Voters reject move to make municipal judge appointed instead of elected

By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news 

In large margins of victory, incumbents and old hands carried the night in an election with three council seats and two parks commission seats on the ballot. Ballot measures put to voters by the city of Ashland saw mixed results. 

In council Position 1, Teresa Cisneros competed against Douglas Knauer. Knauer won with 66.55% of the vote while Cisneros received 33.18%. Reached by phone Tuesday night, Knauer said his initial effort would be to build the relationships with fellow councilors and the mayor to establish the working relationships that will move Ashland forward as one of “an equal vote of six.” 

“It’s the typical thing, but I really mean it. I’m really honored that Ashland residents put their faith in me to put me on council. Now let’s see if I can persuade enough people to get some things done,” he said.

Jeff Dahle and Kelly Marcotulli competed for council Position 2. Dahle won 66.16% of the vote while Marcotulli received 33.58% of the vote, according to initial tallies. 

Reached by phone, Dahle asked to email one of the two written statements he had prepared to use, depending on the outcome. 

“I have spent time every single day these past 20 months trying to find innovative, common sense solutions that are balanced, informed and fiscally responsible, while simultaneously ensuring that I hear and consider each and every citizen’s voice,” he wrote. 

“To be sure, there have been decisions that I want back. However, I unequivocally believe that I have made the best choices for Ashland at the time, while actively and consistently learning from my mistakes. … It is not lost on me just how many issues that keep us all up at night. Our collective concerns for our future as well as our present. The love we all share for our beautiful city must transcend our truly minor philosophical differences.”

Dahle also thanked his opponent, Kelly Marcotulli, and expressed respect for her point of view and her right to express it, even as it differs from his own. 

In council Position 3, Dylan Bloom appeared headed toward win against Eric Navickas with 57.46% of the vote while Navickas received 42.22% of the vote. Bloom returned a call seeking comment and struggled to find the words. He expressed joy and hope at Ashland’s potential and a desire to keep doing the work.  

“To be honest, I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know what to say to the outpouring of support, and winning by this margin. I love my community. I am so honored. I’m so incredibly grateful,” he said. 

For the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission position 1, former commissioner Mike Gardiner led handily with 64.86% while his opponent, Fer Mejia, received 34.85%.

“I’m just happy to be able to serve the citizens of Ashland and I have all the respect for my opponent,” Gardiner said. 

For APRC Position 2, Daniel Weiner earned the position by a narrow margin in the three-way race with 37.30% of the vote while Ian Cropper received 26.84% and Rick Vann won 35.43%. 

“I really appreciate the support of Ashlanders and I look forward to serving them for the next four years,” Weiner said. 

Ashland Mayor Tonya Graham and City Councilor Gina DuQuenne both ran unopposed. DuQuenne received 97.96% of the vote while Graham received 93% of the vote. 

Measure 15-232, a city of Ashland charter amendment to allow open seat elections, was approved with 81.12% of the vote while 18.88% of voters rejected the measure. 

Measure 15-233, a city of Ashland charter amendment to make the municipal judge an appointed position, was rejected by voters with 65.88% of the vote while 34.12% voted to approve of the measure. 

Measure 15-234, a city of Ashland asking voters whether they approve of council resolution 2024-05, authority to issue water revenue bonds, was approved by voters with 73.18% of the vote while 26.82% of the vote was against the measure. 

Reached by phone to comment on the ballot measures, Graham said the municipal judge charter change was not an issue on which she had a strong opinion, but due to ongoing changes from the community’s decision to switch to a council and city manager form of government, it was important to seek the community’s opinion on the future of the municipal judge. 

The change to open elections removes artificial competition created by the current system of electing councilors for numbered seats that do not correspond to any geographic area, she said. 

Graham said she was “very pleased” with voter’s approval of the council’s decision to obtain Environmental Protection Agency funding for a new water treatment plant. 

“We know we must have a source of clean drinking water to support everything we love about our community. We also recognize that requires some significant infrastructure investment. A lot of work has gone into this on the city side. … We will continue to work on securing grants and to control costs as much as we can,” she said. 

Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].