Press Releases

02-05-2006 09:57 AM

Dave Toler files for County Commissioner Position #1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/4/06

Contact:
Dave Toler Campaign
Dave Toler
592.4434

DAVE TOLER
FILES FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER POSITION #1

Three Rivers School District Board member Dave Toler has filed for position #1 on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. Toler has been on the Three Rivers School Board for nearly 9 years and is currently serving his 3rd term on the Board. Toler served as Three Rivers Board Chair from 2003-2005.

According to Toler, “this is a critical time for our County government. Funding is highly unpredictable, law suits are piling up, and the County faces a strike by employees. I want to offer the people of Josephine County someone who has experience in successfully leading a governmental entity comparable in size and complexity.”

“I think my record shows an ability to work with a Board composed of a wide variety of political persuasions. For nearly 9 years, I have faced the challenge of achieving fiscal sustainability and I think we have met that challenge. I came into a Three Rivers School District that had lost much public confidence in the mid-1990s and together with my fellow Board members, worked hard to re-gain trust and credibility with the community. These are all leadership assets that are critical for the County to successfully overcome the many challenges that we face.”

Toler has lived in Josephine County for over 17 years, the last 16 years in the Illinois Valley. Toler is Development Director for Siskiyou Field Institute. SFI is in a partnership with Southern Oregon University to develop an Education & Research Center in Josephine County.

He also continues to serve as a development consultant for non-profits and local governments in the area. He is currently assisting the Wolf Creek Rural Fire District and the Illinois Valley Senior Center with capital projects.

Toler has two grown children, a 25 year old daughter who is currently employed in Seoul, Korea and a 21 year old son who is attending the University of Oregon.

DAVE TOLER
For
JOSEPHINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

A SOLID RECORD OF BUILDING COMMUNITY:

* $26.5 Million for Improving Josephine County’s Public Infrastructure
- As Three Rivers Board member, Dave helped gain $24 Million to improve County Schools
- All projects are nearly complete and under budget, thus allowing us to achieve additional improvements than we promised out taxpayers we re completed
- As Campaign Chair, Dave secured $2.5 Million to construct Fire Stations in Illinois Valley

* Over $600,000 in grants for community organizations:
Dave was personally responsible for grants to:
- Wolf Creek Community Center
- Wolf Creek/Sunny Valley medical transportation network
- The Dome School
- Illinois Valley Senior Center
- Illinois Valley Little League
- Wolf Creek Rural Fire District

EXPERIENCED AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP:

• Currently in his 3rd term, Dave has served nearly 9 years on the Three Rivers School Board, including 2 years as Board Chair.

• Dave has served on the Board of Directors for several community organizations in Josephine County, including Women’s Crisis Support Team and Siskiyou Community Health Center

• Dave believes an effective leader must be able to work with leaders who possess a variety of political persuasions and he has done so successfully during his nearly 9 year tenure on the Three Rivers School Board

DAVE TOLER
For
JOSEPHINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

IMPROVE COUNTY MANAGEMENT

Dave believes that management of our County government can be greatly improved by reforming the currently flawed management structure. The present County management structure fails to recognize an important distinction between governing and everyday management.

There are 4 governmental entities in Josephine County that are of somewhat comparable size including Three Rivers School Dist, Grants Pass School Dist., the City of Grants Pass, and Josephine County. Only Josephine County fails to recognize the distinction between management and governing. The other 3 have a governing Board who oversee a professional manager.

Governing by committee works, but managing a $100 Million a year budget and 600 employees by a committee of politicians is simply not effective. Josephine County needs a professional manager who oversees the daily operations, resulting in greater accountability and more effective operations.

The current Commissioner positions are way overpaid and underqualified. Creating part time, non-career positions for the Commissioners will save scarce tax dollars, enhance accountability, and improve the everyday management of County government. But more significantly, a professionally managed County will save much more money in the long run. The Commissioners can then spend their time focusing on communities throughout the County, helping to solve problems and attracting resources for projects that are important to our communities.

ACHIEVE FISCAL SUSTAIN ABILITY

Dave has led successful efforts to make the Three Rivers School District fiscally sustainable. Despite reduced budgets, Three Rivers has moved closer to fiscal sustainability by making unprecedented steps to lower operating costs.

Regardless of the outcome of federal safety net legislation, the County must move toward self-sufficiency. But first, the County must re-gain the trust of Josephine County citizens and its employees. The County must prove that it can operate more efficiently. In order to gain support from employees, change must start at the top with the Commissioners office and employees must be treated with respect.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Josephine County is a great place to live because we have a quality of life that is the envy of the world. Our rural lifestyle and the natural environment are big contributors to that quality of Life. As County Commissioner, I will advocate for the protection of our quality of life through balanced land use decisions and respect for our natural environment, while at the same time assisting economic development projects that compliment the long term vision that is sorely missing today.

TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS

Dave has been a strong advocate for an open process in local government that ensures that decisions are made in the light of day and that people in the community have a sincere opportunity for input into the county’s decision-making process. Dave will work for a more transparent County government that is more accessible to citizens of the County. Input from community members will be encouraged and will play a sincere role in the decision-making process.

Copyright © 2006 Grants Pass Climate