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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend September 19, 2006 Locals run ads against recall effort By Meg Landers Mail Tribune Local business owners have launched an advertising campaign urging voters not to support a recall effort against five Medford City Council members. "We just don't feel a recall is the right mechanism," said Curt Burrill, president of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County's political action committee, formed within the last year. "That's what the election process is for." The PAC has paid for radio spots with local stations urging residents to oppose the recall against Jason Anderson, Greg Jones, Skip Knight, Jim Kuntz and Bob Strosser. Burrill declined to say how money the PAC had spent. Representatives for the Citizens for a Responsive City Council say they have gathered 42 percent of the necessary signatures. The group had hoped to put the recall on the November ballot but was unable to make today's deadline. The group now hopes to gather enough signatures by Nov. 1, the 90-day deadline required by law. Burrill said taxpayers should not have to foot the $38,000 bill for the special election. Advertisement "I think recalls have a valid place in government if elected officials have broken the law or have unethical activities," said Burrill, adding that disagreeing with a council decision doesn't justify a recall. But Christine Lachner, spokesperson for the citizens group, said many decisions led to the recall effort. "If it was one vote that they had done, then I would tend to agree," she said. "It's not one vote. It's one thing after another after another after another." Knight and Strosser are up for re-election in November. The group did not target council members Jim Key, John Statler and Claudette Moore. Key and Moore, whose terms expire this year, are not seeking re-election. Lachner said Statler has listened to people and questions projects such as the Middleford Commons urban redevelopment planned for downtown. Burrill said the PAC did not plan efforts beyond the radio ads — yet. "We'll do what's necessary to maintain the integrity of the election process," he said. The group needs 937 valid signatures to recall Anderson in Ward 1 and has 286; it needs 693 to recall Knight and Kuntz in Ward 2 and has 430; in Ward 4, it needs 1,197 to recall Strosser and Jones and has 512. Should the necessary signatures be gathered and verified, council members will have five days to resign or provide a 200-word statement as to why they should not be recalled. If they do not resign, a recall election will be held within 35 days. The special election would cost $1 per registered voter, or $38,000, and would come out of the city budget. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com