Incumbent Darby Ayers-Flood and Mark Anderson are facing off in the race for mayor of Talent.
Talent voters face a clear choice in the mayor’s race: continue with things as they are, or make a change, says the challenger to a two-term incumbent mayor.
Mark Anderson, a 34-year Talent resident, is challenging Darby Ayers-Flood, who was elected to the top post in both 2014 and 2018 and has served in city positions for two decades.
A proposal to form a new urban renewal district in the city that would have cut funding for fire services and city services, including police, got Anderson interested in running. He is concerned about the impact of the reductions. Ayers-Flood had encouraged the formation.
City Council considered adopting the proposal, which would have provided funds to help with Almeda Fire restoration, but decided not to go ahead in August after more than 500 residents opposed the measure, as did local taxing jurisdictions that would have been affected. The council decided to put formation of the district to a vote of the people.
The current goal is to have an urban renewal ballot measure ready to go to the voters in May 2023, said Ayers-Flood.
“Urban renewal is a good idea,” says Anderson. But he thinks a vote in May 2023 may be too soon. That would allow for a tax base to use Jan. 1, 2022, values before much of the rebuilding is complete. That timing would still impact fire, city and other taxing district budgets significantly, and he would prefer to have the district tax base set on the values as of Jan. 1, 2023.
Both candidates belong to coalitions that include individuals running for four vacancies on the City Council. Ayers-Flood’s coalition is composed of the incumbents in the seats. Anderson’s has citizens who filed on their own initiative, but later met together. Anderson said he put out a flyer on his candidacy with the four council challengers listed on the back.
Ayers-Flood says the current council is the most collaborative, cohesive team she has seen.
“We don’t always agree on things, but when we have differences of views on important issues, we work through it with the intent to come up with the best solution for the community,” the incumbent said. “We felt we wanted to express that through our campaign. We work so well as a team.”
Support for city employees needs to be coming from the elected officials, said Anderson, recalling a period in 2020 when employees were critical of the atmosphere created by elected officials. Return of a 24/7 police force would also be a priority for Anderson.
“I think a change in atmospheres would make a big difference in retaining police here,” he said.
Top issues for Talent are those that residents are bringing forward, said Ayers-Flood. That includes a need for affordable housing and bringing home the families that were displace by the fire.
“We are still in transitional housing. Moving toward permanent, affordable housing and developing plans that will provide for the stakeholders, the fire survivors, are needed,” said Ayers-Flood.
“The other issue I hear about a lot are just making sure we continue to work on business recovery. They are survivors, too,” said Ayers-Flood. “With our city in rebuilding, we want to do everything we can for the businesses that withstood the fire, that withstood COVID.”
“We still have a long way to go, but the construction is encouraging. It’s no longer depressing to drive along Talent Avenue,” said Anderson. Low-income housing and helping businesses return are prominent needs, he said.
Ayers-Flood worked in the hospitably industry for a number of years, but is now a business development specialist for Micro Business Services of Oregon, which works to help people from underserved communities start their own business. She says there is excitement in helping others gain their dreams.
Anderson served as pastor of Ashland Christian Fellowship for 22 years. He is now self-employed as an insurance home inspector. He served in a nondenominational church where there was a cross section of all denominations, and strong opinions came with that. He said he learned how to listen to people and value people, but not let them drive the bus.
As president of the Firehouse 5 Foundation, Anderson said the group’s work with victims of Ashland’s Oak Knoll Fire taught him the value of nonprofits working together and helping families.
If he becomes mayor, Anderson said, he would bring back in-person City Council meetings. All meetings currently are held on Zoom, although the council is exploring how to offer hybrid sessions. As a semiretired worker, Anderson said he would have time to listen to residents’ concerns.
Ayers-Flood said she won’t exceed a $750 limit on campaign expenses. She’s doing some advertising and mailers, but will forgo signs because there’s a lot of work putting them out, getting them back and recycling. She’s canvasing neighborhoods, and the coalition is holding meet and greets.
Anderson has not set a campaign spending limit but said he has received only a few donations to help with expenses. He is putting up signs around town and knocking on doors to meet residents.
Reach Ashland freelance writer Tony Boom at tboomwriter@gmail.com.