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Candidates stress importance of agricultural issues at forum By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune At a Jackson County Farm Bureau candidate forum Tuesday night, politicians pledged their support for farmers while judicial candidates threw jabs. "Everyone appeared to be supportive of agriculture," Jackson County Farm Bureau President Ron Bjork concluded after the forum. "But they have different ways of approaching it." Most of the candidates spoke about their connections with land and farming. Barbara Davidson, a Democrat running for state House District 6, talked about growing up on a farm. "I learned many of the problems and many of the joys of living off the land," she said. "I know there have been problems with farm land and it's a crime." Many spoke about possible solutions to agricultural issues facing farmers. David Gilmour, a Democrat running for county commissioner position 3, suggested that cities should become more dense rather than rapidly growing outward and encroaching on farm land. Walt Fitzgerald, a Republican running for commissioner position 3, said an important step would be developing water storage capacity throughout the county and creating buffers between agricultural land and urban areas. Also running for position 3, Republican Diane Davidson suggested that agricultural lands need to be available in smaller parcels to allow for today's farming. County Commissioner Ric Holt, running to retain his seat in position 3 insisted that things are looking up for farmers and all people of Jackson County. "We've been looking at land use problems for years," Holt said. "Things are getting better - we know it and hear it from the people." John Hallett, a Democrat running for commissioner position 1 suggested that commissioners should appoint an agricultural adviser who "would represent ranchers and farmers in Jackson County." County Commissioner Jack Walker, running to retain his seat in position 1, said the county is revising its land use regulations, but the state needs to address its laws and regulations also. For instance, he suggested that it should be easier to put a home on agricultural land. Curt Chancler, a Republican running for commissioner position, turned his attention to what he called corruption in county government. "Why do county employees have county vehicles that most of us cannot afford to buy?" he asked. "I do not like seeing county government flourish when people of the county are not." Dennis Richardson, a Republican running for state House District 4 told farmers they should have better representation on the state level. "Do you feel like you are empowered? No you don't," he said. "Do you feel like the farmers in Klamath Falls were empowered? Did you hear anything from Salem during that crisis? ...They act like animals have more civil rights than people." Circuit Court judge candidates focused on their qualifications . "I think we need judges who are hard workers ... and know how to make deadlines," said judicial candidate Joe Charter. "Consider whether the candidates in this race know how to meet deadlines, like the deadline for candidate statements in the voters pamphlet." His opponent, Bill Purdy said the chairman of his campaign committee, who was responsible for missing the deadline, was replaced. "I'm not longer chairman of my own committee," he joked. "If none of you have made a mistake, maybe you want to look at the fact that I did. And if you really want to make a mistake, you can vote for Joe." Other candidates at the forum were state House District 55 candidate George Gilman; State House District 2 Rep. Susan Morgan; Jackson County sheriff candidate Mike Winters; and Second Congressional District candidate John McColgan. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.