In the race for County Commissioner (which should be a non-partisan position) we are lucky to have independent candidate Al Densmore once again become active.  Choose Al Densmore, Independent, for County Commissioner. He is as experienced and as good a candidate as we’ll see. Incumbent Colleen Roberts seems to accede to any sprawl requests Medford or other cities make, despite low densities. We need commissioners who will force cities to use land efficiently.

In Ashland we have the issue of parks funding. Candidate’s positions on that don’t seem crucial because that decision is left to Ashland voters. But regarding the ongoing issue of how to accommodate the growth (that many don’t want), we will do best if we choose candidates who will most likely fight sprawl.  

We already know that pro-sprawl Los Angeles transplant Jim Falkenstein wants to add hundreds of units on the fringes of the city. Thus, in the race for position 6, Eric Hansen is the best choice.

In position 2, incumbent Tonya Graham is too experienced and therefore too valuable for Joy Fate to unseat.

For position 4, Jill Franko has more history in the area than Bob Kaplan, and she has served on the Ashland School Board. She also has a personality similar to those we have sent to the state legislature over the decades such as Nancy Petersen, Judith Uherbelau, Peter Buckley and Pam Marsh. Pam won’t want to serve forever, and some day Jill Franko would be a great successor. Let’s put her on the council now.

Brent Thompson

Ashland