Mistakes we don't have to keep making

The ongoing oil volcano erupting torrents of oil into the Gulf right now (and more oil this second...and more now...and more now) rarely leaves my mind during this campaign. It's not just a stunning symbol of where past decisions have brought us. It's a grim guide for the decisions we're making today.

Right now in Jackson County we're in the midst of deciding how and where to accommodate growth for next fifty years, as our population grows from about 200,000 to an estimated 400,000. Maybe it would be a good idea if we had live video from the Gulf of Mexico nearby as we make these decisions. This accident happened at the deepest underwater well there is, as we push further and further, to the limits of our competence and past, for enough oil to fuel the daily movement of hundreds of millions of cars.

I've heard plenty of people in the Valley agree that our one-person-per-car doesn't make a lot of sense. "Too bad," many have said, "that we're too spread out here to make public transportation work efficiently." Well, the decisions we're making now will likely determine whether we're still saying that in 10, 15, 25 years, or whether we'll configure ourselves, like almost all of the advanced world, where there are practical, convenient alternatives to your private car.

Of course, if we do that, we might not get to see a lot more pictures like the one above. I think I could handle that.

Go, Farm to Fork!

About sixty people who want to see more local (and healthier) food in Jackson County got together at Peter Salant's beef ranch on the Little Applegate last Saturday for an event that was more fun and inspiring than a blog can describe. It was part of a movement called Farm to Fork, and it included some great networking among folks who are building the local ag movement, a short tour of Peter's ranch (he's proud of it and should be), and a five-course dinner of local food that, was, as my mother likes to say, to die for. Between each course we heard from another person who is creating a particular component of what's becoming a robust small farm economy in the Valley where more and more people could make a living, where more of us are getting healthier, fresher food, and where we're contributing less to things like the horrific underwater geyser in the Gulf, because our food travels far fewer miles to get to our plate.

This isn't "wouldn't it be nice..." These folks are doing it, and you can help in an amazingly enjoyable way.Saturday was just the first Farm to Fork dinner. There will be at least five more this summer and fall at different farms throughout the Valley (see the schedule below). Get more of the flavor, pun sort-of intended, at the Farm to Fork website.

This is so creative, so energized, so timely. Come be part of it!


UPCOMING FARM TO FORK EVENTS:
14 seats available - June 26th at Dunbar Farms in Medford, OR (Rogue Valley Brambles Poultry, RoxyAnn and Rocky Knoll Wine)
20 seats available - July 31st at Restoration Farm in Ashland, OR (Magnolia Farm Lamb and Quady North Wine)
22 seats available - August 28th at Happy Dirt Veggie Patch in Ashland, OR (Port Orford Sustainable Seafood and Cowhorn Wine)
30+ seats available - September 11th at Blackberry Lane in Grants Pass, OR (Willow Witt Pork and Caprice Wine)
30+ seats available - October 9th at Rogue Valley Brambles in Talent, OR (Rogue Valley Brambles Poultry and Trium Wine)

One down, one to go...

And it's the easy one that's down. We took about 99% of the vote in Tuesday's election, which might have something to do with the fact that I was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Position #1. Republicans nominated Don Skundrick (defeating the incumbent Jack Walker) to run against me in November. He'll be a good, tough opponent. In the other Commissioner position, Democrat Mark Wisnovsky will be taking on Republican John Rachor.

These will not be boring races. And I think there's a chance to make them much better than what we're used to... which is why I submitted this letter today to the local newspapers:

CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION

To the editor:

I can’t exactly call my primary election victory “hard-fought;” in my slot, there was no other name on the ballot. Now I’m one of four candidates for two County Commissioner seats in November. I admire how the other three walked the campaign trail. They answered voters’ questions thoughtfully and respectfully, running just the kinds of races we want, but don’t get, in national politics.

We can keep doing that. One suggestion: let’s collaboratively hold six community forums focused on solutions, not political slogans.

Each would focus on one topic (possibilities: job generation, long-term county funding, foreclosures, food security, water, transportation). Each would take place in a different town; we’ll ask city councils or service clubs to host/moderate. Each would specifically invite citizens who’ve been studying and working on each topic. And, really stretching, the four of us would limit our talking to 20% of the time and listen the other 80%.

If these events produce even a few ingredients for practical, effective solutions, then county residents win this election no matter which two of us end up taking office.

I’d like to work on this with all interested candidates. Call 541/858-0585 and we’ll work out details.

