Tonya Graham

YES – I fully support investing in climate friendly infrastructure. We have until 2030 to transform our relationship with energy. Infrastructure is a major energy user . Infrastructure investments lock in energy use (good or bad) for decades, so it is critical that we make infrastructure investments that are climate friendly. On Council, I:

• advocated for the City to adopt the Envision program for the new water treatment facility.
• brought the long-term climate impacts of infrastructure investments front and center in council decisions.
• helped secure state funding to electrify the HVAC system at Briscoe School.
• advocated for the City to expand its cold weather emergency shelter program to include extreme heat and wildfire smoke events.

Joy Fate 

No response received.

Bob Kaplan

YES – In the coming decades, building community resilience to the effects of climate change and protecting our most vulnerable residents is going to be one of the primary roles of our governments. In addition to securing a basic safety net of accessible heating and cooling shelters, I will look for ways to invest in win-win-win opportunities like home energy efficiency that reduce exposure to the effects of climate change, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and save on monthly utility bills.

Jill Franko

YES – We need to focus our support on climate impacts first by investing in programs that start with the marginalized. Things like: permanent emergency shelters for the 45 days of extreme heat, cold, and smoke; free or subsidized public transportation for people who work in Ashland; insulation in homes for those who are on fixed incomes and fall below the 80% of median family income; and proper toxic cleanup in areas where affordable housing is being considered. Providing incentives or rebates for climate actions like implementing solar panels, electrification, electric vehicles and bikes should be promoted through education but not funded through the city as those who have the money and means to take those steps will do so.

Jim Falkenstein

MAYBE – That’s a broad swath of projects you’ve just suggested. A city councilor has to prioritize some projects over others as well as clarify to the citizens timetables and costs of different projects. Don’t forget the conflicting dynamic of the unequal impact of climate change on the poor, and the greater expense of converting to a new carbon neutral paradigm that also has an immense financial impact on the poor. 

I do believe that the city of Ashland needs to, and can, improve the stability and access to our heating and cooling shelters. There are a few dedicated volunteers right now who keep those facilities going and we need to create a more permanent location and process.

Eric Hansen

YES – The City of Ashland has an amazing opportunity to invest in infrastructure projects built in the coming years aimed at increasing our livability and sustainability like freshwater expansion, renewable energy projects, affordable housing, Parks and Recreation projects, trail expansion, bike park development, and more bike friendly infrastructure. And I also think we should start planning for a larger indoor/outdoor sports facility that all citizens can use year around — especially during extreme heat and smoke events.

Tonya Graham

YES – If we are to hit our emission reduction targets, we must electrify our homes, businesses, and vehicles. Doing so helps on the climate front and insulates low-income households from volatile fossil fuel prices.

We have several very large housing developments shaping up in Ashland and we must make sure they are not creating fossil fuel infrastructure that must be fed for several decades. Other Oregon communities are working to change development policies to move electrification forward. I have been in those conversations and look forward to moving action forward at the city council over the next four years.

We must also help low-income residents access help weatherizing their homes through a low-interest revolving loan fund.

Joy Fate 

No response received.

Bob Kaplan

YES  – Emphatically! There are many things we can do in Ashland, and owning our electric utility makes the task much easier and more affordable. We need an urgent campaign to raise public awareness and understanding of the deleterious health and environmental impacts of burning “natural” gas in our homes, and that better electric alternatives are available. We should then move as soon as possible to ban “natural” gas connections in new residential construction. The more difficult task is to retire gas equipment in existing residences. We can facilitate this over several years by ensuring every home is ready to support full electrification by having a 200 amp service panel and a plan with financing in place (if necessary) to make the switch.

Jill Franko

YES – Ideally, we would be addressing climate change on its own. However, with the unhoused numbers what they are, with affordability being one of the biggest challenges Ashland is facing, and with Ashland only effecting .5% of green house gas emissions, we have to prioritize electrification and projects that transition away from fossil fuels in a way that doesn’t make affordability even more out of reach for the 60% of Ashland that cannot afford their rent or mortgage.

