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ELECTION School board member enters Jackson County commissioner race Jeff Thomas files for seat held by Doug Breidenthal By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 4, 2016 @ 4:09 pm Updated Feb 4, 2016 at 5:22 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 4, 2016 @ 4:09 pm Updated Feb 4, 2016 at 5:22 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Medford School Board Chairman Jeff Thomas announced his candidacy Thursday for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners seat currently held by Doug Breidenthal. "We need a commissioner who is focused 100 percent on our county," Thomas said. "Here is where our challenges are and here is where we can make a difference." Thomas said he didn't enter the race specifically to challenge Breidenthal. Breidenthal's Position 2 on the three-member board of commissioners is the only seat up for election this year. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission is in the midst of an investigation of Breidenthal, who it said may have violated provisions of Oregon law concerning the receipt of gifts valued at more than $50 from parties with interests before the Board of Commissioners, the use of an official position for financial gain and improper reporting of payments to cover trip expenses. Breidenthal has also faced criticism for his extensive travel and for missing county meetings. Regarding the issue of travel, Thomas said, "There has to be a return on investment on anything you do. A new or sitting commissioner needs to travel to grow as a commissioner and gain knowledge, but you have to look at every single time you travel and miss a meeting and weigh what will best serve the community." Thomas has filed as a Democrat for the race in a county that leans Republican. All three sitting commissioners are Republicans. No other Democrats have filed for the May 17 primary election. Breidenthal so far is running unopposed on the Republican side in the primary election. He filed paperwork to seek re-election in September 2015. The deadline to enter the primary race is March 8, according to elections paperwork on file with the Jackson County Elections Office. Thomas, the general manager of Connecting Point Computer Centers in Medford, described himself as a moderate and an experienced businessman who wants to bring people together to solve problems. "I'm a registered Democrat," Thomas said. "I personally believe county commissioner should not be a partisan position, but it is. You have to file as a Democrat or Republican. I feel my values match the community's values. I certainly believe our community wants people to work toward solutions that are good for the community." If he wins the commissioner seat, Thomas would take office in January 2017. He said his term on the Medford School District Board of Directors, where he serves as chairman, ends June 30, 2017. Thomas said he would consult with fellow school board members to see if they thought his serving both the school district and county would represent a conflict. If they thought there was a conflict, Thomas said he would resign his school board seat. He said issues facing the county include making better use of the area's timber resources to generate jobs and revenue, and dealing with a housing shortage that is especially impacting low-income households. "We need more diverse voices to look for solutions. Jackson County is a great place to be and to raise a family. We need to work actively to provide opportunities for all residents of the county," Thomas said. The area needs to generate more living-wage jobs so students who go to college can live in Jackson County, Thomas said. "We have a brain-drain," he said of young adults who leave to find better jobs elsewhere. He said commissioners are grappling with many issues, including impacts from the statewide legalization of marijuana. A graduate of Crater High School, Thomas earned his bachelor's degree in political science from then-Southern Oregon State College in 1992 and began working with Connecting Point while still in college, according to a press release. Thomas and his wife, Traci, have two daughters — one a recent graduate and one who attends North Medford High School. Thomas became active in Medford School Board meetings when his daughters were in elementary school and won a seat on the board in 2010. He's been chairman of the board since 2012, the release said. Thomas is the president of the Rogue Valley Timbers Soccer Club, a youth soccer organization, and is head coach of the North Medford High School girls varsity soccer team, the release said. Fellow school board member Larry Nicholson is among those supporting his candidacy. Nicholson said Thomas would be able to bring education, business and civic leaders together to solve challenges facing the county because of his years of volunteer work and business experience. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 4, 2016 @ 4:09 pm Updated Feb 4, 2016 at 5:22 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. 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