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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Neighborhoods Employment Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 22, 2006 Jackson County Commissioner Candidates At-A-Glance JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER, POSITION 1 Diane Davidson, independent Age: 60. Residence: Central Point. Employment: Retired business owner. Advertisement Education: Medford High School. Experience: Served Jackson County on more than a dozen boards and commissions at local, state and national levels for 35 years. Past member of Medford School Board. Extensive managerial and fiscal experience. Top three priorities if elected: 1. People see their quality of life continuing to decline. Let's move away from bipartisan conflict toward a hopeful vision which challenges and inspires us again. 2. We need broader representation. There should be more than three commissioners determining the fate of our future. Decisions should be made in an open and transparent way — not behind closed doors. We need to listen to the public and only then should we make decisions which affect all of us. 3. My other priorities include establishing a zero-tolerance toward methamphetamine use and seeing a return to healthy community politics which will attract more economic diversity, higher-paying jobs and increased opportunity for our youth. Jack Walker, Republican incumbent Age: 66. Residence: Phoenix. Employment: Jackson County commissioner since 1995. Retired from driveline service and auto parts store, which he owned and operated for 22 years. Education: Talent High School. Experience: Phoenix City Council, 1983-86; Jackson County commissioner, 1995-present; chairman of the Association of Oregon Counties District 4, five years; AOC legislative representative for Jackson County board, eight years; board member for the Medford Center, 10 years; representative for county on the SORC executive board, eight years. Top three priorities if re-elected: 1. I hope to improve upon the Land Development Ordinance of 2004 by giving broader use to the new "rural use" zoning by allowing division. I have always been a supporter of property rights and support the intent of voters and Measure 37. 2. I will continue to support economic endeavors to keep Jackson County financially strong and still a place that we wish to live. I have supported the fairgrounds amphitheater, Harry and David Field at the Medford Sports Park and the Jackson County Sports Park, all bringing dollars to the county. 3. I pledge to work to prevent any further removal and tear down of the Elk Creek Dam project, and I feel it is time to push for its completion. Extremists' views should not keep us from protecting cities along the Rogue from future flood damage. Tom Winmill, Democratic challenger Age: 60. Residence: Ashland. Employment: COBI Digital HD. Education: Stadium High School, Tacoma, Wash.; four years at California State College Hayward. Experience: Business owner and manager, with experience in budgetary management, personnel management, sales and marketing, negotiation and managing growth. Member of the board of Wildlife Images and Southern Oregon University's Raider Club. Top three priorities if elected: 1. Make intelligent land-use decisions with extensive citizen input while managing growth to maintain our agricultural land and preserve our quality of life. I will open Measure 37 hearings to the public and allow the testimony of all affected parties. Further, rural zone changes must protect water tables for existing homes. 2. At COBI Digital HD, I have worked to make this region a center for digital media production. As commissioner, I pledge to strengthen our economy with family-wage jobs. That raises income, improves access to health care, increases productivity and ultimately lifts corporate profits, growing the tax base. 3. Ensure that county residents stay safe and secure by working with the county sheriff to control and contain criminal and security threats, and working with Dr. Dave Gilmour to prepare for the pandemics, superbugs and biohazards that may threaten our families and livelihoods in the future. POSITION 3 Dr. Dave Gilmour, Democratic incumbent Age: 58. Residence: Central Point Employment: Jackson County commissioner, Position No. 3 since 2002. Family physician, Providence Medical Group/Central Point since 1981. Education: M.D. from M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University/ Experience: Jackson County commissioner, 2002-present; Central Point City Council, 1999-2002; District No. 6 school board member, 1990-99; Central Point Planning Commission, 1987-90; Health officer, Jackson County, 1987-2002. Top three priorities if re-elected: 1. Continue to work diligently for reauthorization of federal money to replace timber harvest revenues from O&C lands, including lobbying in Washington and working closely with the Washington, D.C., staff of SEIU, which represents many county employees. I will also continue my efforts to develop fair strategies for downsizing should reauthorization fail. 2. Continue efforts toward diversified economic development, including: a) a rail-freight node at Tolo; b) industrial parks at Tolo and south Medford; c) workforce housing near White City; and d) revitalization of our agricultural sector. We also need to expand both living-wage jobs and high-end jobs to reverse the "brain drain" of our educated children. 3. Develop a countywide system of "assisted medication" and mental health courts to service those who suffer from chronic mental illness. Continuity of care, coupled with improved compliance, will not only save lives, but save money by reducing the number of mentally ill in our jail and inpatient psychiatric facilities. Craig Prewitt, Republican challenger Age: 52. Residence: Medford. Employment: Orthopedic implant sales, Zimmer Northwest; hay farmer. Education: Bachelor of science degree, Oregon State University. Experience: Phoenix-Talent School Board member, 15 years; vice president, Oregon School Boards Association; chairman, OSBA Health Insurance Trust; member, Phoenix-Talent Budget and Strategic Planning Committee; member, Jackson County Public Safety Coordinating Council. Top three priorities if elected: 1. I promise a full-time commitment to the job. Jackson County's commissioners directly impact how we all live our lives; being a commissioner is too important a job to trust to part-time work. I will give it a full-time effort. 2. I will work to simplify the complexities of local government, and to increase the quality of communication between Jackson County, Salem, Oregon and Washington, D.C. 3. I will work to increase the efficiency of county government, while working as a liaison among all government agencies. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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