Cars drive on Highway 99 through Phoenix.

The incumbent mayor in Phoenix wants another term to complete Almeda Fire rebuild work, while his challenger says the city isn’t communicating with its citizens on important issues and would work to improve that.

Incumbent Terry Baker and challenger Al Muelhoefer have both served in the city’s government for multiple years. The mayor’s post is a two-year term in Phoenix.

Baker was elected mayor just two months after the Sept. 8, 2020, Almeda Fire. He said the plans to restore what was lost in the fire have expanded as opportunities to enhance the city arose. “I just want to finish (the rebuilding) up before I step down. I don’t want to be mayor forever,” Baker said. Among projects he will pursue is working to bring three affordable housing projects to completion.

Muelhoefer said he has talked with hundreds of citizens since he decided to run for the office in January. A major concern is the lack of communication on critical issues by the city. A town hall meeting to explain issues had not been held since 2021, he said.

A lack of Jackson County Fire District 5 equipment and personnel in the recently completed Phoenix Government and Public Safety Building is the issue that Muelhoefer says citizens raise most frequently. The building was finished in May.

When the new building’s cost was $3.4 million over funds available, the city and the fire district agreed to share those costs, with payments being made over time. Since that time, the district discovered major financial shortfalls that have prevented staffing the structure.

“I’d like to see Fire District 5 solve it. They have some heavy lifting to do,” Baker said. City officials have been meeting with district representatives to clarify the terms of the agreement, he said. [See new coverage at rv-times.com: Fire District 5 to occupy Phoenix public safety building, proceed with FD3 pact]

“People still remember the Almeda Fire. Right now, there is no fire engine in the fire station,” said Muelhoefer. “They are concerned about property taxes since there’s no money in the fire district.”

Recent incorporation of the urban area north of Phoenix city limits into the town’s urban growth boundary will bring eventual annexation but remains another major issue.

The annexation will probably occur in pieces, Baker said. Muelhoefer says citizens are concerned about how the city will finance services it would bring to the area when it becomes part of the municipality.

Muelhoefer was appointed to the council in July 2020 and elected to a seat that fall. He resigned when he left the area briefly. Muelhoefer was chair of the city’s urban renewal agency board for four years prior to his council service and while he was on the council. He is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and was executive director of a program in Troy, Ohio, that worked on downtown revitalization.

Baker was elected to the council in 2016. He resigned in 2020, but then was elected mayor. He is a marketing consultant for The Dove media. He previously worked in management and construction. He was a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the city for three years when it had its own fire department.

Three four-year, at large City Council seats are being sought by five candidates. Two of them are incumbents. The top three vote-getters will fill the seats.

Virginia Camberos served on a wildfire victim collaboration group. She works for Unite Oregon as the Rogue Valley Chapter director.

Susan Chester listed no prior governmental experience in her candidate filing. She is owner of All in Order Organizing, LLC.

Incumbent Krista Peterson was elected to the council in 2020 and previously served on the city’s Planning Commission. She is self-employed and has a background in management.

Nicole Suetos listed no prior governmental experience. She is a former elementary school teacher.

Incumbent Karen Shrader was elected to the council in 2020. She works for Harry & David.