Document text
By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune October 07. 2014 2:00AM Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Colleen Roberts Retired education administrator Kevin Talbert claims he has support from mainstream Republicans and Democrats in his candidacy for Jackson County Board of Commissioners Position 3, while bakery owner Colleen Roberts says she has the endorsement of the people. But she's the one who has her name on the ballot as both a Republican and a Democrat, while Talbert is running as an Independent in the Nov. 4 election. Roberts ran as a Republican when she won the May primary, but she also received write-in votes from Democrats, who didn't field a candidate. That means she is the official nominee for both the Republican and Democratic parties. Talbert, a Democrat who jumped into the race after the primary, has won endorsements from Republican Jackson County Commissioners Don Skundrick and John Rachor, who are not seeking re-election in November. Former county commissioners C.W. Smith — a Republican and three-time Jackson County sheriff — and Dave Gilmour, a Democrat, have also endorsed Talbert. Others on Talbert's side include state Sen. Alan Bates and state Rep. Peter Buckley, both Democrats, as well as various business and nonprofit organization leaders. Talbert's campaign manager, Jim Beaver, described Talbert as a moderate Democrat who has the support of mainstream Democrats and Republicans. Beaver said Roberts is a far-right candidate with an extremist tea party agenda. "He is the consensus candidate for this position," Beaver said of Talbert. "He appeals to all political stripes." Talbert's supporters said they are concerned that Democrats who vote a straight ticket will blindly vote for Roberts because she is listed as the candidate for both parties. "Voters need to understand who the candidates are," Beaver said. "It's not just about the parties. The person who is listed as a Democrat is, in fact, far to the right. The person who is listed as Independent is the Democrat candidate." For her part, Roberts has endorsements from Oregon Right to Life, former Jackson County Republican Party chairman and abortion opponent Bryan Platt, and state Rep. Michael McLane, a Republican who lives in Central Oregon. Local business leaders have also endorsed her. She said mainstream Republicans who have endorsed Talbert instead of her are showing "poor judgment." "I'm endorsed by the people of Jackson County," Roberts said. "I stand firmly on a Republican platform. I support free markets and fiscal responsibility. Our platform is very conservative, and I stand behind it." In the May primary, Roberts beat out real estate broker Joel Ockunzzi, who was generally considered to be the more moderate Republican primary candidate. However, Roberts voiced support for a ban on genetically modified crops in the county, while Ockunzzi said he had concerns about the ban. Voters turned out in droves and approved the GMO ban. Beaver said he believes Democrats who favored the GMO ban wrote in Roberts' name on the May primary ballot, helping her become the Democratic nominee at a time when no Democrats were running. Roberts said she doesn't know whether Democrats wrote in her name because of her GMO stance, but she said she knows of some Democrats who switched their party registration to Republican to vote for her in the primary. "I won the nomination of the Democratic and Republican parties through no fault of my own," Robert said. "I ran as a Republican. I won because Democrats had no candidate up. It proves every vote counts." A frequent critic of Jackson County government, Roberts said if elected she would work to increase government transparency and accountability and would be a representative of the people. She said government needs to get out of the way and place fewer restrictions on businesses and private property rights. At a recent candidate forum, Roberts said she would base all her decisions on the federal Constitution, fight to regain local control over federal lands in the county, support natural resource industries, reduce county regulations and fees and oppose a minimum wage hike. She said the county shouldn't waste time on the issue of climate change. Roberts said she opposes legalization of recreational marijuana but would support the vote of the people. Medford Moulding Co. President Paul McKay, who has endorsed Roberts, said the candidate understands what small businesses are going through because she owns a business herself. "She's in business just like I am. She understands the small-business environment," McKay said. "She's the kind of person I'd like representing me. Things that affect her in business affect me. Her work ethic is good. She's hard-working and respected in the community. She has the same values as me." Rachor, one of the sitting Republican county commissioners who has endorsed Talbert, has a different view. Unlike Roberts, Rachor said, Talbert can get along with other people. "He's demonstrated to me he gets along with people," Rachor said. "Ms. Roberts appears to just be angry. I'm concerned about her ability to work with staff members and elected officials." Rachor said he is deeply concerned that Roberts has said the county shouldn't accept money from the state and federal governments. He said outside funding is essential to pay for services such as roads and mental health care. Rachor said Roberts doesn't seem to understand the county budget despite his attempts to explain budgeting rules. He said the budget must account for all money, even funds that are not spent and kept in reserves. Because of that, if the county budget goes from $300 million one year to $315 million the next, it doesn't automatically mean the county is spending $15 million more, he said. "If Bill Gates gave us $100 million (to add to a $300 million budget), we would have to budget for $400 million to account for that money," Rachor said. "I'm concerned about her financial understanding." Roberts has said her business experience plus her master's degree in business administration qualify her to oversee the county budget. Talbert, who has a doctorate in higher education administration, said he has extensive experience managing public-sector programs, including self-supporting programs at Southern Oregon University that ran without general fund support. If elected, Talbert said he would work on economic development and job creation, supporting traditional industries such as forest products and tourism but also working to attract high-tech jobs and spur more production of specialty food products. He said criminalization of marijuana hasn't worked and he is ready for a change. Talbert said the county needs to prepare for climate change impacts such as less snowpack. Talbert said he favors paying people enough money that they can afford to live, but the minimum wage is neither a family wage nor a living wage. Reach reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or by email at [email protected]. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141007/NEWS/141009775 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->