Grants Pass Now

Personal Information:

54 Years of Age, Husband of Valerie, Father of Ember, Aurora, Melody, & Casey
Grand Father of; Dane, Atyia, & Bannon, Father in Law to Bonner
Graduated Upper Moreland High School - 1972 / General Education
Resident of Josephine County since January 1^st, 2002

Professional Information:

Entrepreneur / Business Owner - Albright’s Roofing Specialists 1985 through 1997
Operations Manager / Systems Specialists for Integrity Construction Maintenance
1999 through March 2004
Radio Advertising Sales & Promotions - Grants Pass Broadcasting 2004 to 2005
Current Employment: In-House Marketing Manager & Sale Coordination - SuperSteer Products / Henderson’s Line-Up, Brake & RV - Grants Pass, OR.

Question #1 - “What motivated you to fun for county commissioner?”

Answer….

Defining Moment: Decreasing funds for rural policing announced by the Sheriff’s office and no resolution to the issue of Federal Funding cuts that off-set our annual timber sale loss.

**** “I was inspired to run for the Commissioner #2 position because I believe that the current state of affairs at the County Commissioners Office is one of dysfunction, and the only solution to the problem is to elect new representatives, with fresh ideas, creative minds, and limited personal agendas to run the county. The county wide problems being faced by the people of Josephine County are substantial and REAL, and demand a team of leaders, dedicated to finding creative solutions to the county’s problems, and who are unified to that end. I possess the personal qualities and creative abilities necessary to bring unity and harmony back to the Commissioners office if elected. To that end I have submitted my candidacy to the people.”

Question #2 - “What do you see as the three biggest issues facing the voters in 2008?”

Answer….

1). Dysfunctional Commissioners Office (Electing two new commissioners that can work with Dave Toler to bring about unity in the commissioners office and real change in the way our county business gets done.)

2). Funding for essential services (Sheriff’s Office / County Wide Policing, Fire Protection Services, Infrastructure Maintenance, County Employee’s Wages & Benefits, etc. etc.)

3). The “form” that county government should take in Josephine County (i.e. stay with the current 3 - Commissioners formula or introduce a new County Manager Formula)

4). Taxes (The 3^rd rail of local politics here in Josephine County)

Question #3 - “What would you do to face those issues a county commissioner?”

Answer….

1). Once elected, I would pursue my fellow commissioners to engage them on all of these issue, and all other issues facing the county, with the goal of finding the “things that we can agree upon” that we could work together to accomplish. There may be things that we disagree about, but reasonable people can “reason” together, to accomplish common goals, if they truly have the best interests of the people as their primary objective. A couple of “team” accomplishments would go a long way towards rebuilding public confidence and trust in their elected officials. Accomplishing “unity” in the commissioners’ office and establishing “team work” (Team Josephine!) as its bulwark we will begin transforming Josephine County from a place of dependency upon Federal Welfare (O&C Money), to a place of hope and opportunity.

2). As painful as it might be, I would encourage my fellow commissioners and the citizens of our fair county to enroll in a four year Team Josephine rehabilitation program to kick our addiction to Federal O&C funds cold turkey. The addiction to unearned income sources (O&C Federal Welfare), has served to undermine our willingness to work hard and creatively, to take responsibility for providing for our county’s basic essential needs. Providing for the public safety and protection of private property rights are the foundation of law and order and a civil society. It is my belief that the Sheriffs Department, EMT Services, and Fire Protection Services are the core of these essential public safety necessities. Secure an ongoing, long term funding for these essential services will require from each of us, a much needed change of heart and mind, as well as a long term commitment to that change from most every resident of this county. It is our fundamental responsibility as community leaders and citizens, to collectively bare the burden for supplying these primary essential services that protect the common good. We must never again assign ourselves to dependence upon subsidies of any kind that could endanger the permanent, and consistent, revenue generating system that we will construct to provide these vital essential services for the people. Regardless of your station as a resident of rural Josephine County, or one of its many incorporated cities or towns, we must all begin to see ourselves as one. We must encourage trust and faith in one another, and band together to increase our strength as a people, and provide for the common good. I have a number of creative recommendations for requiring all Josephine County residents to share in the burden that are our essentials services needs, which I will share with the public as this debate continues through out this election process.

