Election Coverage 2006
Burkholder Turner wins three-way judge race
Christensen retains recorder seat
Jackson County Library levy falls short
Bond to rebuild Bellview, high school gym passes
Kulongoski defeats SaxtonJackson secures over 50 percent of vote; loaded race split opponents
Bond results favor school, frown on firehouse, ladder
Early results favor Jackson, Chapman, Lemhouse
Daily Tidings Endorsement Editorials:
Dolinger: The least unappetizing candidate for Seat 6
The race was clearly incumbent David Chapman's to lose, even before Dalziel dropped out. His only opponent is Randy Dolinger, an unemployed chess teacher who lives in a tent.
Chapman's indifference could cost him. It has with us.
Seat 4: Jackson
This crowded field vying for Seat 4 on the Ashland City Council is the most significant race this election.
The two lesser-known dark horses never emerged in this race dominated by the two strongest and most qualified candidates for city council.
Council Seat No. 2: Lemhouse
Race 2 is the most interesting race for city council this year, even if both candidates have flaws that in a more competitive election would cost them.
Eric Navickas, a fixture on the local environmental scene, is running against Greg Lemhouse, police officer and family man. Two very different people with very different priorities are presented for voters to choose.
Recent Articles:
First and foremost, vote
With election fervor hitting its peak, we wrap up our final endorsement comments with a simple reminder. Vote.
Not your typical election
There are three candidates on the ballot for Ashland City Council Seat Six. One has publicly withdrawn. The incumbent isn't campaigning. The other candidate lives in a tent in a friend's yard.
Council seat 4 race heats up
As the election season winds down, candidates are working to distinguish themselves in the heated and crowded race for City Council seat four.
Three relative newcomers to the political spectrum are challenging incumbent Kate Jackson.
Both sides of the badge
Both candidates for Position Two on the Ashland City Council have drastically different relationships to law enforcement.
Greg Lemhouse is a Medford police sergeant who instructs new officers on the proper use of force. Eric Navickas is a political activist, with a history of getting arrested for protests.
Candidates address housing issue
Every candidate in the race for seats on the City Council has said creating more affordable housing is a priority, but many have differing ideas on how to affect this issue.
Energy, watershed issues focus of forum
A solar energy farm on the east side of Interstate 5 might create a sustainable source of energy for the City of Ashland, City Council candidate David Chapman said at a Saturday forum.
Candidate forum talks budget, community
A Thursday night Ashland City Council candidate forum at Southern Oregon University showed more similarities than differences.
Different opinions of how to deal with pressing issues in Ashland came out, but the theme across the board seemed the same: save the community.
Evidence confirms Navickas' residency
It's a rumor that has dogged Ashland City Council candidate Eric Navickas for years.
Some people believe Navickas is not really an Ashland resident.
Campaign financing rises in Ashland
John Stromberg, candidate for seat 4 on the Ashland City Council, has raised twice as much money as any other candidate running for an Ashland office. He has also spent more money than any other candidate has raised.
City Council candidates talk business
Candidates for Ashland City Council discussed the city's budget, its relationship to the local business community and prospects of a downtown plan at the first forum of the campaign season on Saturday morning.
Candidates forum starts Saturday
The Ashland Daily Tidings is hosting the first candidate forum of the election season Saturday at 9 a.m. in the A Street Market Place.
"We took some criticism — deserved to some extent — for our coverage in '04 just not delving into issues enough," Editor Andrew Scot Bolsinger said. "This forum is part of correcting that and providing nuanced coverage of this city council election."
Green Party announces endorsements
The Jackson County Pacific Green Party has a tradition of winning in Ashland politics.
The party endorsed six local candidates competing for seats in the city's November elections. Four of them are members of the party that touts itself as "proud to be a part of the progressive movement."
Copyrighted logo lands candidate in a pinch
City Council candidate Nick Frost's "Made in Ashland" campaign logo wasn't as home-grown as he thought.
Frost, who is running for council seat four against incumbent Kate Jackson and two other newcomers, designed a logo with a yellow pear missing a bite out of it. On the pear, a sticker reading "Made in Ashland," marks Frost's campaign platform of re-localizing the Ashland economy.
Council candidate withdraws
Real estate agent Frank Dalziel said he has decided to withdraw his bid for a seat on the Ashland City Council.
The 36-year-old, who came to Ashland 18 years ago to attend Southern Oregon University, said he wants to learn more about the operations of the city government before he decides to run again.
City elections full of questions
At 5 p.m. on Aug. 16, the opportunity for candidates to run for Ashland City Council closed.
