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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, October 9, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 8, 2004 Strosser, Wheeler share similar views on being mayor By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A real estate broker and an optometrist are taking each other on in the race for Medford’s mayor. Bob Strosser and Gary Wheeler are running in the Nov. 2 contest to replace Lindsay Berryman, who chose not to seek re-election. Strosser, 59, has served on the Medford City Council for six years, including as council president in 2001 and 2003. He’s a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Pro West Real Estate in Medford. Strosser grew up in Southern California and graduated from Pepperdine University with a bachelor of science degree in public management. He was a police officer in Pasadena for 23 years, and served from 1967-69 in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He moved to the Rogue Valley in 1990, and has served on the League of Oregon Cities board, the regional rate committee for Rogue Valley Sewer Services, ACCESS board, Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc., and several other committees. Advertisement Wheeler, 60, is a 1962 graduate of Medford Senior High School. He earned his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees at Pacific University in Forest Grove. He is a past president of boards for the Jackson County Chapter of American Red Cross, Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County. He served on the board of Youthworks (the predecessor to Community Works), is a past chairman and current board member for the Medford Urban Renewal Agency, and has served on several other local boards. He also was a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps from 1968-70. He opened his private practice in 1971, where he and his wife, Treasure, have been optometrists. Wheeler, who coincidentally is Strosser’s optometrist, said he sees the job of mayor as setting the agenda, leading the various city meetings and keeping them moving forward while making sure everyone is heard. "The mayor, by example, really sets the tone for the city," he said. The mayor also leads and represents the city, and maintains partnerships, such as those with Southern Oregon University and Rogue Community College, he said. "An educated work force is vital," said Wheeler. Strosser said the mayor’s role is active. "Quiet leadership isn’t enough," said Strosser. He said the mayor also is involved in policy making, and in using the city budget as a tool to get things done. "The role of the mayor is to try to bring people together to communicate," said Strosser. "One of the key hallmarks ... (is) the ability to listen and be fair." Both candidates see growth and transportation as being among Medford’s vital issues, but have different ways of addressing them. "We are growing and we need to be very careful in how we manage that growth," said Strosser. He said the mayor needs to keep the focus on projecting out years ahead in planning infrastructure, water and public safety. "We do have a limited amount of money" for such expenses, he said. Wheeler said he wants to keep control of urban sprawl. "I think I want growth to be sensitive to our environment at this point," he said. He said the region is known for its natural beauty, and he’d like to see undeveloped spaces preserved. "There has to be better ways of managing. "You need to respect the valley and our environment. You can’t think necessarily short-term fixes." On transportation issues, Wheeler said he thinks focusing on alternative forms of transportation, such as park-and-ride lots with shuttles, and more bicycle lanes, are what Medford needs rather than building more roads. Strosser said the Medford mayor needs to be a strong voice competing for state and federal dollars for road projects. If elected as mayor, Strosser’s council seat will come open for appointment, he said, and if not, then he plans to remain on the council until his term expires in 2006. CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES Contributions to Bob Strosser’s mayoral campaign so far total $9,600 — $7,575 of which was cash. Among the contributors, 24 out of 36 were real estate agents or companies. The largest contributions were $1,500 from JACPAC, a Medford-based political action committee funded by real estate agents; 2,025 from Boise Cascade Corp.; $500 from former Medford Mayor Jerry Lausmann; and $500 from his employer, Coldwell Banker Pro West Real Estate. His opponent, Gary Wheeler, had contributions totaling $8,397. Of that amount, $7,920 was cash. Sixteen of Wheeler’s 40 contributors were from the medical community. The largest contributions were $781 from his own medical office; and $500 each from ophthalmologists Loren Barrus and Paul Schultz. He also received $100 from current Medford Mayor Lindsay Berryman. Strosser has spent most of what he’s brought in so far, primarily on signs and advertising, while Wheeler has only spent about a quarter of what he’s brought in, primarily on signs and brochures. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . 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