Jim Falkenstein

MAYBE – There is a huge difference between an ordinance and a resolution. Electrification ordinances place requirements on the poor to convert from a lower monthly gas bill to a higher monthly electric bill. As well as spend money they don’t have on buying all new appliances. A city resolution is a “recommendation” that all citizens in a comfortable financial situation, look at making changes that the city will help facilitate. I am more of a resolution guy.  We need to be sensitive to the significant number of families in our community who have financial limitations.

Eric Hansen

YES – Ashland has some amazing policies in place; climate goals, progressive solar net metering, incentives for energy efficiency and driving electric. I would like the City to lead more by example and invest in local renewable projects to supply our power, and even lower our electric rates. And I think its appropriate for the City to lead the transition to 100% local renewables. New investments in housing, commercial real estate, and city buildings should be focused all-electric technologies. And continuing to transition older inventory and end of life systems to all-electric solutions should be incentivized.

Tonya Graham

YES – It is critical that youth be engaged in city decisions.

In re-structuring our commissions, I offered an amendment that allows the standing committees to have 2 additional student members. These are voting positions if the student is 18 years of age, as required by state law. I have talked with Principal Bell at Ashland High School about working together to make sure students understand these opportunities and how to apply.

The City must better understand the needs of younger community members so that we can serve their needs with services and civic programs. I included this in the Social Equity and Racial Justice Resolution and it is a priority for the next 4 years as is finding new ways to engage youth with the work of the Council.

Joy Fate 

No response received.

Bob Kaplan

YES – I support having at least one youth member on every city commission with full voting rights. I have already begun to explore possible collaboration with SOU’s “Democracy Project” to develop a public policy “practicum” to evaluate and advise me on issues coming before Ashland City Council if I am elected. This could potentially include AHS student participation as well. Ashland running its own electric, water, and wastewater treatment utilities provides great opportunities for students to explore the interconnections among these systems and their importance for community health and economic vitality. I am also strongly in favor of remodeling the Daniel Meyer pool with an appropriate retractable roof.

Jill Franko

YES – I am a strong believer in empowering our youth by providing broad and extensive opportunities to be involved in the decision making, implementation, and planning of climate action goals. There are endless opportunities to gain and share knowledge between adults and youth around the intersection of income inequality, economic disparity, social and environmental justice, and climate activism. Understanding how the choices we make need to solve for a multiplicity of problems while simultaneously avoiding more harm in other countries, not just our own, requires broader awareness and curiosity about how things are manufactured, what resources are being tapped, and how those things effect a region, to determine the best solution.

Jim Falkenstein

YES – Ashland’s youth has proven over the years to have the wisdom beyond their years. I will alway encourage the future generation of engaged students to be involved with local politics as much as they can stand!

Eric Hansen

YES – Yes. I very much like youth-centered input, and solutions. Youth stand to inherit the outcome of City decisions so they play a foundational role in planning. We need to think and plan multi generational.

Tonya Graham

Advancements are being made in housing materials, financing, and design that make it so that affordable housing need not be in opposition to climate goals. The Snowberry Brook project is a great example of what can be done when we hold the joint goals of affordability and climate friendly housing development.

One of the best ways to reduce costs, and improve comfort, for low-income households is home weatherization. The City will need to help connect low-income residents with the new federal climate funding for these projects.

On the Council, I have worked to ensure that our plans for affordable housing speak to the need to develop affordable housing that is also climate friendly. Aligning policy with intentions is an important part of this work.

Joy Fate 

No response received.

