make it more difficult for citizens to send initiatives to the voters. Lawmakers have introduced 130 bills in the past four years dealing with the initiative process. None have become law, partly because the state Legislature itself worries about offending voters. Measure 97 - Trapping ban Oregon has 807 licensed trappers who have captured more than 24,000 animals so far this year. Many are concerned that a proposed ban on body-gripping traps would end their way of life. To proponents of Measure 97, however, killing animals with steel-jawed leghold traps is antiquated and barbaric. They say the traps are indiscriminate, often injuring wildlife and pets. At heart, the measure reveals a deeper debate about the state�s identity. Trapping, like logging, is a symbol of some Northwest ways under pressure from environmentalists and urban interests. The initiative would eliminate body-gripping traps � including steel-jawed traps, neck snares and Conibear traps � for recreation or profit. Mouse and rat traps are exempt. Trapping to protect people and property would be allowed, with some restrictions. The measure also prohibits sodium cyanide and Compound 1080, two commonly used poisons. Measure 99 - Home health worker wages There�s no question that home health care workers do a dirty job for little money. But there�s a big question about whether this measure would improve Oregon�s state-paid, in-home caregiving program for poor elderly and disabled Oregonians. The measure, backed by the Oregon Public Employees Union, would create a nine-member commission that would train and establish standards for in-home caregivers for elderly and disabled people. The commission would also be the employer of record for the state�s 17,000 caregivers, giving them the same collective bargaining rights as unionized state employees. Critics say the state�s program was never intended to pay and train in-home workers � who average about $8 an hour and get no benefits � like professionals. It was meant to give friends, neighbors and relatives a little help tending to the needs of their low-income loved ones. Measure 1 - School finance Measure 1 would require the Legislature to provide adequate funding for Oregon�s public schools or explain why it hasn�t done so. Last year, the Legislature appropriated $4.8 billion for education, but education advocates argued that amount was about $200 million short. Supporters say the measure steers debate away from how much the state spends and focuses instead on the standard of education in Oregon. Critics say Gov. John Kitzhaber�s measure lacks teeth. "You will always have an argument about whether or not we provide enough money for schools, but there�s an unlimited need for public funds and limited resources," said Senate President Brady Adams, R-Grants Pass. Measure 3 - Restricting property forfeiture Current Oregon law allows authorities to seize � and not return � property from people based on a determination of "probable cause" of wrongdoing. Measure 3 would amend the state constitution to prohibit forfeiture unless the owner is convicted of a crime involving the seized property. It also would require the government to adhere to a stricter standard of proof that the property was involved in commission of a crime. Reform supporters say the current law has allowed police to seize millions of dollars a year in Oregon. They say as much as 68 percent of seized property is never returned to its owners, convicted or not. Opponents, however, argue the measure is a fix that isn�t needed. They say about 94 percent of seizures result in convictions. Measure 5 - Background checks at gun shows A proposed law that would require background checks before firearms are sold at Oregon gun shows gained momentum after the deadly 1998 shootings at Thurston High School, but was defeated by a single vote in the Legislature last year. Now Oregon voters get a chance to add the requirement with Measure 5. A chief sponsor is Jackson County Sheriff Bob Kennedy, who says gun shows are a big source of firearms for criminals. But opponents say the measure would do little to prevent crime and would rob law-abiding gun owners of their rights by forcing them to register their firearms with the state. Under current state law, licensed dealers are required to conduct background checks through the Oregon State Police before selling a firearm. Private sellers are not. The measure would extend the background-check rules to shotguns and rifles, currently regulated under federal guidelines. Measure 6 - Partial public campaign financing Partial public funding of campaigns would offset the influence of massive special-interest war chests, say advocates of Measure 6. Some campaigns for legislative seats have been six-figure contests in recent years. Some say a hot Portland-area Senate race this fall could reach $1 million. The measure would give public funds to statewide and legislative candidates who agree to limit spending and forgo large