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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Three elections that matter right now ... The Concord launches ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 20, 1915 ... Our View: Three elections that matter right now ... The Concord launches ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 20, 1915 ... OUR VIEW Our View: Three elections that matter right now MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Oct. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am » 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" --> Despite all the chatter in the national media about the 2016 presidential race, it's still 2015, and even the nominations in that contest won't be decided for months to come. Meanwhile, local voters in Phoenix, Gold Hill and Rogue River have received ballots for a special election Nov. 3 to decide some important questions. Phoenix voters are being asked to amend the city charter — essentially a constitution for the city government — to eliminate some outdated language and to allow the mayor to vote if needed to make up a quorum — something that hasn't been needed but might be one day. The amendments also would change the oath of office sworn by council members to remove direct references to upholding state and federal law, but those are still inherent in the oath. The rewording is a delicate balancing so the city can accommodate marijuana businesses legal under state law but in violation of federal law. Most of the changes are of the housekeeping variety, and worthy of approval by Phoenix voters. A previous attempt at changing the oath of office by removing the reference to upholding federal law was defeated last November. This year's version should fare better. In Rogue River, voters are being asked to renew the city's fire levy for five more years. The tax rate of 50 cents per $1,000 assessed value will not change, and approval will allow the city to continue to provide fire protection at current levels. Defeat would require budget cuts and reduced service. We recommend voters continue to pay for fire protection at the existing rate. Gold Hill, which has twice disbanded its own police department and hasn't had full-time police protection since 2006, is asking voters to pay $2.64 cents per $1,000 assessed value to pay the Jackson County Sheriff's Department for a full-time sheriff's deputy dedicated to Gold Hill. The town has been getting by with a part-time Community Service Officer with limited law enforcement powers. The levy wouldn't provide 24-hour coverage — it would generate about $160,000 in the first year. The owner of a home assessed at $150,000 would pay about $33 a month. That's not an insignificant amount, but it would buy better police protection than the town has now. Residents will need to decide whether a safer town is worth paying for. We suggest it is. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am » 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501