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L/RAIN Temp: 48 °F Wind: WNW at 8 mph Tuesday, April 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 26, 2003 RVTD candidates draw sharp contrasts Three seats on board bring challenges from those on either side of contentious recall vote By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Controversy surrounding the Rogue Valley Transportation District has stimulated a slew of board candidates for the May 20 election. Nine people, including three incumbents, have filed with the Jackson County Elections Office for three positions. Board chairwoman Eva Avery will face two opponents: recall organizer Connie Skillman and Douglas Hewett, who also supported the recall effort. Board member Ed Chapman, who has been sharply critical of his co-directors, will run against Paul Avery — Eva Avery’s husband — and Rose Marie Mayer, a self-employed entertainment artist. Board member Dan Moore, appointed to Stan Druben’s seat last year, will run against Sharon Ely, a massage therapist, and Gary Nelson, a retired RVTD driver. Chapman said the board would be better off if Eva Avery lost her job. "The chairman is responsible for keeping order," he said. "This year we have a chairman who is unwilling to find out what the rules are." He cited the recent announcement by board member Susan McKenzie of her resignation as one example.RVTD bylaws require the resignation be given in writing, something McKenzie said she won’t do. McKenzie has said she will retract her verbal resignation at the board meeting at 6:30 tonight. Chapman, who has been on the board 21 years, nine as chairman, said the board needs someone with better leadership skills. Eva Avery, however, countered that the board is not dysfunctional. "All the programs are up and running," she said. "All of our grants are coming in. "In my opinion, the only dysfunctional member on the board is Ed Chapman." She said that in many matters that come before the board, Chapman is the only dissenter. "Isn’t it strange that you have six people and they are supposedly wrong and he’s the only one right," she said. Skillman, who led two unsuccessful recall efforts against five of the board members, said, "We have to elect people who can work together. They (the present board members) have the confidence of virtually no one." She questions how RVTD is handling money, citing that Valley Lift, a federally mandated program that provides rides to the disabled, was underbudgeted by $599,000. Skillman said the board needs to improve its communication with the public and create an atmosphere of respect and credibility. "My focus will be in helping RVTD reestablish professionalism, openness, credibility and accountability to voters," she said. Responding to Skillman’s comments, Eva Avery said Valley Lift historically has been underfunded each year, requiring money from the general fund. "It didn’t help that the prior general manager didn’t budget as much as it cost us last year," she said. Despite any budget shortfalls, she said, it is not in danger of closing down. Still, Valley Lift depends on state funding to run the $1 million program. Because of the state’s budget crisis, Eva Avery said, RVTD has been told it might not obtain all of the $224,000 it normally receives in cigarette tax revenue earmarked for Valley Lift, she said. On the bright side, she said, RVTD anticipated receiving $1 million in federal grants but ended up getting $1.4 million. Douglas Hewett said the board needs to concentrate on making sure RVTD’s money is invested in expanding the bus system. "Eventually, this is going to become more of a retirement community," he said. "I’d like to see the bus services go to Eagle Point." He is critical of the current board, particularly Eva Avery. "If she has to have an attorney next to her at every meeting, then that is a waste of taxpayer money," he said. Paul Avery said he doesn’t see anything dysfunctional about the operation of RVTD, pointing out, "There has never been any disruption in service." Previously on the board for two years, Paul Avery doesn’t expect any potential problems working with his wife. "For 48 years, we have worked well together," he said. Paul Avery thought RVTD could do a better job with Valley Lift, which he said was once one of the top 10 systems of its kind in the United States. "It has slipped since then, but we can get it back up," he said, suggesting closer monitoring of the program. Gary Nelson doesn’t think the current board is dysfunctional and didn’t support the recall effort. He said he wouldn’t judge the financial health of RVTD until he had attended at least two meetings. "I stay neutral in everything," he said. "Until I get the facts, I don’t make decisions." Dan Moore, who has been on the board since October, said, "I would say from my short experience that the organization seems to be in good shape based on the information presented to the board from the acting general manager." As to Valley Lift, he said the state’s financial problems are coming to bear on RVTD, which gets its funding from federal, state and local sources. While he thinks the board generally accomplishes most of its tasks without incident, he does see personalities who don’t always get along. McKenzie’s announcement of her resignation was born out of frustration with Chapman’s questioning, Moore said. "He’s very aggressive in his mannerisms, especially if he is not getting the answers from his questions of the general manager," he said. Rose Marie Mayer, who has never run for office, said bus drivers, whom she encounters on her daily travels, asked her to make a bid for the seat now held by Chapman. She didn’t support the recall effort because she didn’t have enough information to make an educated decision. Mayer would like RVTD to concentrate on getting more services, particularly on weekends. Sharon Ely, who is legally blind and uses the Valley Lift program for her transportation, said she has felt an increasing need to get more involved in RVTD during the past six months. Ely, who supported the first recall effort, said the district has gone through other times of upheaval, and she wants to help mend some of the rifts in the board. "Ultimately I want to see Valley Lift in a better position," she said. Ely would like to see RVTD programs continue without interruption and more unity on the board. "There is so much division between the board members," said Ely. "I’d like to see some new blood in there and people doing things that are positive." May 20 election Position No. 1 Eva Avery , 69, Medford, retired (incumbent, four years on board). Douglas Hewett , 45, Ashland, employee of Bear Creek Corp. Connie Skillman , 59, Ashland, partner in Bill Skillman’s Typewriter Service. Position No. 2 Dan Moore , 51, Ashland, employee of Rogue Valley Council of Governments (incumbent, appointed in October 2002). Gary Nelson , 69, Medford, retired, former driver at RVTD. Sharon Ely , 39, White City, self-employed as a massage therapist. Position No. 3 Ed Chapman , 62, Ashland, school bus driver (incumbent, been on board 21 years). Paul Avery , 72, Medford, retired. Rose Marie Mayer , 55, Ashland, self-employed as an entertainment artist. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S