What’s Wrong with Josephine County Government

Kathleen Donham, Voter Services coordinator for the League of Women Voters of the Rogue Valley (LWV RV), called a Joint Community Resource Meeting with League of Women Voters and Josephine County Citizens for Responsible Government. The gathering brought together League members and guests from Grants Pass, Medford, and Ashland, who were eager to hear a diverse panel of speakers, including County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels, Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) chair Jane Slama, and Virginia Jaschke from Braver Angels talk about the various challenges facing our county government.

Presentations and Discussions

Rhiannon Henkels provided a detailed overview of the duties and roles of the County Clerk’s office, including obstacles and adjustments required by current leadership. Jane Slama and Lynda Demsher from CRG spoke about the organization’s development and ongoing role in the community. Virginia Jaschke introduced Steve Ratcliff, chair of Braver Angels, who explained the organization’s effective process for encouraging constructive dialogue between groups with opposing viewpoints.

Proposals and Initiatives

During the meeting, Kathleen Donham suggested hosting a commissioner candidates' forum through joint sponsorship of LVW RV, CRG and Braver Angels. More details will follow as the forums get organized. The League also extended an offer to provide website coverage of CRG’s activities, recognizing its status as a nonpartisan group. The conversation further explored possible changes to the county charter, focusing on the effects of creating five commissioner districts and introducing the positive results of a county manager.