3. ECONOMIC VITALITY: Recent reports suggest that economic growth in Southern Oregon is lagging behind other parts of the state and much of the nation. As a City Councilor, what are you willing to advocate for that will help local business owners prosper, specifically in Jacksonville’s business district?
Brad Bennington
Candidate
BRAD BENNINGTON: Economic growth in Oregon has been an issue for a number for years. When I graduated High School any young man with a high school diploma here in southern Oregon could get a steady job that would allow him to service the debt on a modest mortgage, buy a modest car, get married and raise a family and his wife wouldn’t have to work unless she wanted to. What has changed in Oregon since then? Very simply, everything. Oregon has some significant challenges and none more so than with our young people and the gap between their wages and the cost of housing here. As we move into the future, citizens of Jacksonville may want to think about policies that make home investment for the young (and perhaps the not quite so young) more affordable.
Kenneth Gregg
Candidate
KEN GREGG: I believe that one of the city’s responsibilities in helping local businesses is to create a friendly environment and infrastructure (e.g., sidewalks, parking spaces, generous parking time limits, etc.) to encourage visitors and locals to shop in town.
Second, I advocate more partnering with the Chamber of Commerce, JOBA and other Rogue Valley communities to develop creative ways to help our business community prosper.
Third, we need to let more people know about Jacksonville both as a place to visit and a place to live and work. If we manage our growth responsibly, we can have not only a thriving business community in our business district, but as we grow can encourage new non-retail businesses to locate here, such as hi-tech, professional firms and artisan manufacturing.
Finally, we need to make our presence known through a more integrated web site.
Many friends and visitors say they could not find all they wanted or needed to know about Jacksonville in one place. They could learn about shopping, lodging, history and cultural events through separate web sites, but they could not get a picture of our town as a whole. I strongly advocate an umbrella website linking all the existing sites.
Jim Lewis
Incumbent
JIM LEWIS: As a Councilor, I have supported the City’s positive relationship with its local businesses. The City provides economic support for the Chamber of Commerce’s information operations at the Visitor Information Center. The COC operates and maintains the City-owned trolley as a means of showing visitors the town’s history and lodging, dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities. Additionally, the City has a Historic Preservation Fund that businesses can apply to annually for grants for maintenance, preservation, or restoration of historic properties. The Council has been very flexible in approving events sponsored by various business sectors and should continue to support those special occasions that bring visitors here. Finally, I would say, “do no harm”. By this, I mean the Council should be very careful when considering an ordinance or policy that might constrain a business with visibility, accessibility, or operational requirements.
Ted Trujillo
Candidate
TED TRUJILLO: Jacksonville is a town with a rich history of gold and vice, family, and faith. For many residents this is a place that holds their own deep family roots and for others a place to set root and grow. In Jacksonville, I feel there can be a reluctance to embrace new ideas. With that said, the model has worked for some time and this fantastic city certainly has a soul of its own, based on all of these factors. In order to prosper, we need to embrace new ideas and help foster the success of our existing business community, while also being attractive to new business. If elected to the city council, I would see to it that all valid ideas brought before the city council receive proper attention and dialogue. We certainly don’t want to compromise the value of our community by letting bad business exist here in Jacksonville. However, we owe it to the future of Jacksonville and to our business owners here to listen to all ideas with an open mind to ensure a thriving business community and healthy downtown core.
Clara Wendt
Candidate
CLARA WENDT: Economic vitality is a function of a City’s having appropriate businesses that match the needs of the residential population and the whims of a tourist population. When those are in sync, the Chamber of Commerce is the best organization for stimulating business growth. A Chamber can foster growth by accentuating a City’s greatest features; in Jacksonville, those highlights include its Historic Landmark classification, its spectacular rural setting, its cultural amenities, like Art Presence and Britt, its outstanding elementary school, and the newly-developing wine industry.