Bob Kaplan

All-electric housing is less expensive to build than dual-fuel buildings, and emit less greenhouse gasses. We should apply for grants and low-cost loans to finance weatherization and installation of high efficiency electric equipment to reduce emissions and reduce monthly utility bills in new and existing housing, including accessory dwelling units for rental. Ashland’s highly supportive policy for virtual net metering offers additional opportunities to install community solar facilities, which could be another element in a strategy to reduce electricity rates for income-qualified households. We should also explore the feasibility of raising the height limit in some areas of the city to allow perhaps four or five-floor energy efficient apartment buildings or condominiums that could be offered at a lower rental rate or sale price. Siting additional housing relatively centrally and near the transit triangle could make it easier for residents to rely more on walking, cycling, or public transport instead of driving their own car for all errands. Bring back the Ashland Connector!

Jill Franko

Ashland accounts for .5% of green house gas emissions in the state. Which means even if we get our emissions to zero, we will still have a limited impact on global greenhouse gas emissions. It doesn’t mean we avoid trying, but when housing is our communities number one issue, we need to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure affordable options while avoiding increased costs. Using electric as the primary energy source, properly insulating, and providing easy access to bus routes are all low cost ways to ensure new builds are energy efficient.

Jim Falkenstein

I believe in thoughtful incentives for energy efficient materials and appliances in all new construction and more assertive support for existing home owners who are willing and able to make energy efficient changes to their property.

Eric Hansen

Most of the affordable housing projects there are going to be developed in Ashland the next couple years are going to be very bikeable from one part of town to the next. This includes several tracts of land in South Ashland, and the Croman Mill property. Another potential site includes the undeveloped track of Railroad land in the middle of town between the railroad district and Clear Creek. According to a Transportation Commissioner I spoke with there are plans and money available to improve bike-ability around town including barriers for protected bike lanes. If more and more people are able to live without a car that will free up more of their income, which in turn will help with affordability in Ashland. The city has an excellent opportunity to purchase land, bank it for later, and/or put it into Land Trusts and regulate the buying and selling of these homes so families can get in at an affordable price and then sell with modest gains so the next families can also move into an affordable house. More action needs to happen soon!

Tonya Graham

I have worked very hard to integrate both general environmental values as well as my commitment to a secure climate into my work as a councilor. Over the past four years, I:

• Advocated against tying into Medford’s wastewater treatment system because of the impact to fish habitat and to our greenhouse gas targets.
• Served on the League of Oregon Cities’ Energy and Environment Committee in 2020 and 2022 to develop their state level policy platform for these issues.
• Served as an advisor to Options for Helping Residents of Ashland as they have worked to transform the old Super 8 motel into the 24-hour, 365-day shelter and navigation program it is today.
• Served as the Council Liaison to the Conservation and Climate Outreach Commission and the Climate Policy Commission, initially serving as the chair of the Climate Policy Commission to help get it up and running.
• Helped the Climate Policy Commission develop the Home Energy Score program with the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors.
• Proposed that the City join the Race to Zero program to secure additional resources for implementing our Climate and Energy Action Plan.
• Proposed developing workforce housing above the Hargadine Garage.
• Supported efforts during the pandemic to ensure that Ashland’s most vulnerable were protected.

Joy Fate 

No response received.

Bob Kaplan

I spent three decades working in Latin America, including on several major environment and climate adaptation initiatives. 

In the early 1990/91, I led a World Bank team that prepared a loan and grant package to the government of Mexico to strengthen the regulatory and enforcement capacity of the national environmental protection agency and manage the national system of protected ecological areas for biodiversity protection. 

From 1992-94, also at the World Bank, I led the design and start-up of a multi-national $250 million grant program in the Brazilian Amazon to secure indigenous lands and extractive reserves, fund local conservation organizations, establish and strengthen state environmental protection agencies, and other related projects. 

From 1998-2007, I led a team of experts at the Inter-American Development Bank responsible for all lending and technical assistance in Mexico, Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti for environmental protection, natural resource management, potable water and wastewater treatment, and natural disaster risk management. Early climate work included supporting “joint implementation” agreements through the Global Environmental Facility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Mexico and a few Central American countries, as well as working with Caribbean fishing communities affected by deterioration of the Mesoamerican barrier reef (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras) due to climate change. 

