Help for the homeless, better bicycle infrastructure among topics tackled

By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news

Two Ashland students are waiting to learn if they will win the state-wide competition of the “If I were Mayor …” contest after celebrating their local victory at the April 16 Ashland City Council meeting. 

Ember Richards, 10, and Avalon Gerk, 13, were declared the elementary and middle school 2024 winners from the city of Ashland’s contest by Mayor Tonya Graham at the April 16 meeting. They will learn by mid-May if they have won the statewide competition. 

The contest is held annually and organized by the Oregon Mayors Association, but Ashland has never participated before, Graham said at the meeting. Both Avalon and Ember were invited to come take turns sitting in the mayor’s chair and using her gavel.

“I can tell you without a doubt, Ashland or any commonwealth would be well served to have either one of them be our mayor at whatever point they may decide to take up the gavel,” Graham said before yielding her chair to the winners. 

Ember is in fourth grade at TRAILS Outdoor School while Avalon is in eighth grade at Willow Wind Community Learning Center. Reached individually by phone, both girls effused about how it was “really cool” to hold the gavel and sit for a moment in the mayor’s chair. Ember said she was previously unaware the mayor had a gavel. 

Students from elementary to high school were invited to submit entries based on the idea of what they believe they could do as mayor. Ideas could be illustrated in a variety of ways including writing and drawing. Avalon won with an essay describing how the city might approach the issues of homelessness, bring more life to city parks and economic vitality through tourism. 

Avalon suggested more advertising for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and to raise the cost of hotel rooms to create revenue for the city without impacting those living in Ashland. She wanted to see more clubs and events in parks to “bring the community together as one.” She also noted Ashland High School requires a certain number of volunteer work hours to graduate, creating an available pool of potentially willing volunteers to keep parks clean. 

“Our parks, especially lithia park, are one of the key things that makes Ashland our signature little tourist town,” she wrote. 

When asked about what issue of all those she raised in her essay is most pressing, Avalon responded quickly: homelessness. 

“I believe the key to helping this group of people is to make sure they have stable jobs and incomes. Giving them free money won’t push them to work hard and pursue their dreams, it only lowers their drive and motivation. They need to have access to important necessities and support. Having places where they can access free showers as well as laundry machines would boost their chances at well-paying jobs,” she wrote. 

Reached by phone Tuesday, Avalon said she wanted to see the community come together to solve problems. 

“If we just focus on the problems we have together we can make Ashland a better place,” she said. 

Avalon is a figure skater and volunteers at the Ashland Public Library. She also enjoys working out every morning and discussing social issues with her family. She said she wants to be a dermatologist when she grows up. 

Her mother, Fiew Gerk, said she was very proud to see her daughter win the award and to see her developing a skilled ability to communicate her thoughts at such a young age. She said she encourages her daughter to not only think about and discuss social issues but to consider different ways problems could be solved and examples from other countries. 

Ember won with a poster detailing the ongoing helicopter logging project, increased bike connectivity through the city, community gardens and a sun shining through the city motto, “Better Together.” 

Reached by phone Wednesday, Ember said she chose the issues in her poster from her own life. She has been interested in community gardens since she was 5, she said, and she is concerned that there are “a lot of fires.” Now that she has become skilled on a bicycle, she said she would ride it “literally everywhere,” if she could. 

“I believe there should be more bike infrastructure,” she said. 

Dave Richards, Ember’s father, said it was “one of those proud dad moments,” to take his daughter to the April 16 council meeting and watch her receive the award. Despite her young age, the poster showed an awareness of a variety of social issues. Richards said his daughter listens attentively as her parents discuss social issues and has clearly learned a few things. The family also watches council meetings at home which Ember Richards conceded are often “boring” — though, when asked if she would consider running for council someday, she was more enthusiastic. 

“That sounds really fun, actually,” she said. 

Despite her relative political interest, Ember said, “Honestly, I have no idea,” when asked what she wants to be when she grows up. She mused for a second before stating becoming a reenactor of the 1800s would be cool. 

The state Student Contest Selection Committee committee will meet Tuesday, May 7, and winners should be noticed by the end of the following week, said Angela Speier, project and affiliate manager for the League of Oregon Cities. The winners will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to receive the award at the OMA 2024 Summer Conference luncheon at the Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls, according to a release sent by Ashland Communications Officer Dorinda Cottle. 

All entries will be judged on creativity, clarity or sincerity of thought, subject relevancy and proper grammar, according to an entry form available on the city of Ashland’s post about the contest. 

When asked if there is anything she would want other kids or readers to know, Ember was quick to reply:  “Follow your heart.”

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