Name: John Jorgenson
Running For: City Councilor
How long resided in Jacksonville: 7 years

You may not recognize my name, but you might recognize me as the guy who has been walking his beagle, Riley, all around Jacksonville for the past seven years. If we have not met, here is a brief introduction with points to consider as you make your City Council voting decision on November 5th.

My wife, Laura Hall, and I moved to the Rogue Valley in January 1984. Laura was employed at Siskiyou Eye Clinic in Ashland, and I was a retail consultant with 7-Eleven. In 1989 and newly married, we left the valley to continue a career in convenience store operations and marketing, and Laura continued her work as an Ophthalmic Technician. We promised our friends and ourselves that one day we would return to the Rogue Valley.

Our 35-year journey took us to eleven different cities in five states. While the cities we lived in had much to offer, they still lacked the livability and charm of Southern Oregon. When we would move to a new neighborhood, people would often ask, “You have lived in so many places. What is your favorite?”  When we answered Southern Oregon, we frequently received a perplexing look. That look served as our opportunity to educate our new neighbors on the wonderful place we now live.

My wife Laura and I, along with our son, Hunter, were fortunate to find Jacksonville (or as folks say, ‘Jacksonville found us’) in the summer of 2017. For Laura and me this was a return to the valley we fell in love with in 1984. For our angler and outdoor loving son, Hunter, he found his paradise!

We immediately immersed ourselves in Jacksonville. We visited the cemetery, Beekman Bank, took the Haunted Trolley tour, hiked the Woodlands, enjoyed wineries, the Bella, and other fine restaurants; we attended Britt concerts and rode the trolley enough to recite the town’s history in our sleep.

We joined the Jacksonville Boosters with both of us currently serving as board members. Laura serves as chair of programs. I serve on the Jacksonville Boosters Foundation board. The primary mission of the Jacksonville Boosters Foundation is to preserve Jacksonville’s history and enhance its livability. It does so by providing financial support for the restoration, preservation, maintenance, and improvement of both public and nonprofit owned facilities in Jacksonville, Oregon.

During my career as a convenience store retailer, I worked with city planning departments to ensure my projects fit within the planning group’s comprehensive plan. When the Jacksonville Planning Department was looking for a volunteer to serve on the Citizen Advisory Committee, I believed this would be a good opportunity to view how the “other side” of the planning process operated. The goal of the CAC is to develop a citizen involvement program that ensures the opportunity for citizens to be involved in all phases of the planning process. During my two years with the CAC, we put together Chapter One of the updated Comprehensive Plan.

In 2021 I became the chair of the Committee for Citizen involvement, and I continue to serve in the position today. The committee serves as the City Council’s planning and supervisory arm for conducting functions and requirements of the Civic Engagement Program. We advocate for public participation in the City’s land use processes, programs, and concerns. During my tenure we have held public hearings on two of the new code updates including state parking requirements for developers and a new tree removal ordinance.

Seeking a seat on the City Council is a natural progression in my desire to serve the good folks of Jacksonville. I plan to bring my passion to protect what we already enjoy as citizens of Jacksonville with an openness to new opportunities to help keep our city relevant and thriving.

Jacksonville is nationally recognized and an incredibly special place. We are fortunate to have our own police and fire departments. The Britt Festival provides a world-class entertainment venue in our backyard. We enjoy having some of the best restaurants and shopping in a unique, historical environment, not to mention the miles of trails that surround us.

What makes Jacksonville so special also creates challenges. The funding and recruitment challenges of our police and fire departments is an ongoing issue. I congratulate the City Council for their continued efforts to seek out a creative solution for both departments.

I have thirty-five years of experience operating a large portfolio of gasoline and convenience store locations and often faced hiring, budgeting, and other challenges. I am confident I can use that experience to add value to the ongoing operating challenges we face in Jacksonville.

The Britt Festival and other attractions in Jacksonville also present a set of challenges. I plan to lean on my years of experience of satisfying customer needs as a responsible operator to help us find a good balance between Jacksonville hospitality and livability.

I am a proponent of a strong business community and support and celebrate the work done by our small business operators. I continue to serve small business operators as a SCORE Mentor. SCORE is a nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential business mentoring and training workshops to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Jacksonville has welcomed my family with open arms and has given us so much; we are so grateful to everyone who makes this such a special place to live. I look forward to receiving your vote to join the Jacksonville City Council, and I am ready to serve this special city.