private contributions. Supporters say the Legislature is too beholden to campaign donors. Opponents argue that taxpayers shouldn�t be forced to pay for political campaigns they don�t support. Under the measure, candidates who raise specified numbers of $5 donations from individuals would be eligible for public funds. A contender for governor would need 8,000 such donations, for example, to qualify for up to $1.2 million in public money for a general election race. A Senate aspirant would need 500 $5 contributions to be eligible for $80,000 in state funds. Measure 7 - Zone-change compensation Property owners could collect billions of dollars under Measure 7, which would require state and local governments to pay compensation when land-use laws decrease the value of private property. Critics say it would have a devastating effect � that it would either place huge financial burdens on the state and local communities, or demolish the state�s land-use laws because governments wouldn�t be able to afford to pay out all the money. The state estimates Measure 7 would cost Oregon governments $5.4 billion annually. Under the measure, property owners could file compensation claims when they deemed a certain land-use regulation had lowered property values. A government could avoid payment by repealing the respective regulation within 90 days after the claim was made � which is why critics say Measure 7 could unravel laws designed to protect open spaces. But property rights advocates say their opponents are blowing the impact out of proportion. People should be paid when government takes away some use of their property, they say, but the measure isn�t a broadside attack on state land-use planning laws. Measure 8 - State spending limit Opponents say approval of Measure 8 and other big money measures would mean "catastrophic" cuts for Oregon schools and public services. Measure 8 would limit state spending to no more than 15 percent of the total personal income of Oregonians; the state would have to reduce 2001-2003 appropriations by about $5.7 billion. In Jackson County, officials worry that legislators might sacrifice aid to local governments to spare state programs. But chief petitioner Don McIntire said Measure 8 simply seeks to prevent the state budget from growing faster than the gross income of the people who pay the government�s bills. Measure 9 - How schools deal with homosexuality Sponsored by the Oregon Citizens Alliance, Measure 9 would prohibit all public schools � from kindergartens through doctoral programs � from encouraging or sanctioning homosexuality. Measure 9 leaves it up to the state Education Board to define the kinds of school instruction that are deemed to promote homosexuality. Supporters say that students are learning pro-gay messages through books and workshops that teach there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. Opponents of Measure 9 say it threatens policies that provide gay and lesbian students with counseling support, relevant library books and protection from harassment. Measure 15-15 - Jackson County juvenile bond A $16.5 million measure would replace the crowded juvenile center, which was built in 1957. Measure 15-15 would build a new juvenile center, adding 20 secure beds for kids who have committed crimes. The measure also would pay for another 16 "shelter" beds for homeless children or minor offenders. The center also would have classroom, treatment and counseling space. The county has twice before tried to pass bonds for a juvenile center. If the bond measure fails again, the county could lose $4.1 million in federal funds. Passage of a $16.5 million bond would mean the owner of a $200,000 house would pay $50 a year extra in property taxes. The bond would be lowered after the county gets its federal grant. There is no organized opposition to the measure, but some have grumbled about the price. Because of a ballot snafu, some voters will be mailed separate, supplemental ballots for the juvenile measure. Check your ballot carefully. Measure 15-19 - Visitor lodging tax Supporters of Measure 15-19 want the community to keep park development in mind when they vote to increase city lodging taxes by half. A 124-acre sports complex and other park improvements depend on approval, supporters say. Visitors already pay a 6 percent lodging tax each night they stay in Medford, generating about $1.1 million in city revenue each year. Under the measure, the city would collect an extra $385,000 a year to fund parks improvements and local tourism-marketing efforts. Voter approval of the measure would authorize the city to raise the lodging tax on room receipts to as high as 9 percent, although the city has agreed to hold the tax at 8 percent for the first five years. Most local hoteliers support the increase because they say a sports complex would draw more visitors. Local bond issues Phoenix school bond The Phoenix-Talent School District is asking voters for a $16.2 million bond measure