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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories California man gives Christmas trees to Medford families Applegate man charged with sexually abusing girl over 18-month period Police looking for homeless man who attacked two others with a crowbar Friends of the Animal Shelter volunteer orientation set It's Free Day at ScienceWorks Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Applegate man charged with sexually abusing girl over 18-month period Police looking for homeless man who attacked two others with a crowbar Emergency services Two missing Ashland teens planned to run away, police say Emergency Services Politics and Elections GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Pot, GMOs unite south Jackson County Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Education Students put their hearts into AIDS event Kitzhaber calls for early education spending in budget proposal Medford leans toward three-quarter-day kindergarten Building audits will help district save energy, and money Homelessness is growing problem for Medford students Environment Most dredging banned under new proposed guidelines Hawks use I-5 as hunting ground Curbing urban runoff in Gold Hill Mt. 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Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Guest Opinion: 'Natural' not necessarily better for forest management Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Fix health care reform, don't scrap it Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health Troubleshoot common water boiler problems 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Dec. 5-7) Lost in Suburbia: Out of the cast iron pan and into the fire Dear Monty: Ten helpful home-listing tips Food 'Amazing' Soup Roxy Ann winemaker has roots in Napa Valley Community blog: Post-holiday soups easy on the budget, waistline Food for Thought: Sugar cookies offer holiday nostalgia Kitchen Call: A change from turkey leftovers Home and Garden Troubleshoot common water boiler problems Dear Monty: Ten helpful home-listing tips Home Help: Luxurious upgrades don’t have to break the bank 9 ways to green your gift wrap Dear Monty: How to find a good real estate attorney Health Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health HealthStyle: Develop an attitude of gratitude Health Watch: Fuel up on carbs before workouts Health insurance enrollment help available Community blog: Appreciating Clouds: Year-Round Gratitude Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn New Arrivals ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents all-percussion concert Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Brunch at Loft Brasserie 2014 Providence Festival of Trees Theater Camelot presents 'Fiddler on the Roof' OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos Music SOU presents all-percussion concert Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Dining Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Police looking for homeless man who attacked two others with a crowbar ... Longtime Ashland New Plays Festival artistic director is retiring ... Most dredging banned under new proposed guidelines ... Police looking for homeless man who attacked two others with a crowbar ... Longtime Ashland New Plays Festival artistic director is retiring ... Most dredging banned under new proposed guidelines ... SHERIFF'S RACE Winters worn down by criticism Sheriff still on ballot but not campaigning By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters' name will be on the Nov. 4 ballot, but he isn't campaigning to stay in his office. Mostly, he said, he's tired of the constant barrage of criticism that has affected him, his family and his friends.  “It sucks the life out of you after a while,” said Winters, 56. “There’s no down time.” In the May primary, Ashland police Deputy Chief Corey Falls pulled in 46 percent of the vote, while Winters drew 30 percent. Since neither drew 50 percent, they moved on to the general election as the top two vote-getters. Bob Sergi, the third candidate in the primary and a former sheriff's lieutenant, has endorsed Falls. But Winters abruptly halted his bid for reelection earlier this month and said he would gladly turn over his badge to Falls. There is a caveat, however: He’s ready to spend another four years in office if he gets the most votes on Nov. 4. “I will serve the people if they will elect me,” Winters said Tuesday. The sheriff race is nonpartisan, but Winters is a Republican endorsed by his own party. Falls, an independent, is endorsed by the Jackson County Sheriff Employees Association, consisting of deputies and other department employees. Winter's partial withdrawal from the race has left some up in the air about his intentions. Chuck Heauser, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee, said the local party's decision to endorse Winters was made well before he announced he wasn’t going to actively run for office. “I know that he has detractors and supporters, too,” he said. “People said they will tend to vote for him.” The local party hasn’t helped promote Winters campaign and hasn’t been asked to help, Heauser said. “We’ve endorsed him — that’s about it,” he said. Also, while Winters enjoys support among many Republicans, Falls hasn’t generated many negatives. “I think Corey Falls is a very nice guy,” Heauser said. Winters said he is frustrated at the inability of people to see how much he’s transformed the department, including a new centrally located office on Highway 62, a new, consolidated 911 center, an expanded jail and an amber alert system that he thinks is one of the finest in the nation in helping find lost children. “I don’t mind criticism, but let’s be respectful about our elected officials,” he said. “I welcome constructive criticism but not blatant vitriol.” He also got flak from his own deputies earlier this year when he handed out layoff notices to 66 employees and administrators when it looked like the department was going to be hit with $3.2 million in cuts. The layoffs never happened because a dispute over binding arbitration was resolved. At the end of the day, Winters said, he will help Falls if his challenger takes over the reins of sheriff. “I have nothing against Corey Falls,” he said. “I’ve made major changes to the department that will make transition easier, but it will still be a lot to take on. This is a turnkey operation. This is a top-notch sheriff’s office.” Falls, 41, said he’s running his campaign with the understanding that Winters is still in the race but said he is puzzled by the sheriff sending out mixed messages to voters. “It’s confusing,” he said. “People want to know where their sheriff stands. I don’t think they know that now.” From the time Winters announced he was withdrawing from the race after missing a candidate’s forum in Ashland in September, Falls said he’s continued to campaign as if the sheriff were actively running. “I’ve been to two different forums since the sheriff made his announcement,” Falls said. “We’ve always gone at this like we’re going to put our best foot forward.” Falls has made it known that he wants to take on some of the issues the sheriff’s department has been criticized for over the years. If elected, Falls said, he would reach out to the deputies, community partners and the public. “People don’t have the feeling the sheriff’s office is connected to them,” he said. He would also evaluate how to better allocate the resources of the sheriff’s department. Falls questions whether it is appropriate for deputies and equipment to be sent to other counties when staff levels are spread thin. He also wants to find out why senior detectives have been demoted to patrol details. He said many county jail beds are rented out to the federal government and other agencies, while many of the suspects arrested in Medford are turned loose because of a lack of jail beds. Falls said a better balance needs to be struck to ensure there's jail space for suspects who commit local crimes. Winters is sensitive about the criticism he's received for sending deputies and equipment to other counties, including in Northern California. He noted deputies from Siskiyou County also have come over the border in emergencies to help his department. “Fire departments do it all over the nation, but I’m criticized for it,” he said. Winters has also drawn questions over his use of  Brim Aviation for helicopter use in search and rescue, illegal marijuana grows and providing aid in emergencies to other counties in the area, including in California. The contract amounts to about $450,000 a year, with all but $90,000 reimbursed through grants and other outside funding sources, Winters said. Many of the calls in other counties for the helicopter are reimbursed as well. “This helicopter has saved numerous lives, and we are one of the few agencies around providing that service,” Winters said. Winters said he's proud of what he's accomplished, despite the critics. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years, so you give a lot of ammunition for some people to attack you,” he said. Falls said he believes he offers a different message and a different agenda that will help rebuild the community’s trust. “If you want something diff, here’s my credentials,” he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm. By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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