3). The function of a “County Commissioner” as is currently performed here in Josephine County is significantly wide in scope, and in my opinion, in need of a finer point. Responsibilities within each of the three commissioner’s rolls, needs to be defined with greater clarity and accountability. That being the case, the addition of an appointed “County Manager” with direct oversight by the Commissioner’s Group is crucial for the stabilization of county operations, and renewed confidence in county government at the managerial level. I support the current “3 Commissioner Group” form of governance and oversight for our county, but it has become quite obvious to me that elected “Commissioners” may or may not possess the special skills required to manage a diverse county such as ours, and oversee the many specialized, large and small departments within the county’s day to day operational structure. An appointed County Manager would significantly reduce the potential for unqualified departmental leadership, and remove blame shifting and unqualified decision making from the political landscape of our county governments day to day operational structure. As commissioners we would vest this critical operational oversight responsibility with an individual “verifiably qualified” to do the job. This individual would be required to frequently, and regularly report to the Commissioners group on each departments performance and needs. The commissioners could then together assess departmental developments and needs “together”, and make determinations based upon the same data, provided by a reliable and trustworthy source. A county manager approach to county management is not a new concept. It is currently being employed in many counties throughout Oregon and other state across America. Having a county manager will consolidate county management oversight and provide way through which the commissioners group could begin to collectively focus and creatively pursue developing the counties revenue base. Looking within Josephine County and beyond county borders for ways to widen our counties tax base and improve opportunities for new businesses, higher wage paying business, innovative eco-friendly businesses, to invest in locating their operations here in Josephine County. Furthermore, redefining how “oversight” of this addition to county management is conducted by the Commissioners Group needs to be considered in light of the current fiscal dilemma that faces our county. This can only be accomplished by a team of Commissioner’s who are committed to working together for the good of the people of Josephine County.

4). A tax mechanism, specific in orientation, and limited in scope, dedicated to the sole purpose of funding essential services, for all of Josephine County residents is long overdue, and much needed to restore basic services, public trust, and law and order to this county. The Federal Government should not be the source of our funding for this crucial governmental infrastructure component. Most every county throughout this great state has a long term revenue stream plan or procedure dedicated to providing essential services to its citizens, why should Josephine County, at the risk of life and private property remain an “exception” the basic practice of providing for public safety through a specific and dedicated tax process? I disapprove of taxation as a general rule of thumb, but when it comes to public safety, there is no more reliable and across the board “fair” way to provide for these essential services. It is our duty as citizens to support our Sheriff’s Department, Local Police Departments, Fire, Rescue, and EMT professional services. Additionally, in order for new business and other types of economic development to take place within Josephine County essential services must be in place. Companies and individuals considering investing in our county as a place to locate, or re-locate there million plus dollar operations, will be looking for assurances that basic law enforcement and fire protection are in place before they decide to invest here. This critical building block of a solid tax assessment foundation for secure future long term essential services funding is by far “the single most important economic development issue” on our collective horizon. For this exception to the “No New Taxes” rule of thumb, I submit my support.

Question #4 -

Answer….

