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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 31, 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 Prime Times 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 25, 2004 Medford mayor, council races commence Three City Council members are running unopposed By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Two people are running for mayor, two for Ward 3 positions, and three incumbents are unopposed in Medford City Council races. Interim City Recorder Glenda Owens is disappointed so few people are in the running. "It always amazes me when we have unchallenged positions, and openings on boards and commissions," said Owens. Lots of residents should be vying for the eight council seats, she said. The filing deadline was Tuesday. "This isn’t eight people’s community, it’s the community’s community," she said. Advertisement Bob Strosser and Gary Wheeler are running in the race for Medford mayor, and Michael Torguson and John Statler will vie for the Ward 3 council seat in the Nov. 2 election. Councilman John Michaels will not run for his Ward 3 position. Three unchallenged incumbents are running: Jason Anderson for Ward 1, James Kuntz for Ward 2 and Greg Jones for Ward 4. Strosser, a councilman for Ward 4, is a real estate broker and retired police officer. Wheeler is a Medford optometrist and Medford Urban Renewal Agency board member. Mayor Lindsay Berryman announced in May that she would leave office Dec. 31 at the end of her second term. Torguson, a government and business teacher as well as corporate educator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor at Asante Health System, is a member of Medford’s Communications Advisory Committee. He is former chairman of the board of trustees for the Medford Elks Lodge. Statler owns a computer consulting and repair business and is involved in many housing and human rights organizations and is a homeless advocate. Anderson, who was appointed to the Ward 1 seat earlier this year, is an attorney and former planning commissioner. Kuntz is a housing inspector for the Housing Authority of Jackson County. Jones is a financial adviser with Waddell & Reed in Medford and former parks and recreation director. The terms for all the posts are four years. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Hadley drops out of race A resident of the Gospel Mission was one step away from running for council. Scott Hadley submitted nearly all his paperwork — including 25 verified signatures from ward residents — for the Ward 3 council position. "I believe there needs to be a lot of improvement between the police and the citizens," he said. He said especially when it comes to local homeless, communication on both sides needs some work. "There needs to be better understanding," he said. Hadley, who works at the mission in a live-in program where he helps people get on their feet, said in the last two weeks he’s decided to devote his time to his work. He may try again in the future, he said. "There’s always next time." 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