County commission candidates present platforms
From our weekly issue dated April 23, 2008
Candidates for two positions on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners were asked by Illinois Valley News to provide statements of candidacy. Following are those, other than the ones printed last week, which have been received.
Gary Thomas Albright/Position 3
I will serve the people of Josephine County to the best of my ability working to unify county government and to encourage my fellow commissioners with all those serving in our county government and law enforcement.
I will seek to inspire relational unity and creative problem-solving within the commissioners group and to further achieve a managing consensus upon which public confidence can be restored in our county government.
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In doing so, together with my fellow commissioners, I will seek to find new ways to provide for our county's public safety, fire protection, infrastructure development, and general maintenance needs. I believe progress can be achieved on a new countywide essential services policy by embracing creative and innovative ways of leveraging our county’s human, monetary, and natural resources.
I will serve to improve communication within county government, and to the general public. Together, we can find new ways to free our county’s people from a dependence upon federal money that is undermining our personal safety and crippling our way of life. I will pursue unique and creative ways to bring new, good-paying employment opportunities to our county’s residents.
I will encourage the use of new technologies in our county’s work places and promote efficiency and public transparency in all areas of county government. With your support, I am confident that I can make a difference for all.
John Makepeace/Position 3
A 25-year resident of Josephine County, John Makepeace believes that libraries are a very important part of our community, and that the day-to-day county business should be determined by a professional county manager rather than a political body.
He believes that grant-writing for funding can be key to the short-fall in our sheriff’s office and jail. He is a strong advocate for property owners in land-use issues, and believes in preserving our county’s resource base.
Makepeace believes that excellent public safety measures add to the quality-of-life for families. He is the employment coordinator at Options for Southern Oregon Inc., and has served as a supervisor for SOASTC. He has served as a land-use consultant and certified legal assistant.
He is 1974 graduate of Chula Vista High School in California; earned his bachelor’s degree in communications in 1993 from Southern Oregon University at Ashland, and his law degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane.
He served as a member of the Josephine County Soil/Water Conservation District Board, Hugo Neighborhood Association, and county Law Library Advisory Committee.
He was a founding member of the new 2005 NVHS Athletic Facilities Committee. Makepeace has served as an assistant NV softball coach, and a Little League and Babe Ruth coach.
He said that he has fresh ideas, and new solutions to old problems.
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G.D. Massey/Position 2
I promise to not “twist” the taxpayers’ arm by threatening reduced service or no public safety or imposition of any new tax without a vote of the people.
Let mining companies pay existing tax on their machinery at rate of current value per annum as provided.
We should restructure the working arraignment with BLM. Its mismanagement of sustained yield and other timber, mining and agriculture programs on public domain land (different from public land), including mismanagement of ecological issues, has caused economic instability in Josephine County.
We need to take back administration of public domain land, placing stewardship in the hands of the people of this county where residents realize the benefit.
I am a doer; a person who does things, makes mistakes. A person who does nothing makes no mistakes. I have shed blood, sweat and tears defending people’s rights to life, liberty and property.
I made changes in this government during the 1980s, including closing the jail and compelling construction of a new jail; and new protocol and policies in the Justice Dept. When I saw something wrong, I changed it, like when I saw the sheriff’s office harboring sexual and child predators as deputy sheriffs, informants and murderers, I organized two political committees.
By raising public awareness I compelled Sheriff Jim Fanning and the then-district attorney to abdicate his office.
Paul Walter/Position 2
The reason I’m running is because I’m the only one who’s not going to sell out the folks. I understand the game being played on the people.
I will represent the folks like Commissioner Jim Raffenburg does and not represent the power structure (good ol’ boys). I am in the news business and see what’s coming through the pipeline before Josephine County even knows.
There are three other candidates – Mackin, Bates and Iverson – who are very dangerous and will serve the good ol’ boys.
The good ol’ boys candidates are hoping that two of the three will be at the top, so one of them will win and the people lose – checkmate. They will represent the system, not the folks of the community.
I will represent the people, and will not compromise on my principles. I’ve been active in the community for 20+ years.
Radio KAJO has been hosting the county commissioners on last Tuesdays, but Dave Toler wants to stop that program because the station took a stand against the Grants Pass Daily Courier.
And Toler wanted Dwight Ellis to sign a letter (under the radar), so Ellis put it on the agenda for a recent meeting.