to answer present needs in classrooms. The bond would not build any new schools, but would give the district money for repairs and renovations to keep buildings functioning and accommodate growth for about 10 years. If approved, property owners would pay $1.17 per $1,000 assessed value to finance the measure. Eagle Point School District bond The district seeks $33.9 million to build three junior high schools, an elementary school, and enlarge other schools in White City, Eagle Point and Shady Cove. The measure would cost taxpayers $2.74 per $1,000 assessed value. Rogue River School District bond The district is asking voters for $5.3 million to add classrooms, cafeterias, and make many improvements to all school buildings. The measure would cost taxpayers 99 cents per $1,000 assessed value. Three Rivers School District bond Officials want to replace two schools and renovate 13 district buildings and they need $24 million to do the job. If approved, the bond would cost property owners 79 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The debt would be repaid in 21 years. Rogue River Fire Protection District The district is asking for $948,928 levy to replace three fire engines and hire an additional firefighter/EMT. The measure would cost taxpayers 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Candidates President With its measly seven electoral votes, Oregon has been lucky to get a single visit from a major presidential contender in past elections. How things change when you become a battleground state. Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush and their running mates have become regular visitors to the state. Oregon hasn�t voted for a Republican for president since 1984. But it, and neighboring Washington, are among a handful of states where the race is perceived as tilting either way. Gore and running mate Joseph Lieberman are trying to bolster their core support in the traditional Democratic bastions of Portland and Eugene. Bush and running mate Dick Cheney have been trying to shore up support in conservative Eastern and Southern Oregon. A potential factor in the Oregon race is Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, who drew 8 percent support in a mid-September poll. How much that might fade, and help Gore, is speculation. Congress, 2nd District Democratic challenger Walter Ponsford doesn�t have one lousy thing to say about U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River. "I really don�t know anything bad about him," said the Madras farmer and retired teacher running against Walden. Ponsford, who has never been elected to public office, said his complaint is with the Republican Party, not his opponent. Walden, who owns a broadcasting company with four radio stations, is a former state legislator who is completing his first term in Congress. "People don�t elect us to bicker," Walden said. "They elect us to get things done. And that�s what I�ve focused on." Secretary of state Secretary of State Bill Bradbury may have an edge over House Speaker Lynn Snodgrass on Nov. 7 because he�s the incumbent. But the race could still be close. A Pacific Green Party contender known for his anti-nuclear activism, Lloyd Marbet, could play a significant role if the contest is tight. Bradbury, a Democrat, assumes Marbet will draw more votes from him than from Snodgrass, a Republican. The secretary of state is the state�s top elections officer as well as its chief auditor of state agencies. Lesser-known duties include managing the state archives and overseeing the registry of corporations maintained by the state. Bradbury brands his Republican rival as "one of the most partisan individuals" in the Legislature who presided over a strife-ridden and unproductive legislative session last year. Snodgrass argues the session was fruitful "despite that almost half of House members were brand new." She said while Bradbury boasts of his environment record, she steered the nation�s most comprehensive pesticide-use tracking legislation to passage. State treasurer An elective job that�s among the lowest in visibility in state government, the treasurer is nonetheless the third-highest position in state government and of tremendous significance. The treasurer manages about $50 billion in state funds, about 80 percent of which is public employees� pension money. Democratic State Rep. Randall Edwards of Portland and Republican Jon Kvistad, an elected Metro councilor in Portland, are the major party candidates for the post being vacated by Jim Hill. Mitch Shults, an investment adviser for Intel, is running for treasurer as a Libertarian. Edwards worked for Hill for four years as a policy adviser and communications assistant. He says his experience plus two terms in the Oregon House give him the edge. But Kvistad, who has served on Portland�s regional government agency since 1992, says he has substantial experience in financial issues. Attorney general Attorney General Hardy Myers faces