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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2016)
Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 5, 2016 MONMOUTH CANDIDATES Nine vie for four open positions on council; Milligan runs unopposed for mayor Itemizer-Observer staff report MONMOUTH — Nine peo- ple have thrown their name in the hat for four open positions on the Monmouth city council. Current councilor Steve Mil- ligan is the sole candidate for mayor. All candidates returned the questionnaire sent out by the Itemizer-Observer. Meet your candidates here: Monmouth Mayor candidate NAME: Steve Milligan, 63, of Monmouth CUrrENT EMPLOYMENT: Oregon HALO, one year EDUCATION: Chemeketa Community College, 2014, as- sociate of applied sciences, ac- counting PrEvIOUS GOvErNMENT ExPErIENCE: Monmouth City Council, 2003-2010 and 2013- 2016 (cur- rent), Coun- cil Presi- dent, 2009- 2010; WIM- PEG Board of Directors, Milligan 2003-2007; Minet Board of Directors, 2004- 2006; Monmouth Planning Commission, 2011-2012; Mon- mouth Budget Committee, 2011-2012; Central School Dis- trict Budget Committee, 2011- 2016; Central School District Board Member, 2016 (current); Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, Board Mem- ber, 2015 (present); Precinct Committee Person, Precinct 178, Democrat, 2016 (present) CAMPAIGN PHONE NUM- BEr: 503-269-1373 WHY ArE YOU rUNNING FOr OFFICE? I will bring a new perspective. The last 12 years have seen a lot of excit- ing growth in Monmouth, while still maintaining the small-town feel. I am excited about how far Monmouth has come and look forward to helping the city continue to move in a positive, livable di- rection. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF MONMOUTH? HOW WOULD YOU ADDrESS IT IF ELECTED? revenue versus expenses. Constrained revenue and the higher costs for providing serv- ices has been an ongoing chal- lenge for several years. Now, with the added strain of the PErS decision, our fiscal man- agement will need to be at its best. The ways I see this hap- pening are with the fiscal phi- losophy we have maintained over the past several years; continued conservative finan- cial budgeting, continued ef- fective staff financial manage- ment, and continued creative solutions for savings. — Monmouth city councilor candidates NAME: Steve Deptula, 56, of Monmouth CUrrENT EMPLOYMENT: Auditor, Oregon National Guard (2012-present) EDUCATION: Master of Sci- ence, computer information systems, University of Phoenix, 2002; Master of Science, gener- al administration, Central Michigan University, 1995; Bach- elor of Sci- ence, geolo- gy, Universi- ty of Alaska Fairbanks, 1985; Henry J. Kaiser Deptula H i g h School, 1978 PrEvIOUS GOvErNMENT ExPErIENCE: Internal auditor, Department of the Army, Ore- gon National Guard (2012-pre- sent); U.S. Air Force active duty, Idaho Air National Guard, Ore- gon Air National Guard, (1986- 2012); Monmouth Budget Committee (2014-2016) CAMPAIGN PHONE: 503- 838-4747 WHY ArE YOU rUNNING FOr OFFICE? I have been in public service continuously since 1980. My career includes leadership roles in the fire serv- ice, military, law enforcement, education, nonprofit organiza- tions, and most recently the Monmouth Budget Commit- tee. I believe public service is a special privilege that should be exercised as much as possible. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF MONMOUTH? HOW WOULD YOU ADDrESS IT IF ELECTED? The most compelling chal- lenge the city is facing is in managing the budget in the face of significant and incre- mentally increasing PErS costs beginning in 2017 and contin- uing through 2023. Important activities to help reduce the impact of these cost increases include: 1. Specific financial goals and plans should be es- tablished and updated periodi- cally. 2. Close coordination be- tween the city council, depart- ment managers and the budg- et committee is essential to en- sure specific goals and priori- ties for each budget cycle are clear and supported. 3. Intensi- fying efforts to inspire and sup- port economic growth. 4. Keeping citizens informed and soliciting input. — NAME: rich Graham, 63, of Monmouth CUrrENT EMPLOYMENT: retired mechanical engineer EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science business ad- ministration, Pittsburg State Uni- versity 1974; Bachelor of Science Me- chanical En- gineering Graham Kansas State University, 1984 PrEvIOUS GOvErNMENT ExPErIENCE: None WHY ArE YOU rUNNING FOr OFFICE? I’m running for office because of my personal desire to be a contributor to the welfare of my community. I am committed to achieving progress for Monmouth with- out losing our small-town at- mosphere. