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A penny earned: Election adds sense of irony By JILL BRISKEY If Jackson County Sheriff's Capt. Ed Mayer wins the race for sheriff against former Oregon State Police trooper Mike Winters, he can look forward to a salary increase of a penny an hour. The Jackson County Budget Committee approved a nearly $6,000 reduction for the newly elected sheriff's salary. The committee finalized its annual budget recommendations at a meeting on Friday. State law stipulates that a sheriff must make more than subordinates in the department. Members voted to drop the salary to $35.55 an hour, or $73,924 per year. As the highest-paid subordinate to Sheriff Bob Kennedy, Mayer earns $35.54 an hour. "Obviously, to me it sounds unfair," Mayer said after learning about the cut Friday evening. Mayer said the committee members' decision to approve a 3 percent salary increase for commissioners also discourages him. The committee is made up of all three commissioners and three volunteer citizen members. Mayer said the salary cut won't take him out of the race. "I'm way beyond the point of no return," he joked. County Administrator Sue Slack said committee members decided to lower the new sheriff's salary because the election's winner will lack Kennedy's experience and qualifications. But the decision raised concern among some county officials, who wonder what future elections will be like. "They'll have to spend more than their salary" on the campaign, said Commissioner Jack Walker, who opposed the cut. Winters, who manages a local construction company, said he's pleased to see the salary cut. "I probably would have brought that (higher salary) to their attention anyway," Winters said. "I don't start out people at top level at my construction company ... there's no reason why I should." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.