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57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 19, 2004 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 How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People 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 August 31, 2004 Small cities draw few council-mayor candidates By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune The cities of Rogue River and Gold Hill both will depend on write-in candidates to choose mayors and fill several city council seats in November’s election. No one filed for mayor in either city, and several city council seats also will go on the ballot without candidates. "Our filing deadline, set by our charter, was Aug. 4," said Rogue River City Administrator Mark Reagles. "We have three openings and no applications. "But that doesn’t mean there aren’t people who can do the job," he added. "This town has historically come forward when needed. There will be write-in candidates. And they will be good write-ins." Rogue River Mayor Leigh Lucas and Gold Hill Mayor Scott Eilefson both have said they were not interested in seeking re-election. Advertisement Rogue River council members Dick Skevington and Dick Handbury also declined to run again, as did Gold Hill council members Gloria Eilefson and Rob Lowe. Additionally, Gold Hill council member Christine Alford was recalled in May,leaving another vacancy. In Rogue River, only council member George Jorgensen will appear on the ballot. Jorgensen was appointed late last summer and is seeking a full term. In Gold Hill, residents Stacy Morretti and Mary Ann Jones each will seek one of the three open council positions, said City Recorder Darla DenHerder. Council member JoAnne Mead initially planned to file for the mayor’s job but decided to remain on the council instead. "That leaves us with one mayor’s seat open and one council seat open," said DenHerder. Tired of listening to complaints about the state of affairs in her town, Morretti, 39, says she decided to "put up or shut up." She was a write-in candidate for the council in 2000. "People sit back and point fingers," she said, "But no one wants to step up to the plate." In Rogue River, Handbury says he didn’t decline to run for council for any negative reason. Nearing his 80th birthday, Handbury says he simply figured that after serving on the fire district, school board and city council for decades, it might be time to let someone else take up the reins of government. However, said Handbury, if no one wants the job, he’s still willing to do it. "If I was written in, I’d serve," he said. Handbury says deciding his 80th birthday would be a good stopping point was more an arbitrary date than a definitive cutoff point. "Listen, I feel good. I don’t go to sleep at meetings or fall off my chair," he said, laughing. Unlike Handbury, Morretti is unfamiliar with the political arena. But she says she’s not fazed by her pending position. Being a politician can’t be much harder than her "real" job, she says. "I’ve never done anything like this before," said Morretti. "But I’ve been a mom and a housewife for 18 years. I’m sure that has prepared me to be able to make a couple decisions for my city." 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 © 1997-2004 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? Volunteer Opportunities