The excitement of September’s Jubilee celebration still hangs thick in the air as pinot noir grapes are being harvested from the hillsides of nearby vineyards. Hopefully, you had a chance to partake in September’s festivities – lectures, presentations, concerts, art exhibits, craft demonstrations, historic workshops, melodramas, building tours, picnics, movies, archeology digs, farmers markets, Oktoberfest, and the hilarious outhouse races following the parade. The September Jubilee was a success thanks to the leadership of City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen and an incredible volunteer effort. Special thanks to super-volunteers Terry Erdman, Jerry Ferronato, Jim Fredericks, Terri Gieg, Ed Hunt, and Rick Kaufman.
It’s now “political season” in America. By mid- October, Jackson County will have mailed-out voter information pamphlets and the General Election ballots for the November 2 General Election. This year, you have an opportunity to choose (4) citizens to serve as your representatives on Jacksonville’s City Council.
In this election cycle, Jacksonville has (3) four-year seats to fill, and (1) two-year term to fill Linda Meyers’ vacant seat. (Christina Duane is running unopposed for the two-year seat.) The candidates (in alphabetical order) seeking four-year terms are: John Dodero, Paul Hayes, David Jesser, Jim Lewis, and Dan Winterburn. All of the candidates have completed a five question Candidate Questionnaire prepared by the Review – you’ll find it located inside this issue! The candidates are varied, as are their positions on a variety of topics such as public service levels, budgeting, historic preservation and other important LOCAL topics. Please take the time to read each of the candidates’ responses and then cast your vote(s) for those whom you feel will best represent you on the council.
Since we could not have possibly posed every question to the candidates, you are invited to join the Jacksonville Review for a Candidates Forum on Thursday, October 14 from 7-9 pm at the Naversen Room at the Library. The event is being hosted by The Review and moderated by Carolyn Kingsnorth. I encourage you to email me additional questions in advance of the event which may be chosen and posed to one or all candidates. It’s my hope that the evening will provide an opportunity for you to meet the candidates face-to-face and to learn more about those who will be making serious decisions and impacting our lives.
Jacksonville is facing serious issues and needs serious- minded citizens to serve and make tough decisions that impact all aspects of our daily lives. In the very near future, decisions must be made relevant to finalizing and funding a public safety program, managing the watershed, budgeting, staffing city departments, protecting our historic character, and managing and planning for growth. By becoming more informed and voting, you’ll make a difference in Our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!