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MEDFORD Five file for Medford City Council so far Two councilors won't seek re-election Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Four council seats and the mayor's office are up for grabs this November, and five official candidates have come forward and several others may still qualify to run. Two councilors, Eli Matthews and Daniel Bunn, have decided not to run for re-election, and Councilor Chris Corcoran is undecided about whether he will seek another term. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, to complete their paperwork, which includes getting 25 signatures verified by the Jackson County Elections Office. Signatures have to be gathered throughout the city for the mayor's race, or in the ward the council candidate will be representing. Mayor Gary Wheeler, who has not completed his paperwork, is being challenged by local businessman John Anhorn. Accountant and local gadfly Curt Ankerberg is vying for Councilor Dick Gordon's seat in Ward 1 in northeast Medford. Gordon has completed most of his paperwork. In Ward 2, which encompasses southwest Medford and is represented currently by Matthews, Tim D'Alessandro is now an official candidate, though Jim Herndon is working on gathering enough signatures to qualify. Matthews said he wants to spend more time on work and his home life. Matthews also has taken charge of Travel Medford, which has demanded more of his time. "I've decided a little while ago that I wasn't going to run," he said. D'Alessandro, who works at Rogue Valley Transportation District, said he wants to expand on the community service that he's been engaged with over the years on the Medford Planning Commission and the Site Plan and Architectural Commission. "I love the community, and I want to remain very active in the community," he said. Overall, he said he thinks the council and the city are on the right track. "I want to focus on public safety being improved and create more flexibility in some of the planning standards," he said. So far Corcoran is unopposed in Ward 3, representing northwest Medford, though Don Libby is still working on gathering signatures. Corcoran said he's not sure he's going to run again, citing personal and professional reasons that make it difficult for him to devote enough time to council matters. "I'm still on the fence," he said. Two women have filed for Ward 4 in the seat representing southwest Medford that is currently represented by Bunn. Local businesswoman Andrea Jablonski and Ruth Moncus both have completed their paperwork. Bunn said he will not run again because of increased demands with his family business as well as having another child on the way. "I'm going to miss it," he said. "I've enjoyed working on the City Council." Jablonski, who has worked for Asante Health System and now runs her own business, said, "The reason I decided to run was after attending some of the council meetings, I saw there was not enough female representation and diversity. I'm Latina as well." She said she thinks women would bring a different perspective to the council, which currently is made up of all men. Jablonski, 54, said she cares about small business and is concerned that more needs to be done for downtown Medford. As vice president of the Medford Senior Center board, Jablonski said she is particularly concerned about senior issues. Moncus, 45, also a Latina, has been a mother for almost 18 years, homeschooling her two teenage boys. She said her strong feeling that marijuana grows in the city should be banned convinced her to enter the race. "This is the issue that really got me going," Moncus said. "Everybody is just thinking about the money, but everybody's not thinking about our future generations and the millennials." She said she moved from Lancaster, Calif., a year-and-a-half ago after witnessing the steady increase in gang activity. "I can see it growing here," Moncus said. "I want to make sure the mistakes that that valley made are not made here." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Aug. 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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