What was a Political becomes a Community Campaign

Welcome to 2011. It isn't hard to see a great year ahead for those those of us committed to a healthier, sturdier, stronger Rogue Valley community. The need to strengthen our local business network, agriculture and web of services will get clearer and more compelling for more people this year.

Some of you saw an article in the two local newspapers that popped out before anyone expected. No big deal -- except for the anti-"conservative" note it included, which is a pretty good recipe for failure if we're serious about pulling together a community that can thrive here. But I'll save what I think about knee-jerk political labels for another column.

Here's the point now: if you followed and found value in our Commissioner campaign, stay connected with us now as a political campaign transforms into a community campaign. The surest way to do that is to send an email with your contact information to golden4jaxco@gmail.com. Put the word "Community" in the subject line.

John Kitzhaber, who will take the oath of office for a third Governor's term on Monday, said during his campaign that "Oregon's best days are ahead." For some that sounded like a glib slogan, given the size of the obvious challenges on our plate. What's true, of course, is that we have no way to know the quality of our days ahead. But we do know that it will be higher if we work together towards smart, clear goals than if we sit on our hands and complain. And we'll have more fun in the process.
Are you in?

And in the end...

And in the end it wasn't very close. If you go to the final election results online here's what you'll find under Jackson County Commissioner Position #1:

Jeff Golden (DEM) (IND) . . . . . 32,980 43.62%

Don Skundrick (REP) . . . . . . . 42,509 56.22%

There's plenty we could say about this. I'll keep it to this: this wasn't our time.

Looking forward from here, there's a lot more to say. I had a chance to say some of it in a guest opinion column in yesterday's Mail Tribune. Because we're not done.

To all of you who had a hand in this campaign, my deep and warm thanks. Alongside the clear fact that this wasn't our time is the clear reality that times constantly change. So. Onward.

32 hours to the finish line

I write this at noon on Monday, 24 plus 8 = 32 hours before this election ends.

Every day I'm asked if we'll win. I want you to know we've already won. We laid out a solid, practical alternative to the 1990s economic habits that are taking us over the cliff, and plenty of people from different parts of the political spectrum heard us, and thought seriously about what lies ahead. That matters.

Beyond that, will we end up with more votes than the other guy, and have the chance to ground our vision in county government policy? That we'll know in 32 hours. Either way there will be plenty for us to do to build a more self-reliant, sustainable and caring community together.

I'm more grateful than I can say for what so many of you have given to this campaign. I wanted it to be ours, not mine. It has been.

And, we're not quite done. Be sure to return your ballot before 8pm tomorrow (not in the mail, because it's too late, but in election drop boxes-- behind the Ashland library or on West Main just east of Columbus Ave in Medford) and call procrastinators or tuned-out people you may know to nudge them to do the same. If the outcome's decided by less than 100 votes--and that's happened before--I want us celebrating instead of what-iffing.

Thank you. Onward.

We Can Win This Race

Join us in the CALL-5 CHALLENGE

It’s easy. Follow these four steps:

1) Go to your personal/professional address book and select the names and phone numbers of at least five Jackson County residents (but I'll bet you have way more than that). Look for people who might not already be supporting this campaign, or who might not be tuned into the election generally (or friends who might simply be so busy they let their ballots fall to the bottom of their inbox until its too late). It’s also good if they live somewhere other than Ashland.

2) Call each one on the phone (this is much more effective than email). Make one or two efforts to talk to them personally before settling for their voicemail. Tell them you’re taking the time to call because you believe it’s vitally important to elect Jeff to the Board of Commissioners, and give one strong reason that is true for you (you can visit goldenforjacksoncounty.org if you want a reminder). Ask them to vote for Jeff. Some will do so just because you ask them. If someone wants more information, refer them to the 2-minute welcome video at www.goldenforjacksoncounty.org .

3) If you reach someone who’s already enthusiastic about the campaign, ask them to go to their address book to call 3-5 Jackson County friends who might need a nudge. We want to see this spread.

4) Complete the process by replying to kim@goldenforjacksoncounty.org, and let us know you’ve called at least five people (it would be additionally helpful if you send me their first name and the city in which they live so we can ensure we're covering the county, and so I can show Jeff the level of our outreach). If you’re ready to join us in this massive final effort, please get this done today or tomorrow. With vote-by-mail, more people vote with every passing day, and it’s important to reach them as soon as possible.

Good News for Governing Ourselves...

What if...

What if you took the two most controversial (and perhaps complex) measures on our upcoming Oregon ballot -- this year that would be Measure 73 (mandatory minimum sentences for new categories of repeat offenders) and Measure 74 (legalizing dispensaries to provide medical marijuana). And let's say you gathered a group of Oregon citizens at random, people starting off with no financial, political or big ideological stake in these issues. Then say you had the time and resources to give them plenty of good, responsible information, let them hear from advocates on both sides, let them ask all the questions they want. Then you gave them time to discuss and deliberate and give their judgment on the issues. And THEN their opinions went into the Voters Pamphlet (right alongside with the statements of the rah-rah supporters and opponents of the measures) for you to read before you voted.

Think that would improve our system? Well, for the first time, all of that has happened, and you in fact have a chance to read the opinions of unbiased, very well-informed citizens, all thanks to Healthy Democracy Oregon. Check it out and see if it gives you some optimism about citizenship and political process in our state. It did for me.

My opponent takes me aside

After a meeting we both attended last week, my opponent asked if I had a minute and led me to the corner of a hallway. He looked at me with a lot of intensity and said "I just want you to know that I'm going to be running this campaign on the issues. Not on personalities, not on rumors or any of that stuff, just on the issues."

Same goes for me, I told him. We agreed that we have an opportunity to give citizens a quality election campaign without the usual ugliness and distractions. We shook hands and as he turned away he said, "and I want you to know that I'm telling my team that, too."

I don't know who's on his team, but if you're supporting our campaign, I count you on my team. So I'm saying to you what he claims to be saying to his team: let's keep this on issues and steer clear of any last-minute garbage. He is stepping up and asking to do important public service, and from what I can tell (I only met him a few months ago) he's a thoroughly decent guy. The difference between us, and it's big, is our beliefs on what Jackson County needs to thrive. You've heard mine, or can read them on the website. And his? Well, here's his website. See what you think.

I hope you're with us this election. Part of being with us is resisting any urge to scorch him, no matter what flaming Letters to the Editor come our way. I'm asking everyone involved with this campaign to keep your eye on the ball: a viable, quality future for us and the next generation.

Releasing the Local Jobs Agenda

Some say there are three big issues this election year, in national state and local elections alike: 1) Jobs 2) Jobs and 3) Jobs.

That's not hard to understand. You don't have to look farther than page after page of foreclosure notices in the local paper to know that many working people are in the hardest crunch of their lives. We can design all the nifty government programs we want, but the hard reality won't change without developing stable, quality jobs.

How can county government help that happen? A couple of months ago we started a research project to find out. The result is our Local Jobs Agenda, which we think is unlike any report ever offered before in a Jackson County Commissioner race. It's not THE ANSWER...we don't think that exists. But it puts forward sound actionable ideas, and can stimulate more from others who are serious about putting Rogue Valley people back to work. That's the whole idea.

Take a look and tell us what you think.