We sent a questionnaire to all Commissioner Candidates and received the following responses. Read the following and join us at our Candidate Forum on May 8th at 7:00PM at the Unitarian Universalists at 129 NW E St, Grants Pass, OR. If we receive additional responses, we will add them to this post.
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- Do you support federal law enforcement coming to Josephine County to eradicate illegal marijuana farms?
- What is your solution to the problems of rapid growth in the marijuana industry such as water pollution, light pollution and reductions in the water table?
- Do you support the Commissioner’s ordinance to limit marijuana production to only properties greater than 4 acres?
- Are you familiar with land use regulations regarding farm and forestland? Do you support them?
- Would you support a nuisance ordinance to help reduce dumping of garbage, use of water without a permit and unlicensed junkyards on private land.
- Do you support privatization of the Josephine county health department? If yes, what services and why?
- When the current levy that partially funds the Sherriff’s Department expires will you campaign for renewed funding for the Sherriff’s Department?
- Do you support finding ways the fund a detective unit in the Sherriff’s Department?
- Are you in favor restoration of Sherriff’s patrols for the entire county?
- What are your ideas for increased funding for the County Parks?
- Are you a Veteran? Did you serve in Theater in any conflict?
- Do you believe Global Warming is a hoax?
- Are you concerned about wage inequality based on gender?
- Do you support additional taxation for companies who have employees that must be on public assistance (food stamps, HUD Housing, Medicaid) in order to survive because their compensation does not provide for basic needs such as food, shelter, utilities and healthcare?
- Do you have ideas about what grants Josephine County could get from State, federal and private entities to improve the quality of life for county residents?
- What role do you see for the Josephine County Commissioners in improving education in 3 Rivers School District?
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- Do you support federal law enforcement coming to Josephine County to eradicate illegal marijuana farms?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Josephine County Zoning and the Sheriff’s office are responsible for this. Put more money and attention on enforcement than jails housing out of county prisoners.
- What is your solution to the problems of rapid growth in the marijuana industry such as water pollution, light pollution and reductions in the water table?
Zoning requirements need to be in place that require sustainable practices for all farming. There is no reason for light pollution, water pollution, animal and nature poisoning, or over watering. All growing can be done ecologically and sustainably. Josephine County could lead the nation with appropriate regulations that preserve our natural resources and quality of life.
- Do you support the Commissioner’s ordinance to limit marijuana production to only properties greater than 4 acres?
No. I support farming and small enterprise farmers. A rural land owner aught to be able to grow any plant for income and self-sustaining business. If there is a neighbor issue, let neighbors and neighborhood councils work them out.
- Are you familiar with land use regulations regarding farm and forestland? Somewhat – Do you support them?
I would need to do further research and my time is limited for this response. I would support a remapping and recoding effort if proven to be helpful to the citizens of Josephine County. I support local management of forest lands to prevent fire and provide resources for our citizens.
- Would you support a nuisance ordinance to help reduce dumping of garbage, use of water without a permit and unlicensed junkyards on private land.
YES! And appropriate fines for failure to comply that increase significantly as time passes.
- Do you support privatization of the Josephine county health department? If yes, what services and why?
I do not support privatizing Josephine County Health Departments. It has never been proven to work when applied in other areas of the country. There should be no outsourcing to FOR PROFIT organizations such as we have now. Public Health is just that… PUBLIC and needs to stay that way. Corporate interests do not meet the needs of our citizens.
- When the current levy that partially funds the Sherriff’s Department expires will you campaign for renewed funding for the Sherriff’s Department.
Yes, with the requirement that the funds be used for patrols and enforcement rather than jails and that those on fixed incomes could be exemt.
- Do you support finding ways the fund a detective unit in the Sherriff’s Department?
Yes. County Public Banking could be a funding agent.
- Are you in favor restoration of Sherriff’s patrols for the entire county?
YES! The Sheriff’s budget needs to be directed toward patrols rather than jails.
- What are your ideas for increased funding for the County Parks?
County Public banking could be a vehicle for funding of several services the county is responsible for.
- Are you a Veteran? Did you serve in Theater in any conflict? No
- Do you believe Global Warming is a hoax?
No… Overwhelming global scientific community proof shows that humans have a factor in global warming as does our place in the universe changing, the frequency of our planet changing (see Schumann Resonance) and more.
- Are you concerned about wage inequality based on gender?
Yes. And the fact that women must work so much harder, be so much stronger, and prove themselves much more capable than men for a similar task.
- Do you support additional taxation for companies who have employees that must be on public assistance (food stamps, HUD Housing, Medicaid) in order to survive because their compensation does not provide for basic needs such as food, shelter, utilities and healthcare?
YES! They get $2400 tax credit for hiring someone on benefits. Tax that much if the pay is too low for basic needs.
- Do you have ideas about what grants Josephine County could get from State, federal and private entities to improve the quality of life for county residents?
I would use the Community Development Block Grant process to encourage other foundations, businesses, nonprofits, agencies, and citizens to gather together in a more comprehensive way to address housing, safety, and education. A seed of the CBDG grant – matched by others with dollars and labor – would be effective for our community’s needs.
County Public Banking could provide funds for many agencies within the county.
- What role do you see for the Josephine County Commissioners in improving education in 3 Rivers School District?