challenger Kevin Mannix in a rematch. The two were opponents the 1996 Democratic primary. Mannix re-registered Republican, arguing the Democratic Party had become too liberal. Mannix emphasizes crime issues; he was a sponsor of 1994�s Measure 11, among other tough-on-crime measures. Democrat Myers says being the state�s top law enforcement officials is only part of the job. "You�re selecting the chief lawyer for state government,�� said Myers. Mannix is a Salem lawyer and state representative. Myers, elected attorney general in 1996, is a former legislator and House speaker. Supreme Court An appellate court judge and a business lawyer are vying for a seat on the Oregon Supreme Court. Paul J. DeMuniz, elected to the Oregon Court of Appeals in 1990, says his experience, integrity and commitment to fairness qualify him for the state�s highest court. DeMuniz, an Air Force veteran, is a former public defender who has served on numerous statewide judicial committees. Greg Byrne, who has practiced law in Oregon for 29 years, says he wants to open the Supreme Court to the public by televising proceedings. Byrne, who also serves as a Circuit Court judge pro-tem, is a former U.S. Marine. The Oregon State Bar selected him to investigate unethical attorneys and advise new lawyers. Jackson County commission Commissioner Sue Kupillas and challenger Cleve Wright are running on the same issue: Kupillas� record. While Democrat Kupillas points to her experience and her accomplishments in three terms as commissioner, Republican opponent Cleve Wright complains that she has lost touch. Kupillas, a former teacher and bookkeeper, says she was instrumental in the renewal of unincorporated White City and points to her work to begin long-range land use planning. Wright, meanwhile, has criticized Kupillas for approving a pay raise for commissioners during a year of budget cuts, saying it�s a prime example of how Kupillas has lost touch with constituents. The owner of a private investigation firm, Wright first ran against Commissioner Ric Holt in 1998 as a Democrat. He�s now a Republican. Kupillas was first elected in 1988 and is the only Democrat on the commission. If re-elected, she will become the longest-serving commissioner in the county�s history. House District 52 Democrat Alan Bates and Republican Jane Hunts have the hottest race in Southern Oregon. Both Republican and Democratic state leaders say they are putting extra effort into winning the District 52 seat that has endured volatile swings from right to left over the last two decades. Ashland Democrat Judy Uherbelau has represented the district � which stretches from Ashland to Prospect � since 1994. It�s the only Southern Oregon district where Democrats have the registration advantage. Hunts, who lost a challenge to Uherbelau two years ago, says her degree in finance gives her the ability to look at the economic impacts of decisions. The Trail resident says she�ll also be able to devote time to the position. Her husband will take over duties at their family-run manufacturing business. Bates, making his first attempt at a legislative seat, says experience is the difference between he and Hunts. The physician who lives in Eagle Point said he helped develop the Oregon Health Plan and has been elected to the Eagle Point School Board three times. House District 51 In District 51, which includes western Jackson County and eastern Josephine County, Republican Cherryl Walker of Murphy and Democrat Lon Holston of Central Point are vying for the seat vacated by Jason Atkinson, who is running unopposed in Senate District 25 this fall. Holston, a warehouse shipping person at Sierra Pine/Medite Division, said the difference between himself and Walker is experience. Holston said because he�s worked at the Legislature as a lobbyist the last two sessions, he can skip the learning phase and get right to building coalitions and making things happen. Walker also points to experience as her edge. She said that as a former manager and administrative law judge in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she has experience working with regulatory agencies, budgeting and management. House District 50 In District 50, which encompasses the city of Medford, Democrat Barbara Davidson is challenging incumbent Rep. Rob Patridge. Davidson, a retired school teacher, said she ran because she believes Patridge didn�t push for enough of an increase in school funding, and she has the time to give Medford better representation. But Patridge, a lawyer, said he also believes the state needs to increase school funding. He said he�d like to send more money to schools and then hold the schools accountable for how that money is spent. House District 46 In District 46, incumbent Republican Susan Morgan, from Myrtle Point, is being challenged by Democrat W. Earl Calhoun of Shady Cove. The district covers northwest Jackson County, northern Josephine County and part of Douglas County. First-term Rep. Morgan says