19 apply for two Ashland council vacancies

Published 8:42 am Sunday, February 19, 2023

Ashland City Hall

Nineteen applicants for two open seats on Ashland City Council represent a wide diversity of backgrounds, from blue-collar residents to a former gubernatorial candidate.

The applications were received by the deadline of Feb. 14, and the council hopes to interview candidates through Monday, Feb. 20.

“The number of applications is not surprising,” said City Manager Joe Lessard, “given that there are two seats and Ashland is a very engaged community.”

If two candidates are identified, the council could make an appointment Tuesday, Feb. 21, but could also delay appointments until its next business meetings March 7 and 21. Councilor Position No. 2 must be filled by March 24, while Position No. 3 must be filled by April 8, according to time limits set in the city charter.

The seats became vacant after the abrupt resignations last month of former Mayor Julie Akins and former councilor Shaun Moran. The council appointed Tonya Graham to fill Akin’s seat Feb. 7, and Graham’s former council seat became open.

Both positions will be up for reelection in November 2024. Position No. 2 will be for a two-year-term (the remainder of what would have been Graham’s second council term) and Position No. 3 will be for a four-year term (succeeding what would have been Moran’s seat).

Sixteen of the applicants asked to be considered for both positions, two for Position No. 2 and one for Position No. 3.

Applicants include three former council candidates from the 2022 general election, two current members of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission, several local businesspeople, former educators, working-class residents and a recent candidate for the Democratic nomination for Oregon governor. Below are the applicants listed in the order published by the city (click here to view the full packet of applications):

Gerard Boulanger, former owner of a carpet-cleaning company who served as a city councilor in Hercules, California. 

Patt Herdklotz, a retired chaplain with Lovejoy Hospice and a minister with the Unitarian Universalist Association. 

Linda Peterson Adams, a former high school teacher who planned to run for City Council during the 2022 general election but withdrew to work as field operations officer for the campaign of state Sen. Jeff Golden. 

Sharon Dohrmann, an information technology specialist and consultant in the health care industry. 

Jill Franko, a member of the Ashland School District Board who ran for city council in 2022, losing to Bob Kaplan. 

Dr. Julian Bell, who served on the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission from 2018 to 2022. Bell unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Oregon governor in 2022.

Dylan Bloom, a graduate of Ashland High School and Southern Oregon University, with a background in media production and political science. 

Lauren Lewis, entrepreneur and self-described “Jill-of-all-trades.” 

Jeffrey Dahle, a native Ashlander with a background in corporate administration who is owner of Rogue Aviate LLC.

Lyle Scheer, a test engineer who works remotely for Texas-based Oracle. 

Jon Merripen, owner of Blade And Fist Martial Arts, where he teaches fung ku.

Sidney Brown, executive director of photo research company PhotoAssist, Inc. 

Mark Brouillard, a product manager for International Coatings Company.

Jim Bachman, a retired educator and member of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission. 

Russell Phillips, CEO of DomeGuys International LLC and member of the Committee for Ashland Elementary School Rebalancing Committee. 

Leslie Gore, a business operations manager for technology company Becton Dickinson. 

Kimber Bishop, an independent health care consultant who moved to Ashland in 2020. 

Craig Anderson, a retired planner for Jackson County and member of land use watchdog Rogue Advocates. 

Shawn Saleme, an artist who moved to Ashland last year to raise his family. 

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