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By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune October 10. 2014 4:59PM Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race TALENT — Councilwoman Darby Stricker will try for the second time to unseat Mayor Bill Cecil, who bested her by a whisker for the post in 2010. Stricker said economic development would be her top priory if elected. Cecil’s top priority would be continued involvement of residents in city government. Cecil defeated Stricker for the mayor’s seat by 62 votes — 909 to 847 — in 2010. “I want to install a (economic development) committee so it’s an ongoing effort, so we continue to evaluate the growth of the city while maintaining the small-town feel,” said Stricker, adding she'd like to see the city gain living-wage jobs and high-value light manufacturing. Stricker would consider hiring a consultant to aid with economic growth. “As we move forward, part of the committee function would be to make those kinds of decisions,” said Stricker. Cecil said he would like to have the city work with landowners to have shovel-ready sites where light manufacturing could develop, but he admits that’s a city manpower challenge. “Small manufacturers can’t afford a year to make it work. They have to be up and running in less than a year,” said Cecil. City efforts that led to electric vehicle manufacturer Brammo and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival establishing facilities in town demonstrate that the city will work with firms, he said Cecil’s top priority is to continue the involvement of residents with the City Council and being responsive to the public. The mayor’s post is one of leadership rather than managing, he said, and the city has many volunteers. “I want to include the citizens in decisions as much as I can because I think that builds community," said Ceil. He can best do that by allowing them to take the reins to see what they can do, he added. “Get them interested and give them the free rein to do the job,” said Cecil. Stricker said there is a lack of citizen participation on committees and commissions. There are, for example, four vacancies on the five-member Architectural Review Committee. “One of the opportunities I think we have missed is doing a better job of bringing the committees and commissions together and … working on a shared basis,” said Stricker, adding she’d like to have "summit sessions" so the bodies could learn from each other and find common ground for shared visions. Both candidates said that with the Talent Urban Renewal Agency closing down in December 2016, they’d like to see the agency's tax revenue go to the city to reduce surcharges that appear on utility bills. “I’d like to see a plan in place. I don’t want to see a windfall spent without one,” said Stricker. Stricker would continue to pursue the urban renewal idea of developing a third link into the recently completed roundabout from Wagner Street through the current Talent Irrigation District property. She said she’d start a dialogue with the district. “We’re at the end of the big projects. The city needs to bring in the money to get rid of the $4 surcharge (for public safety),” said Cecil. “The city can do a lot of the smaller jobs just like we usually do.” Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. He can be reached at [email protected] CANDIDATES UP CLOSE Bill Cecil Age: 74Education: Federal government training with three agenciesPolitical Experience: Mayor since 2011. Four years on Talent City Council, served on Talent Planning Commission and Jackson County Parks Committee Darby StrickerAge: 52Education: Certifications in hospitality managementPolitical Experience: Talent City Council since 2013, and 2002-04; Talent Planning Commission, Talent Parks Commission, Jackson County Fire District No. 5 board since May http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141010/NEWS/141019928 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->