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Gold Hill will decide who to call 'mayor' By BUFFY POLLOCK GOLD HILL - Two candidates with different backgrounds but similar goals for the city will compete for the mayor's seat in a special election May 15. Ballots for the mail-in election will be sent out today and should start arriving in mailboxes on Saturday. This is the only May election in the county and is open solely to Gold Hill residents. The two mayoral candidates, Council President Scott Eilefson, a 31/2-year resident, and Kevin Ryan, an almost-20-year resident, each said he wants to attract businesses to the town and solve the city's law enforcement issues. The winner will serve until Dec. 31, 2002. Eilefson, who has been carrying out the duties of the mayor since Tim Roddam resigned in December, said he wants the city to develop slowly and responsibly and attract a diverse business community. "I've already been serving in the interim ... and just really enjoyed it," Eilefson said. "I've always had it in the back of my mind that I would probably do it, and having a chance to get my feet wet ... really helped." Eilefson serves on the board of directors for CanDo, a Gold Hill community development committee, and has worked in the wholesale lumber business for 18 years. Ryan, a Class A driver, said his main goals are to promote more tourism and increase revenues. He brings to the job years of experience as a manager and service on the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. Ryan filed for the position in February when he learned council members would not hold a March election because of a lack of interest in the position. Ryan attends CanDo meetings and strategic planning meetings and said he has been working to encourage local business owners to get more involved. "I'd really like to bring people together in Gold Hill. I want to make the town look better, shine it up a little bit," he said. Both candidates have been meeting with the city's Public Safety Committee to address the city's law enforcement problems. The city has been contracting with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department for police coverage after disbanding its own department in June because of personnel and liability issues. Eilefson and Ryan said they will wait for the results of a community survey before suggesting solutions. Ballots must be returned to the Jackson County Clerk's Office by 8 p.m. May 15. There will be no drop box open in Gold Hill, but there will be two 24-hour drop boxes at the county courthouse: one at the payment center box, the other on Eighth Street. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.