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF MONMOUTH? HOW WOULD YOU ADDrESS IT IF ELECTED? Out of control spending on long-term debt obligation due to lack of ability to separate “needs” from “wants.” This re- sulted in our taking on large amounts of unnecessary debt on such expenditures as Minet and the new police station and schools. We were sold on a lot of “bells and whistles,” which achieved little more than put the city into long-term debt which will endanger the com- munity in another bad econo- my. I will work to ensure that fu- ture proposals are focused on actual “needs,” so that our com- munity remains financially solid and our property taxes low. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WISH TO NOTE ABOUT THE POSITION YOU ArE SEEK- ING? Monmouth is as fine of a community as I have ever lived in during my life, and I am hop- ing to live out the rest of my life here now that I have re- tired. However, our current tax demands are out of proportion to what one would expect from a small-town, middle- class community. We need to get rid of our “champagne taste on a beer budget” men- tality and get back to the ba- sics if we want to be financially Thursday is FRIENDS NIGHT. Friends members get first pick of the sale! Memberships available at the door. Sunday is BAG DAY! SALE HOURS: Thursday 4 PM to 8:30 PM Friday & Saturday 10 AM to 5:30 PM Sunday 1 PM to 4:30 PM Fill up one of our bags with all the books that will fit and pay only $4.00 SPECIALTY COLLECTION • Hardcovers: $1.25 • Paperbacks: 75¢ • Children & Teens 50¢ • Audio/Visual 50¢ - $1 Hand picked rare & collectible books, priced as marked. _________________ Plaza Level of Salem Public Library in the Anderson Rooms, 585 Liberty Street NE. Parking meters will be enforced to the posted policies. Special thanks to our sponsors, Trader Joe’s and Roth’s! DALLAS FIREMED PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE MEMBERSHIP Support Your Local Ambulance secure in our homes free from excess taxes. — NAME: George W. Jeffery, 63, Monmouth CUrrENT EMPLOYMENT: retired for 2.5 years EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in business administra- tion, Western Oregon Universi- ty PrEvIOUS GOvErNMENT ExPErIENCE: Monmouth In- frastructure and Storm Water Task Force (2015-present); Monmouth Budget Committee (2016); Monmouth Planning Commission (2016) WHY ArE YOU rUNNING FOr OFFICE? I have served on a number of committees and boards in most of the places I have lived. I enjoy giving back to the com- munity in which I live. I would like to see Mon- Jeffery m o u t h maintain its small-town feel and a place that people are proud to call home. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF MONMOUTH? HOW WOULD YOU ADDrESS IT IF ELECTED? Every city has issues: infra- structure, budgetary, planning. I would like to see a more cohe- sive, mutually supporting rela- tionship between the commu- nity and university. I would query local businesses and citi- zens on how they see the uni- versity; what the institution has done right; what it can do bet- ter to embrace a more commu- nal role. At the same time, I would ask the university to in- clude students to do the same. What is good from the commu- nity; what can be improved? Then I would ask each side to look within and devise what they can do to bring these two into one. — NAME: Mark Lane, 40, of Monmouth CUrrENT EMPLOYMENT: Manager, Western Oregon Uni- versity (9+ years) EDUCATION: Pentrehafod Comprehensive School, GCSEs (high school diploma equivalent), 1992; Gor- seinon Col- lege, A Lev- els in English, Law, Com- puter Sci- ence (AP / Lane AA equiva- lent), 1994; University of Wales - Aberystwyth, BA (Hons) English Language and Literature, 1997; Western Oregon University, MSEd: Information Technology, expected Fall 2016 - Winter 2017 PrEvIOUS GOvErNMENT ExPErIENCE: Economic De- velopment Commission, City of Monmouth (2009-2010); Urban renewal District Agency re- view Board, City of Monmouth, (2009-2010) CAMPAIGN PHONE NUM- BEr: 503-383-9838 CAMPAIGN EMAIL: LaneMonmouth@gmail.com WHY ArE YOU rUNNING FOr OFFICE? Monmouth will soon see major changes in local government, with the in- cumbent mayor not running and two-thirds of the council seats up for election. We need to ensure that the previous, positive work of the council is continued, while supplement- ing with fresh ideas and new directions to invigorate the community. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF MONMOUTH? HOW WOULD YOU ADDrESS IT IF ELECTED? While issues include utility improvement, bond expiration, and capitalizing on highway construction, the biggest issue remains community engage- ment and vitality. The council made great strides in passing the resolution that created the Monmouth Engaged Commit- tees. We will provide support to these committees to pro- duce positive, tangible, and measurable results. After serving on over a dozen city, community, and university groups, I have the experience to help continue improve relation- ships between communities to benefit Monmouth. More broadly, offering dedicated email and calendar hours will ensure that all community members who want to talk will have their voices heard. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WISH TO NOTE ABOUT THE POSITION YOU ArE SEEK- ING? What a shake-up Monmouth is facing. With a wealth of can- didates running for council, it’s important to look beyond name recognition by evaluating what each will bring to Monmouth. Having a council that best rep- resents the needs of Mon- mouth, whether that results in election or not, should be the desire of every candidate. — NAME: Laurel Sharmer, 69, of Monmouth CUrrENT EMPLOYMENT: Emeritus Professor (retired) EDUCATION: Santa Cruz High School (California) 1964; San Jose State University, bachelor’s degree with great distinction, 1979; San Jose State University, Master of Pub- lic Health Degree, 1981; Ore- gon State University, Doctor of Philosophy, 2000. PrEvIOUS GOvErNMENT ExPErIENCE: Senior Health Educator, San Francisco De- partment of P u b l i c H e a l t h , 1987-1992; S e n i o r Health Edu- cator, Office of the Cali- fornia Attor- ney General, 1992 – 1993; Shamer Chair, St. Lawrence County Environmen- tal Management Committee, 2002-2007 CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: Google “Laurel Sharmer.” WHY ArE YOU rUNNING FOr OFFICE? Citizens in a par- ticipatory democracy have the privilege, the right and the re- sponsibility to engage in their own governance. If the resi- dents of Monmouth elect me to their city council, I will be honored to serve. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF MONMOUTH? WHO WOULD YOU ADDrESS IT IF ELECTED? I have listened to many Mon- mouth residents who believe our city could be better. Above all, they talk about the impor- tance of making our city one that supports the vibrancy that comes when small businesses thrive. For many visitors, though, Monmouth is just a traffic light stop on Highway 99. One person won’t have the solution to these kinds of is- sues. It will take our educators, business owners, government officials and individual resi- dents to come together to find a way to make Monmouth a city that everyone wants to visit — and stay to shop, to dine, to play and live. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WISH TO NOTE ABOUT THE POSITION YOU ArE SEEK- ING? I am an emeritus professor of public health. My specialty area is environmental health and my area of expertise is lead poisoning prevention. I built my own house on Martin Way. An article about this project was published in the May-June, 2013 issue of Back Home magazine. — NAME: Byron Shinkle, 41, of Monmouth CUrrENT EMPLOYMENT: Current business owner of Cooper Hol- low residen- tial Services; Director of Employee relations (Human re- sources) – reading Health Sys- Shinkle tem, read- ing, Penn. (2012-2015); Director of Em- ployee relations/Employment Counsel (last position held) – Holiday retirement, Salem/Lake Oswego, (2006- 2012) EDUCATION: Central High School, 1993; Bachelor of Sci- ence, Western Oregon Univer- sity, 2001; Master of Business Adminis- tration, Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University, 2006; Juris Doctor – Willamette Uni- versity College of Law, 2006 PrEvIOUS GOvErNMENT ExPErIENCE: None WHY ArE YOU rUNNING FOr OFFICE? I have been look- ing for an opportunity to serve the community in some capaci- ty and this opportunity arose. Further, I want to be an exam- ple to my children to encour- age them that. when the time is right, to get involved in the community to actively partici- pate in their own governance. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF MONMOUTH? HOW WOULD YOU ADDrESS IT IF ELECTED? The question of sustainabili- ty is at the forefront. How do we preserve the community standards that residents of Monmouth have worked hard to create, yet maintain the flex- ibility and financial viability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the community and advancements in technology? See CANDIDATES, Page 3A Featuring Growers, Producers & Artisans of the Polk County area & beyond! To our Valued: Customers, Visitors, Non-profits, Musicians, Vendors, Volunteers & Sponsors Thank you for our best season yet! 2016 Sponsors: DIAL Open Enrollment September - October 31st 9 1 1 $65 per household $75 per household FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES 24 hours a day, year-around Emergency Medical Service Membership within city limits outside city limits For enrollment assistance call: CITY OF DALLAS 503-831-3508 Offered to the communities of Dallas, Falls City, Rickreall, and surrounding areas Enroll and pay online at www.dallasor.gov Citizens Bank • City of Dallas Dallas Fire & EMS • Dallas Retirement Village Home Comfort • Itemizer Observer James W. Fowler • Oregon State Credit Union Polk County • Republic Services Squirrels Taxi • The Car Doctor The Grand Hotel • West Valley Hospital Whites Collision Service Next season begins the first Thursday in May 2017! http://www.exploredallasoregon.org/bounty-market.html 503-623-2564 Facebook.com/bountymarket