her district is one of the most economically depressed areas of the state, so she�s emphasizing family-wage jobs and economic development. Calhoun, a retired electrician, also stresses the need for a "living wage" in the district. But he said increasing money for schools also is critical. Morgan said schools need to prove they are making the best use of funds before she could support a tax increase for schools. City races Medford Home-schooler and community activist Susan Hand will challenge Mayor Lindsay Berryman in the city�s first race for a four-year mayoral term. Berryman, 55, Medford�s first woman mayor, said she would encourage valleywide planning if re-elected. Restoring Bear Creek, enhancing parks, and neighborhood revitalization top Berryman�s list of priorities, she said. Hand, 46, said she wants to protect existing neighborhoods from the pressures of growth. Too often, Hand said, city leaders threaten neighborhoods by overlooking the effects of added traffic from nearby developments. Hand also would push for accessible public transportation if elected. Janet Meyer, Ed Chun and Mark Soderstrom seek the Ward 1 seat being vacated by Curt Bennett. Traffic and the stress it places on the city�s existing streets is a major concern for all three. According to Chun, 34, the city took a big step toward improving traffic by adopting a plan that identifies and prioritizes street improvements. Soderstrom, 44, said he supports putting growth outside the city�s urban boundaries to alleviate traffic bottlenecks. He said he also supports incorporating new cities to manage growth. But Meyer, 65, said traffic would best be managed by making maximum use of land in the urban growth boundary. In Ward 3, Councilman John Michaels faces Rachel Chartier. Both support in-fill policies to control growth. Michaels, elected to the council in 1998, said he would continue to support efficient use of land by encouraging housing development on smaller lots. According to Chartier, neighborhoods plagued by blight could be hiding some real gems. She said she�d like to focus on rehabilitation efforts to clean up Medford�s older neighborhoods and encourage home-buying there. In Ward 4, Councilman Bill Moore is opposed by planning commissioner Dennis Nielsen. Nielsen, 51, who was admonished by the council in April for alleged misconduct, conceded that he is argumentative. But he said he�ll continue to ask questions and "call a duck a duck" if elected to the council. Councilman Moore, 75, said he wouldn�t rehash the issue during the election. Among the issues he�d like to pursue, Moore said, is a regional-planning effort that would create buffers between existing cities to help them retain their identities. Nielsen listed neighborhood preservation and zoning policies among his top priorities. Ashland Five candidates are vying to be the city�s first new mayor in a dozen years. Cathy Shaw is not seeking re-election. Alan DeBoer owns Town and Country Chevrolet Oldsmobile. A lifelong Ashland resident, he�s been a member of the Ashland School Board for seven years and has served on numerous community committees. John Freedom, a retired Army officer, moved to Ashland in 1998. He has served on the Ashland Economic Development Committee. Betty Austin Hutto is a personal and career coach with Athena Associates. She served two terms on the federal Navigation Safety Advisory Council and moved to Ashland in 1998. Gary Smith is a checker at Albertson�s and former manager of a public relations and marketing firm. He lists no prior governmental experience and has lived in Ashland for four years. Carole Wheeldon is a former manager at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. An 18-year Ashland resident, she has been a member of the City Council for five years and has served on numerous community committees. For Council Seat No. 3, Cate Hartzell and Chris Hearn are competing. Steve Hauck is not seeking re-election. Community activist Hartzell, director of the nonprofit Collaborative Learning Circle, is a 16-year Ashland resident. She�s served on the budget and citizens communication committees. Hearn is a land-use attorney. An eight-year Ashland resident, he has served on the Ashland Planning Commission since 1996 and is a former board member of Southern Oregon Head Start. Mike Gibbs and John Morrison are running for Seat No. 5, Wheeldon�s vacant seat. Gibbs owns Winchester Country Inn. An 18-year Ashland resident, he has served on the Ashland Budget Committee and was twice president of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. Morrison is manager of the Rogue Valley Council of Governments� community development program. A 20-year Ashland resident, he serves on the Ashland Traffic Safety Commission and the Ashland Forest Reserve Commission. Central Point Longtime rivals Mayor Bill Walton and Councilwoman Carol Fischer will go head-to-head in the mayor�s race. Walton encourages voters to look at his achievements the past two