If O&C Funds are cut off this year, there is no reasonable way to budget for the county’s needs. Cuts will have to made. We currently operate our county on approximately $53 to $55 Million Dollars of combine Federal, State, and Local funding each year, an approximately $37 to $38 Million of that money is “ear marked” by the Federal Government and the State for specific county needs. If we do not use this Federal or State money for what is has been specifically ear-marked for, we lose that funding completely. With only $3 to $4 million dollars of local tax revenue coming into the county treasury each year, and no O&C Federal Welfare we are falling 12 to 15 million dollars (4 x’s the local tax revenue base) shy of our commitments. It’s not going to be pretty around here for a while. Citizens may want to consider exercising their constitutional right to own a firearm, and think of how they can improve security for their family and around their rural property as we near the coming fiscal crisis. If word gets out to any sophisticated or organized criminal organizations that there is “no reliable” or “ready to respond” law enforcement in rural Josephine County, we all will be sitting ducks on opening day of their hunting season. We needed to start doing things differently in Josephine County six years ago when O&C cuts were telegraphed to this county, and now the consequences of inaction and poor leadership are going to be taking their turn. I have a visionary multi-point approach to resolving this much needed reoccurring essential services funds issue. It features stimulating and growing the county economy, tax relief and deferral options, as well as leveraging our county’s embedded resources (Timber, Minerals, Technology, Tourism, Entertainment, Etc.) and marketing Josephine County more aggressively to attract new businesses to the area. Unfortunately it will take time to ramp any new program or strategy up to the point whereby it is providing significant reliable revenue to the County’s annual bottom line. It needs to happen, and is the only way to responsibly avoid returning to the addicting cool-aid that is Federal O&C type welfare. Additionally, there are alternative business development elements that are not part of the county’s historical asset base that can be invited into our community that will enhance our quality of life and contribute to the general fund to the benefit of our county’s citizens. “For far too long we have neglected our civic and personal responsibilities to prepare for the coming storm. Courageous visionary leadership, and a steadfast commitment to “change” the way we fund our county’s essential needs is required. I am ready to lead, are you ready to follow?” GTA

Question #5 - “Should we go with a county Manager form of government? Why or why not.

Answer….

Yes, I support a County Manager form of Government for Josephine County. It is my opinion that County Commissioners should be actively pursuing growth and expanded development of the county’s tax base, for the purpose of insuring significant reliable support of the county’s current and future budget needs, and for ongoing infrastructure development need to attract quality business / employers to our area. Conversely the Commissioners need to be maintaining oversight of the county’s employees, their managers, and the related benefits programs, as well as overseeing county compliance with its charter, as well as federal and state regulatory elements. There are many other types of functions required of the Commissioners when County Government is working properly, and working in the best interest of the people. Many of the “Day to Day” county government functions require significant oversight, and a decision maker’s availability to function at optimum levels. A County Manager is the type of “point” position leader need to orchestrate this element of daily operations required for efficient county governance. Our Commissioners would better serve the people of Josephine County by overseeing the County Manager, and focusing on aggressively finding answers to our funding shortfall, and creative ways to drive us out of a future economic disaster that is looming here in our wonderful county. A county manager will free our Commissioners to aggressively pursue the county’s fiscal needs. A unified, undistracted, determined group of visionary leaders can win the future for this county. A county manager is the first step in the right direction.

Question #6 - “Do you have any ideas on how the County can be more efficient or save the taxpayers money?”

Answer….

Unfortunately there is “No Money to Save”. As stated above, when O&C funds disappear, we do not have the tax base to fund even a quarter of what we already need to spend in the area that is our $15 to $18 million dollar un-mandated budget picture. Remember, local tax collections are just $3 to $4 million dollars annually. There appears to be a lingering flicker of hope that “one last O&C payment” might be coming our way as part of a pending Iraq War Military Omnibus Spending Bill working its way through congress. Even if we somehow miraculously get another O&C payment, it is only a momentary band-aid to a long standing problem. Serious, painful cuts are coming once O&C dries up, and they are unavoidable. The only way to regain our footing and maintain our current funding commitments at their current levels is to raise 12+ million additional dollars for the county treasury. “Saving Taxpayer Money” is what we should have been doing all along, for this coming “rainy day” economic downturn. The world is becoming a “more expensive” place to live, and we need to wake up to that reality quickly, and begin revitalizing our local economy. We picked the wrong guys for the job last time; let’s pick the right ones this time.

Question #7 - “Do you have any ideas on economic development?
Answer….

I have many visionary and revolutionary ideas for developing our county and creating a powerful economic dynamic within Josephine County that prevents future crisis such as the one we are experiencing today. The “Doom & Gloom”, “Not In My Back Yard”, NAY Sayers are all going to have to consider moving if I get elected, and have the support of my fellow citizens and Commissioners regarding economic development. I will leave the detail for another time, as they are quite lengthy, but will venture to say, the ability to transform this county into a prosperous land of plenty is in the hands of the people. It will require faith in there elected officials and the blessings of God Almighty for it to happen. The leadership is available for the taking. Embracing the vision, and walking out the road to renewal and restoration will be the true test of our commitment to change, and will determine who we are and how we will live. Let’s get started.