JG

We invite you to visit our campaign website.

Today's the Day

Today's primary election day. We'll win. Our campaign has no opponent today, a slightly strange feeling as I watch hard-fought races all around me.

If you're reading this in Oregon, especially in Jackson County, please do one thing today if you haven't already: VOTE. This is important. The finalists for two of the three seats on the Board of Commissioners will be determined today, a majority that could--probably will-- have a huge impact on the Valley's direction over the next four years. If you're voting as a Democrat in the position #3 race between Buck Eichler, Jim Sims and Mark Wisnovsky, take a good look to see who you think would best represent you. If it's close, give the nod to whoever you think has the best chance to win in November, because I'd very much like to serve with one of these guys. And I have every intention of winning position #1.

The General Election campaign starts tomorrow. Let's do what we can do...

A New Welcome...

As of today the campaign website has a new welcome video that uses 80 seconds to get across our core belief: county government can serve people best these days only by plugging in to the civic and "social capital" sector that flourishes here. Pass this post along to friends who care.

People love living in this Valley. That comes out in the thousand ways they're willing to volunteer to make it better. The question they should hear from government (as you already know if you've seen the video) is How can we help what you're doing? In this campaign, and in my tenure in Commissioner, we'll find great answers to that question.

Kudos and big thanks for the development of our visual campaign to videographer Ed Keller and webmaster Rob Landeros.

"Aren't you running for Commissioner?"

I've heard from a few people who are puzzled. They heard somewhere that I'm running for Jackson County Commissioner, but wonder why I haven't been mentioned in Mail Tribune's editorial endorsements when every other candidate has been, why no Golden signs have sprung up in anyone's yard, why they're not seeing me ask for votes on radio or TV or post-card mailings. Most don't know that my race in the May 18 primary is over.

So, some basic background: two of the three Jackson County Commissioner seats are up for election. Position #3, which Commissioner Dave Gilmour is vacating, has three Candidates vying for the Democratic nomination and five for the Republican. Then Position #1 has incumbent Jack Walker running against three candidates for the Republican nomination. I'm unopposed for the Democratic nomination, leading to my so-far unrefuted claim to be the very best candidate in that primary race, hands down.

Which doesn't mean we're visiting tanning booths or catching up on the soap operas these days. I've been re-educating myself on county issues, finding out what people around the county are hoping or worried about and putting the pieces together to run a high-quality campaign in the fall. Which will be even higher quality if you get involved.

So don't worry about what might seem like an overly laid-back beginning; come join us as the gears begin fully engage. Thanks.

The $90,000 -- or is it $100,000? -- question

Of all the issues County Commissioners and Commissioner candidates don't like talking about, elected official salaries have to top the list. Too bad, because folks at just about every public forum or interview understandably want to hear about it.

This has been unusually hot this cycle. Over the last couple of years the base salary for Commissioners has jumped from $66,000 to a little over $90,000, plus very generous benefits---all at a time when so many voters (more to the point, taxpayers) see their economic lives swirling down toward the drain. It's not hard to see what the anger is about.

There's lots to say on this issue, but the short version is this: if elected I plan to accept the $90,000+ and work as hard and smart as I can every day to earn it. Is it too much? That depends completely on what taxpayers get for their money. If the next commissioner spends most of his time looking over the shoulder of County Administrator Danny Jordan, nodding in approval, and sitting through routine meetings, then he's just doubling up on management. That's not worth much.

We don't need more management. We need more leadership, a collaborative kind of leadership that puts government, business and the non-profit civic sector to grab hold of challenges that everyday steady-as-we-go management alone won't solve. Which challenges? I lay those out at the campaign website. Here I just want to suggest that the constant question "is $90,000 too much?" misses the point, which is this : Too much for what? It's about five times too much to pay someone for just warming the chair. If we elect people with the practical intelligence, tenacity, creativity and gift for bringing people together to get this county economically sturdier and more self-reliant, the salary is a bargain. Which, of course, is how I hope people will tend to look back on my time in office, if given the privilege of getting there.

So I'm okay with $90,000, and charged up to earn it. What I'm not okay with is a proposal in the curent budget to hike the salary yet again this year to close to $100,000. At some point these raises rub the noses of struggling taxpayers straight into the mud. With this new proposal we've arrived at that point. Approving it would signal Commissioner cluelessness about Rogue Valley life that would just about take your breath away.

Anyone see this differently?