years. Fischer hopes to persuade voters to "take back their city." The candidates say the city�s no-smoking ordinance is a key issue. Walton refers to the ordinance as "the best thing I ever did," but Fischer supported citizens who wanted the ordinance put to a citywide vote. Voters upheld the ordinance in September. Fischer, a retired journalist and 35-year city resident, was appointed to the council in 1996. She served on the budget and parks committees. Walton, a longtime county resident and a retired school teacher, was elected mayor in 1998. Half the council will turn over this election, with three seats open and no incumbents running. Running unopposed for Ward 4 is former councilman and ex-firefighter Dick Halley. Four candidates are running for two at-large seats. Lloyd Beichner, a former mill worker who currently works in the restaurant business. Kay Harrison, who works for U.S. Cellular in Medford, has lived in Central Point since 1977. An RVTD board member who has served on various committees, she says she wants the city to grow in a "healthy, well-planned way." Rusty McGrath, former councilman and mayor who lost to Walton in 1998, wants to "straighten a few things out." McGrath helped lead a bid to refer Central Point's ban on smoking to a vote. He says he favors growth and protecting citizens� rights. He owns McGrath Racing and ATV. Bill Ward has no political experience, but as a blue-collar worker for 39 years, he says he can relate to people. He was born and raised in the Rogue Valley and is retired from Pacific Power. Phoenix Mayor Larry Parducci will face City Councilman Allen Harris in the mayor�s race. Parducci, 56, owns the Holiday RV Park. A former council member, he�s been mayor for last four years. Harris, 77, has served on the council 24 years. He works at the Ashland Greenhouse. Seven write-in candidates have declared for four vacancies on the council. Councilwoman Diana Rasmussen, a home interior designer, is running for the only two-year position. Harold Burks, a 16-year Phoenix resident, is a retired masonry contractor. David Johnson, whose lived in Phoenix for three years, is a personal banking officer at Wells Fargo Bank. Curtis Georgeson, who moved to Phoenix in July 1998, served as mayor in Waverly, Neb., for six years. He also served on the Waverly council. Vanitia Hertager, a 13-year resident, is a Phoenix Chamber of Commerce board member. She works as a personal property appraiser. Dorothy Rachor, a certified building designer, has lived a decade in Phoenix. She�s served on the city�s planning commission, the Jackson County Airport Advisory Committee and the South Umpqua School Board in Douglas County. Daniel Sauro moved from Grants Pass to Phoenix about a year ago. He formerly worked in management for Hughes Aircraft Company and Safeway. Rogue River Two city officials may pull a switcheroo if both are successful in their bids for new positions. Mayor Richard Handbury is one of five candidates for three seats on council. Phillip Peters, a council member of two years, is unopposed for mayor. Handbury said he wants to serve on the council to see several bridge projects through. Charles Skevington, a budget committee veteran, says he wants to keep growth "well regulated." Bill Webster, also on the budget committee, has served twice on the Planning Commission. Fred Stockwell, a planning commissioner, says he wants to strengthen Rogue River commercially and establish a historic downtown area. Councilman Leigh Lucas also seeks re-election. Butte Falls Alvin Thompson and Ethel Hoppe are running for mayor; Jack Brown is not seeking re-election. Jerrad Munsell is running against incumbent Mary Wright for Town Council Position 1, Neal Ellis is running unopposed for Position 2 and Morace (Stan) Moore and Ray Macy are vying for Position 3. Eagle Point Jim Goan and Mel Whetstine are running for mayor. Dave McFall is not seeking re-election. Russ Groves, Joni Parson, Garey Walruff, and Roger Gamache are running for three vacant City Council seats. Gold Hill Five positions � mayor, three council members and a municipal judge � but no candidates will appear on the ballot, thanks in part to a filing deadline mix-up. Two incumbents have announced write-in campaigns: Calvin Eary, a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, for municipal judge; and Scott Eilefson, who works in the wholesale lumber business, for a second term on the council. Jacksonville Five candidates are seeking three vacant City Council seats � Jerry Mathern, Wally Hicks, Clara Wendt, Joyce Coleman and Donna Schatz. Shady Cove Ken Edwards is running against Mayor Tom Anderson. For City Council, Victor Corchero, Alison Curtis, Daryl Hawkins and incumbent Lois Holland are seeking two vacant seats. Talent Talent has four candidates for four open seats on the City Council: appointed council members Katrina Hill and Doug Turner, and Jodi Riker-Yap and Bryan Roberts. 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