Krause is only viable nonpartisan candidate

Jackson County commissioner races should be nonpartisan. Important issues are which candidate favors fiscal restraint and will best preserve livability, farmland, forest land and open space.

As a Medford official, Randy Sparacino continually favored unneeded fiscally irresponsible annexations at the expense of future livability. He failed to promote or champion an effective infill program where the potential for multi family housing is incorporated as allowed by state statute into what had been single family zones. Thus, as a county commissioner, Randy Sparacino will likely favor more sprawl accompanied by exponential traffic increases plus a further erosion of farmland and open space thus propelling us towards the Fresno-ization of the Rogue Valley.

Retaining livability should be a non partisan issue, something Randy Sparacino seemingly lacks the vision nor track record of favoring. Therefore, for livability, Denise Krause is our only viable (nonpartisan) commissioner candidate.

Brent Thompson / Ashland

Consider supporting Measure 117

Many voters concerned about the environment, the climate crisis, health care, or a whole host of issues, cannot easily decide whom to cast our vote for. This is because the candidate most sympathetic to our issue(s) often has little chance of winning.

To prevent the most objectionable candidate from winning, we thus find ourselves voting for the least objectionable choice from among those who have a chance of victory. We don’t vote for third party or independent candidates because we would be throwing our vote away and allowing the unacceptable candidate to win. In the current plurality system, the individual gaining the most votes wins the election, even if that is substantially fewer than 50%. With Rank(ed) Choice Voting, these problems are completely eliminated.

In this system, a candidate must achieve over 50% support to win.

Please consider supporting Ranked Choice Voting (www.oregonrcv.or) by voting for Measure 117.

Trish Vigil / Medford

Vote no on Measure 118As a property developer and business owner, I strongly oppose Measure 118 due to its negative impact on the economy, housing and construction costs. This measure imposes a 3% tax on sales that will inevitably raise prices at every stage of development, from acquiring materials to final construction. These increased costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers, leading to higher prices for homes and rental properties.

This comes at a time when affordable housing is already a major concern, not only in our community but across the state. Measure 118 will make it even harder for developers to build homes and our local families to afford them. For the sake of economic growth and affordability, please vote NO on Measure 118.

Travis Snyder, Snyder Creek Development / Central Point