They're keeping their eye on the ball

Cheers to the Jackson County Local Action Coalition (JCLAC), a growing local group that's keeping their eye on the ball. Check this out--it's their draft mission statement. The core:

If our Coalition is to succeed, we must be transpartisan – beyond partisanship. We refuse to fall into the trap of being divided and powerless.Frankly, we don't have time for anything else. The urgency of the moment makes the divisiveness of partisanship foolish. It's not that political issues, and the moral principles upon which they are based are unimportant. It's simply that there is much about which we can agree. There is a deep reservoir of unity on the priority issues that affect the welfare of our families and our neighbors. It is upon that foundation that we will build a healthy and prosperous Jackson County [emphasis mine], even in the difficult times that likely lie ahead.

Yes. I'm running for JC Commissioner because we actually have a chance to pool our strengths and build a community that can weather what's coming. But NOT if we let ourselves get distracted by hot-button issues that have kept us divided and distracted as economic conditions get more and more desperate. If we can set aside some things we're flat NOT going to agree on --same-sex rights, religion in schools, evolution, in some cases the proper role for governmtent-- there's a realistic path to better days . The alternative is to fight the old feuds over and over again and sink into misery while a very small economic slice flourishes at our expense. Thanks but no thanks. More on JCLAC is at their website

One of Politics' Biggest Turnoffs

This just in: people are turned off by politics! Or so my highly scientific findings on the campaign trail seem to indicate.

Yes, there are lots of reasons. But one big, especially aggravating reason -- one that's easier to understand than most -- is the way political leaders carve out special privileges for themselves. Now there's a grassroots movement starting to spread, across normal political lines, for a constitutional amendment that looks like it could be a potent remedy. Read it yourself and let me know what you think.

It's not "the future." It's NOW

I'm sitting right now (Sat, June 19 afternoon) on the floor of the Medford Armory ( East side of Hwy 99 just south of Medford). I'm staffing a booth for something called the Green Jobs Council (more later on that) at the Oregon Green Expo.

Here's my tip: if you're in or near Medford, get down here before 6pm today or from 10-4 tomorrow Sunday. The concentration of smart, practical, sustainable projects, and people stubbornly working to make them happen, is just stunning. A big glimpse of the healthy future we can have is right here. Hope you'll come by today or tomorrow.

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...