First, the Secure our Rural Schools funding should be given to the schools not the Sheriff as the current commissioners are planning now. School facilities could be secured with safety measures that protect the students and staff.
Second, the County Commissioners could work with the School Board to discover other ways – like food services, school gardens, and community after-school programs to support the most vulnerable students. Collaborations are much more effective in grants and funding applications than single entities.
Third, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners role is to lead… and to direct funds from state and federal sources to agencies. Priorities should put education first whenever possible.
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Our Josephine County Sheriff is the only authority to allow or disallow any outside law enforcement to enter Josephine County for any reason. This is not an issue for Josephine County commissioner(s).
All businesses are to treated the same, not singling out one over the other for any reason. It\’s not the job of Josephine government to regulate growth!
It\’s not the job of Josephine government to regulate, private property.
No, private farm and forest property are both agricultural in principle. Private property is freedom, I support freedom.
No, as commissioner I would not support Josephine government intrusion of any kind.
As commissioner I would, in principal support privatization of any county department.
As commissioner I not support any property tax levy.
The Josephine County Sheriff\’s budget is approved by the BCC, but the Sheriff is responsible for funding.
The Sheriff is responsible for county patrols.
County parks are the responsibility of the Josephine County commissioners, I\’m not aware that the parks are under funded.
Yes, United States Air Force 1965 – 1969. No
Global warming, is not an issue for Josephine County commissioner candidate.
As commissioner I would be involved in union and nonunion employee relations. And would follow the law concerning such relations.
Not a issue for a Josephine County commissioner, I would not support taxation in any form.
No, as commissioner I would not authorize or approve any grant options, for any reason.
Not a issue for a Josephine County commissioner, 3 Rivers School District has their own Board to identify education needs.
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- Do you support federal law enforcement coming to Josephine County to eradicate illegal marijuana farms?
No, only if the illegal marijuana growing is taking place on federal controlled lands. The county and state need to enforce state law on county lands .
- What is your solution to the problems of rapid growth in the marijuana industry such as water pollution, light pollution and reductions in the water table?
I believe the rapid growth is over with, the massive over production of marijuana has caused a sharp decline in prices and many growers are moving out. That being said we have laws on the books already that address most of these issues they just need to be enforced.
- Do you support the Commissioner’s ordinance to limit marijuana production to only properties greater than 4 acres?
Not really, the ordinance did not really solve the problem and would have lead to regulating all rural residential properties. One big problem for the county is having a list of all legal growers so that the illegal growers can be identified and dealt with.
- Are you familiar with land use regulations regarding farm and forestland? Do you support them?
Yes. Yes I support the stat wide goals for forest and farm lands in Oregon.
- Would you support a nuisance ordinance to help reduce dumping of garbage, use of water without a permit and unlicensed junkyards on private land.
No we all ready have laws and ordinances on the books to deal with these types of problems they just need to be enforced.
- Do you support privatization of the Josephine county health department? If yes, what services and why?
This deserves further study, we should weight cost saving benefits and quality of service and make sure before hand that this kind of move would best serve the public needs.
- When the current levy that partially funds the Sherriff’s Department expires will you campaign for renewed funding for the Sherriff’s Department.
I already have been campaigning for full funding for law enforcement here in Josephine county. But I don’t believe taxes are the answer with only 8.7 percent of the land in the county taxed at the full tax rate and 73 percent of the land we get no tax from the tax burden is put on a very few people some on fixed incomes. History can teach some great lessons for over eighty years we had full funding for all county services and we can have it again. By being good stewards of our forest lands harvesting the burnt and dead trees while they still have value will go a long ways towards funding!
- Do you support finding ways the fund a detective unit in the Sherriff’s Department? Yes and they should be finger printing crime scenes.
- Are you in favor restoration of Sherriff’s patrols for the entire county?
Yes and I will work for funding to reopen all sub-stations 24 / 7.
- What are your ideas for increased funding for the County Parks?
The parks are doing really well now with the new Parks Manager doing a fine job.
- Are you a Veteran? Did you serve in Theater in any conflict?
No.
- Do you believe Global Warming is a hoax?
I don’t believe the science is settled on this issue thirty years ago it was Global cooling now its warming. I believe climate goes in cycles and the Sun cycles have a large effect on temperatures.
- Are you concerned about wage inequality based on gender?
No not really.
- Do you support additional taxation for companies who have employees that must be on public assistance (food stamps, HUD Housing, Medicaid) in order to survive because their compensation does not provide for basic needs such as food, shelter, utilities and healthcare?
No, taxing the company will not help the low wage earner maybe the employees needs find a better job. The cost of living is going up because the dollar buys less today. We do have a real need for affordable housing in in Josephine county but because of state law most new housing will be inside of the urban growth boundaries of Grants Pass or Cave Junction, the commissioner have very little to say about what happens in the two cities.
- Do you have ideas about what grants Josephine County could get from State, federal and private entities to improve the quality of life for county residents?
I would have to read the fine print on each grants to make sure of any strings attached would not hurt local control. There is no such thing as free money you always have to give something to get the money. The question is what does the so-called free money cost?
- What role do you see for the Josephine County Commissioners in improving education in 3 Rivers School District?
This is a question for the school boards a commissioner can be an advocate for schools and support them but has no real jurisdiction.