May Election Thoughts
Ballots are arriving in our mailboxes, once again offering Oregon voters a secure, convenient way to vote that has been shown to improve access to elections for busy, hardworking people and those who may have difficulty accessing polling places. I offer my thoughts for your consideration on three items you will see on your ballot:
YES on Measure 15-241: Ashland Youth Activities & Academics Levy
This levy continues an investment the Ashland community has made in its children since 1994, helping to fund academic, athletic, and music activities as state funding for education has failed to keep up with the need. Our school district is working very hard to sustain programming for our students despite significant challenges driven by declining enrollment. This levy doesn’t add any taxes to our current tax bills, but maintains this critically important investment in the future for the children of our community. My children benefited greatly from this levy and I will be voting yes to pay it forward for Ashland’s young families.
YES on Measure 15-240: Rogue Valley Transportation District Levy
This levy will continue existing funding to help maintain current bus routes, position the bus system to restore additional services in the future, and prevents additional cuts to our bus service. Federal funding cuts and state funding uncertainty forced RVTD to cut services by 40% last year. Without this levy, bus service will be cut even more, bringing severe disruption to many Ashlanders who use the bus to get to work, SOU, and other essential services. People I love depend on a functional bus system for a variety of reasons, including income and ability to drive. It’s critical to their lives, and to our ability to address the climate crisis. This levy is also a continuation levy, so it will not raise our taxes. The Ashland City Council voted unanimously to support this levy because of its importance to our community.
Dr. Rebecca Mueller for Congress
It may seem strange that I would weigh in on a partisan election given that local council positions are nonpartisan. Normally I would agree. But these are not normal times and I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Daily we see our system of self-governance, democracy, and the rule of law undermined by direct attacks to the Constitution at the federal level. And daily, we watch our Representative, Cliff Bentz, sit on the sidelines and or actively support these assaults. Like local elected leaders, Representative Bentz has taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution, so his refusal to assert Congress’ authority and reign this administration in is a direct betrayal of his constituents, including all of us in Ashland.
I’ve given this primary race a lot of thought because of its heightened importance this year, and I believe Dr. Rebecca Mueller is the best candidate to challenge Representative Bentz in November.
Dr. Mueller is a pediatrician who has had a successful practice in Eagle Point for many years. She is a smart, principled physician who cares deeply about our district and has shown she is capable of connecting with the full spectrum of voters in our district. I respect all of the people who have stepped into this race fueled by their love of country and commitment to democracy. But voters must put the candidate forward who has the best chance of winning. I believe Rebecca will make a great congressional representative for us in Ashland and she is the candidate most likely to win, so I have publicly endorsed her. Find out more about Rebecca here.