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October 15. 2014 6:45PM Ward 4 Q&A: George Schroeder George Schroeder is one of four candidates seeking to represent southeast Medford's Ward 4 George Schroeder If elected, what would be your top priority while in office? I would like to see an indoor aquatic center in Medford. I’d like to see improvements on the Bear Creek waterway coming through town. I think that’s important to here and Interstate 5 going through town. I think that we definitely need some social improvements like for mental health, homeless issues. We need to care for those things. And I’d like to see the safety and infrastructure maintained and improved upon in Medford, police and fire. Do you think recreational marijuana should be legalized? I think its inevitable that it’s going to happen eventually. I feel like it is an avenue that, if properly taken care of, could be the answer to some of the social problems I was concerned about, like mental health and police. Recreational marijuana, if handled right, could be a golden goose as far as improvements. I think the city needs to tax recreational marijuana and use the money for social and safety issues. Should the city continue its ban on medical marijuana dispensaries? I think it’s inevitable that it's going to happen here. I can’t stick my head in the sand about it. I mean, there’s just too much support. How should the city deal with homeless people who cause problems in the parks? Specifically, I think there’s a definite need for them to receive their food, but I don’t think it should be in any city park or any city parking lot. I agree with (Ward 4 councilman) Bob Strosser when he said there shouldn’t be any city park where people don’t feel safe going there. I feel the same about parking lots. Those people deserve the right to feel safe. A lot of (the transient population) are people who have been excluded from Hawthorne Park for one reason or another. It’s not just homeless people we’re dealing with. There’s definitely a need to help those people and we definitely need a place to do it. How would you be different as a leader? I’ve been here my whole life. I really care about the community and the people that live here. This is my home, I love this place. I like the fact that you can get anywhere in town in 15 minutes. I’d really do my best for the people in this town. GEORGE SCHROEDERAge: 61Education: Some collegePolitical experience: Senior member of Medford Parking Commission since 1998; Urban Renewal budget committee member; president of Metro Medford Downtown AssociationWork: Owns Schroeder's Furniture, Collectibles & Antiques http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141015/NEWS/141019746 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->