A 5:01 p.m. the individual battles were just beginning, but the war looked all but over.
Hardesty runs unopposed
The last time a candidate ran unopposed for the Ashland City Council was Don Laws in 2000. In 1998, both Cameron Hanson and Susan Reid ran unopposed for their seats on the city council, said City Recorder Barbara Christensen.
Council seat 4 draws a crowd
Of the three incumbents vying to keep their seats on the city council, Kate Jackson may have the toughest race.
Three men threw their hats in the ring with intentions to make changes. A thread of discontent with the way the city deals with its finances and includes the people in the political led John Stromberg, Nick Frost and Bruce Harrell to the race.
Threesome new to campaign trail
Three newcomers to campaigning will try to quickly learn how to win voters for Ashland City Council's seat 6 in the upcoming November election.
Not all the candidates are rookie politicians however. The council appointed Chapman to finish the term of Ashland attorney Chris Hearn following his resignation two years ago.
Chapman will seek to retain his seat against two other political newcomers, Frank Dalziel and Randy Dolinger.
Race 2 offers clear choices
Eric Navickas sees in his candidacy a chance for Ashland to make bold moves. Navickas, 36, a residential designer and organic farmer, is running against Greg Lemhouse, a 33-year-old Medford Police Department sergeant, for Ashland City Council position number two.
Municipal Judge seat open in Ashland
There will be a new municipal judge in Ashland for the first time in 28 years with Allen Drescher announcing his retirement earlier this year.
This leaves the door to the chambers open to either Joe Charter, Mike Jewett or Pamela Burkholder Turner; all three are running for the elected position of presiding over Ashland's local court system.
Council election season kick-off
The 2006 Ashland City Council elections will likely prove to be one of the more important and hotly contested campaigns in recent years, many familiar with local politics are saying.
Former councilor Jack Hardesty's death in May created a situation in which four of the six seats on the city council will be up for grabs this year. His passing means the seat he held, as well as three regularly scheduled others, will be on this November's ballot.
The Issues:
AFN/Fiscal Responsibility
With the City of Ashland budget topping $100 million this fiscal year and the Ashland Fiber Network $15.5 million in debt, critics who have long argued that "The Republic of Ashland" should scale back may have more ammunition this fall. Read more...
Business
Standing Stone Brewing Co. co-owner and Ashland City Councilor Alex Amarotico is not seeking reelection this November, prompting some to wonder if the council will have any members to look after business interests. Read more...
Mt. Ashland
Ashland City Council incumbents could face a backlash or gain support based on votes concerning the Mt. Ashland Ski and Snowboard Resort expansion. Read more...
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is a perennial issue in Ashland, and this November, voters will have a direct say on one aspect of the debate. Read more...
Policing
Ashland Police Department has numerous avenues in which it might enter the political arena during this campaign as the election comes right as the community will begin to form a community policing task force as well as a process to hire a new full-time chief. Read more...
Growth
Growth and new development are always hot button issues in Ashland and this election will not likely be any exception. Read more...
Downtown Vision
Ashland has been starting and stopping a downtown planning process for the better part of two years but the matter became a 2006 campaign issue the moment the council and mayor voted not to hire a Portland consulting firm to complete the process after paying them $10,000 to begin it. Read more...
The Candidates:
Seat #1
Alice Hardesty (incumbent)
Age: 69 years old
Time in Ashland: 13 years
Occupation: Consultant in noise and hearing conservation
Seat #2
Eric Navickas
Age: 36 years old
Time in Ashland: 14 years
Occupation: Designer and organic farmer
Greg Lemhouse
Age: 33 years old
Time in Ashland: 11 years
Occupation: Medford police sargeant
Seat #4
Kate Jackson (incumbent)
Age: 54 years old
Time in Ashland: 15 years
Occupation: Environmental regulatory specialist
Bruce Harrell
Age: 52 years old
Time in Ashland: 20 years
Occupation: Attorney
Nick Frost
Age: 33 years old
Time in Ashland: 30 years
Occupation: Computer programmer
John Stromberg
Age: 66 years old
Time in Ashland: 6 years
Occupation: Retired Management & Organizational Consultant
Seat #6
David Chapman (incumbent)
Age: 60 years old
Time in Ashland: 6 years
Occupation: City councilor and repairman, theatre lighting designer and computer research programmer
Frank Dalziel
Age: 36 years old
Time in Ashland: 8 years
Occupation: Realtor
Randy Dolinger
Age: 52 years old
Time in Ashland: 16 years
Occupation: Chess teacher
