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CLEAR Temp: 50 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 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 October 8, 2002 Candidates’ names have familiar ring in Phoenix Mayor and council members want to return and have no opposition By ANITA BURKE for the Mail Tribune PHOENIX — Candidates for mayor and three City Council seats will run unopposed on the November ballot. Mayor Larry Parducci is seeking re-election and two council members, Dean Martin and Otto Caster, want to retain their seats. Political newcomer Carlos DeBritto is running for the position held by Councilwoman Diana Rasmussen, who isn’t seeking re-election. Voters elect a mayor to serve a two-year term. Council members are elected to serve four years. Parducci, 58, is seeking his fourth two-year term as mayor. A 16-year resident of Phoenix, he has been involved in city government for 15 years, serving on the Planning Commission and the City Council. Parducci has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance. He also is a past president of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and a director of a local bank. He owns Holiday R.V. Park in Phoenix. Parducci wants to continue work on transportation projects, such as a new Interstate 5 interchange serving Phoenix. Other priorities include downtown development, Blue Heron Community Park and a new city hall. Martin, 41, was appointed to the council in October 2000 and wants to be elected to a full term. A resident of Phoenix for 16 years, he said he wants to give something back to the community. He works as a shop manager at International Line Builders, a company that builds and maintains power lines. He said his career has given him knowledge of construction, utilities and other infrastructure that he applies as a councilman. Martin worked on the water intertie project that linked Phoenix and Talent to Medford’s water supply. He has focused on road projects and wants to stay involved in planning upgrades to the I-5 interchange. The interchange project will bring opportunities for commercial growth, which could boost city revenues, he said. Martin also wants to continue work to develop Blue Heron Community Park and the Bear Creek Greenway. Caster, 74, is running for another four-year term after spending decades in city government. In the early ’70s, a friend who served on the council ran for mayor and encouraged Caster to run for the council. He spent six years on the council. Then, when his friend moved, he became acting mayor. He served as mayor for 14 years until he lost a bid for an eighth term. After his defeat, he took three years off, but returned seven years ago. A lifelong Phoenix resident whose grandfather was a Rogue Valley pioneer, Caster is proud to have helped guide the community through steady growth that didn’t overextend city services. He is closely watching plans for road improvements and park development. DeBritto, 72, is seeking a four-year council post at the encouragement of his neighbor, Councilman Dan Sauro. DeBritto moved to Phoenix from Ashland 2½ years ago. He worked as a banker for 30 years and, since retiring in 1986, has volunteered with groups such as Oregon State University Extension Service’s master gardener program. Although he lacks public-office experience, DeBritto said his expertise in financial matters would be an asset to the council. He is helping organize support for a public-safety levy the city is asking voters to approve. His top goal as a council member would be to improve the quality of life for Phoenix residents, he said. He wants to support cultural activities in the city. He also supports construction of a new city hall. Anita Burke is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail her at [email protected] 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 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S