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
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_________________
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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
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To our Valued:
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Thank you for our best season yet!
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FOR MEDICAL
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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
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Next season begins the first Thursday
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