Document text
Write-ins could fill Gold Hill�s empty ballot By Buffy Pollock GOLD HILL � Mayor Tim Roddam, saying he felt his two-year tenure had not brought about results worth the effort, announced to his council this month he did not intend to stay in office for another year. Unfortunately, no one else seems interested in the mayor�s job, either. Thanks partly to a mix-up on deadlines for filing for the Nov. 7 election, Gold Hill voters will have no choices on their ballots for a new mayor, three council members or municipal judge that need to be filled next year. And only two incumbent candidates have declared write-in candidacies � one for council, the other for municipal judge. Roddam said he was torn between a desire to stay in office so he could see the eventual fruits of the city's efforts, and wanting out because of his frustration over a lack of results from all his hard work. "I don't see the results that should be coming and if I'm going to spend that much time and effort, I like to think I've been effective," Roddam said. Roddam said if enough Gold Hill residents write in his name on the ballot, he probably would continue for another term. "I guess I'm sort of declaring I would like the citizens to elect someone else as mayor. If I get the most votes, I would accept that and go on for two more years. Otherwise, the council would have to appoint someone else," he said. Roddam said he felt the lack of involvement from the people of Gold Hill may be the result of the very thing he took office to try to rid the city of: pettiness. "Two years ago, I wanted to be mayor to stop the petty politicking in Gold Hill. I firmly believe that is what has held Gold Hill back," he said. "The citizens have a huge reservoir of creativeness and hopes and dreams and this pettiness is intimidating the people and keeping them from coming out." The apparent political apathy might also be from people being generally satisfied with how things are going � or just not caring, he said. But the two write-in candidates who do want to take office both said they enjoyed their service to the city. Council member Scott Eilefson, who is running for a second term, said he plans to campaign to let voters know of his intentions. Eilefson said he was eager to serve again so he could "be part of Gold Hill's brighter days." "The current City Council is very focused with a lot of positive energy to do the best job we can for the city of Gold Hill," he said. "We've got some people with a lot of great ideas really looking out for the best interest of the city." Eilefson said he felt two issues that were important to Gold Hill were solving a fish passage problem with the diversion dam and improving law enforcement. He is a member of Gold Hill Can Do and works in the wholesale lumber business. The second write-in campaign is for municipal court judge, a job incumbent Calvin Eary hopes to keep. Eary had hoped to be on the ballot, but missed the filing deadline. Eary became judge last year when Patricia Durante's seat became vacant. "I enjoy public service. Government is everybody's responsibility," he said. Eary is a truck driver and has served as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technical with Jackson County Fire District 3 for seven years. He also has a background of six years in law enforcement. He has lived in the Rogue Valley for 15 years. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.