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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 28, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 29, 2004 Councilman challenges Jacksonville mayor Jerry Mathern’s run for Mayor Jim Lewis’ job creates the first contested mayoral race in the city since 1994 By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — The city will have a two-candidate mayoral race for the first time in a decade. City Councilman Jerry Mathern is challenging two-time incumbent Mayor Jim Lewis for the top seat in city government in the Nov. 2 general election. Mathern, 65, whose four-year term expires this year, said it’s time for more people to get involved — and for voters to have a choice. "I’d like to see more people involved in the committees. And I’d like to see them operate independent of staff," said Mathern. Mathern, a retired manager with American Linen, said having council or city staff members on citizen-based committees has a stifling effect on the process and limits input to the City Council. He would like to see the committee and the staff offer two separate recommendations to the council. Advertisement "I also want to see the economic committee involved in the (city’s) budgeting process," said Mathern. "Council is part of the budget committee and things tend to get rubber-stamped." Mathern and Lewis agreed that finding a sustainable funding source for public safety is one of the most pressing issues facing the city. The Jacksonville Fire Department is underfunded and understaffed, they said. The city enacted a $15 monthly public safety surcharge in June 2003 to alleviate the problem. But some citizens objected and sued the city in Oregon Tax Court, saying the surcharge is taxation without representation. The legal arguments have been tentatively resolved in the city’s favor. But there are still questions regarding possible refunding of money, and the citizens can still appeal. More than $300,000 has been collected from the surcharge so far and must await final resolution before being spent. Mathern said he is disappointed the objections of a few have kept money from the fire and police departments. "We spent a lot of time and a lot of money and 12 people say they don’t like it so they file an appeal," said Mathern. "The people of Jacksonville don’t have fire safety because a dozen people don’t like the surcharge." Lewis, 59, was appointed mayor in 1995 and ran unopposed to keep his seat in 1996 and 2000. A retired attorney and Navy Reserve officer, Lewis served on the City Council from 1986 to 1995. Lewis said finding "permanent and fair funding for public safety" continues to be a challenge. Lewis said waiting for the final decision on the city’s legal battle makes for difficult budgeting. The city has placed a fire levy on the ballot to go into effect only if the city ultimately loses the court battle. Lewis is most proud of the city’s partnership with the Jacksonville Woodlands Association. The acquisition of 320 acres of woodland creates a unique and valuable asset to Jacksonville, he said. The association recently received a $280,000 grant to finish acquiring land necessary to complete the vision. "We are a state and national model for that kind of conservancy," Lewis said. Lewis said the city "is still in study mode" regarding the 1,800 acres of watershed land just outside city limits. "I still want to be a part of that process," said Lewis. "I hope to be able to continue serving the town." Both Lewis and Mathern were hospitalized recently. Lewis suffered a transient ischemic attack (a transient stroke) but it left no residual effects, he said. Mathern said he had a scheduled surgery and was "in good health." Four other candidates are running for three at-large positions on the Jacksonville council: incumbent Donna Schatz, Liz Kellogg, Jim Frings and Dick Ames. Schatz, 71, said she wants to continue to serve the city. A tax consultant, Schatz has been a council member since 1995. Her two main areas of interest are creating a community center and protecting the Jacksonville watershed. Schatz is the chairwoman of the forestry committee. She wants to see the city get its water rights back and protect the area. "City government is growing and getting more complicated," she said. "I’d like to hang in and be a part of the decision making." Retired teacher Kellogg, 62, is making her first run at political office. Kellogg, a former member of the citizen advisory committee for urban renewal, said she wants to have more "transparency in government," and would like to see more citizen involvement. Although Kellogg said she was involved in defeating a November 2002 fire levy, she urges people to vote for this year’s levy as it is both less expensive and necessary. "You’d have to live here to know, but we really need help for our fire department," she said. Frings and public safety committee member Ames were unavailable for comment. Ballots must be returned to the Jackson County Elections Center by 8 p.m. Tuesday to be counted. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? 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