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Four vie for Ashland mayor Biome Erickson, left, John Stromberg, and Carol Voisin. (John Greene photo not available) Thursday Oct 20, 2016 at 5:34 PM Oct 20, 2016 at 5:38 PM Here are the four candidates for Ashland mayor. Ballots go out Friday and must be returned to the Jackson County Elections Office by Nov. 8. Editor's note: A photo of John Greene was not available. Biome Erickson Age: 41 Occupation: Freelance conscious, semi-skilled laborer Education: Penn State University, Biochemistry / Anthropology, independent studies Political experience: None. I diligently study, practice and exercise. I see there can be no peace without administering justice; and no justice without knowing the truth. Top priorities if elected: 1) I, as mayor, because no political figure is doing so, would take a stand against organized Zionist, Talmudic and Judaic agendas wreaking havoc on America's political, financial, cultural and media institutions. I would encourage open and transparent dialogue as a first step toward reclaiming our planet from the forces traumatizing it. We must dismantle the sophisticated psycho-social engineering techniques being used against us by the ruling elite. 2) To encourage responsive and responsible leadership in the City Council, I would invigorate civic participation, especially in our youth, and put Ashland on the map as a role model of peace and sustainability.   John Greene Age: 68 Occupation: Poet Education: Bachelor of Science in Accounting Political experience: None Top priorities: 1) Change the City Charter. The first change being making the position of mayor partisan. Then increasing the mayor's salary from the current $500 a year. 2) Speed up changes concerning climate change. Earthquake preparation will be of little use if all that shakes are burned-out ruins.   John Stromberg Age: 76 Occupation: Mayor of Ashland Education: Doctorate in Business Administration, Master's in Statistics, Bachelor of Science in Physics Political experience: Ashland mayor, eight years; planning commissioner, four years (two as chairman) Top priorities: 1) Housing crisis: renters forced out of the community by rapidly rising rates; working families with children unable to afford to buy into the Ashland market; minimal necessary shelter for our local homeless (linked to preserving public order and managing the flow of transients). 2) Implementing the Climate Energy Action Plan: greenhouse gas reduction; 10X20 ordinance (new, local, clean energy); climate change mitigation (linked to wildfire prevention in our watershed and in our town itself, plus preparedness for the families of city employees to allow restoration of city services after a disaster).   Carol Voisin Age: 69 Occupation: Senior instructor teaching Ethical Thinking at Southern Oregon University Education: Doctor of Theology in Systematic Theology; Master's of Divinity, focus on Theology; Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences Political experience: Ashland city councilor, 2008-2016; Ashland Housing Commission; Ashland Facilities Master Plan Committee; Democratic candidate, 2nd Congressional District, 2006 Top priorities: 1) Affordable housing and livability — find revenue streams for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; make Ashland more affordable for working families through stabilizing rents; change ordinances that make it easier to build accessory units and to allow boarding houses. 2) Transparency and communication — bring the people back into the process of making policy; citizens involvement at the beginning of civic projects, master plans, and capital improvement projects; town hall meetings, focus groups, and open forums for dialogue, not monologues.