From 2010-17, I was President and CEO of the Inter-American Foundation. We funded community organizations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean that presented proposals on a wide range of issues, including environmental protection and adapting to climate change. Examples include a network of community organizations in Costa Rica that worked together to regulate coastal fishing to preserve fragile marine resources; ecotourism and preservation of a large fragile wetland in northern Argentina; and early warning and civil protection systems for Salvadoran communities vulnerable to more frequent flood events.

In sum, I have spent many years working at the intersection of environment/climate with economic development (improving livelihoods) and social welfare. These are not new issues for me, and I am personally deeply committed to helping people improve their livelihoods while protecting the environment, which increasingly also means adapting to a changing climate.

All-electric housing is less expensive to build than dual-fuel buildings, and emit less greenhouse gasses. We should apply for grants and low-cost loans to finance weatherization and installation of high efficiency electric equipment to reduce emissions and reduce monthly utility bills in new and existing housing, including accessory dwelling units for rental. Ashland’s highly supportive policy for virtual net metering offers additional opportunities to install community solar facilities, which could be another element in a strategy to reduce electricity rates for income-qualified households. We should also explore the feasibility of raising the height limit in some areas of the city to allow perhaps four or five-floor energy efficient apartment buildings or condominiums that could be offered at a lower rental rate or sale price. Siting additional housing relatively centrally and near the transit triangle could make it easier for residents to rely more on walking, cycling, or public transport instead of driving their own car for all errands. Bring back the Ashland Connector!

Jill Franko

As a director of the Ashland School Board we have had a tremendous opportunity to implement climate focused changes to our campuses with the School bond for capital improvement projects. I have stayed diligent in requesting progress updates on the solar panel farm that we are including as one of our final projects. We also were approached on the school board, by a youth climate activist group that wanted to present on grey water systems. At first there was reluctance to meet with the student group. After encouragement by another board member and myself, we were able to get the group the time they needed to present their research and requests during a public board meeting. This was an important opportunity for the community to see the urgency that our youth feel toward addressing climate impacts. As board members we all learned from the presentation and witnessed how important and valuable our youth are in solving the challenges of the future they are being left. 

I also traveled to South Africa when I was 21, shortly after apartheid had ended. There was a Zulu community that lived on the side of a hill in makeshift homes that were awaiting land promised to them. The air, the ground, and the soil was toxic.They were never meant to live there for long. During my time living in that community, our primary initiative was to build relationships and provide support. My time there, helped to shape and guide my passion for the underrepresented groups who have the same wants and needs as our own, but have not been given the environmental, social, and economic head start like so many of us. And in our own little village of Ashland, there exists a similar unwritten promise. With those who feel the weight of income disparity, food insecurity, housing insecurity, and mental instability the effects of climate change have made finding stability even more unpredictable. This is why we must address climate change through the lens of inequity, or our solutions will be only performative without any real impact on the end goal.

Jim Falkenstein

I continue to create educational videos for the community, many of them environmental and safety based.  Laundry to landscape how-to, an explanation of Ashland’s water supply. a whistle-blower video about CentryLink water waste, a detailed wildfire evacuation video. 

• https://youtu.be/RB80hlxYniU 
• https://youtu.be/ki1UyJJ-LwQ  
• https://youtu.be/7mz46nIW444 
• https://youtu.be/N6MAfxX5A2c 
• https://youtu.be/dk-vNrbzQ00

Eric Hansen

I started a career in renewable energy to fight climate change. In 2000 I started a job writing for Home Power magazine. That let to joining the Solar Electrician LRT apprenticeship program to be an installer in 2005. By 2010 I’d started True South Solar with a few friends. The mission is “Solar on Every Roof” and “Best Jobs Ever!”. We love what we do and are very grateful for the Rogue Valley’s support. We employ 22 people at our Ashland office with living wage jobs, and over the years we’ve installed hundreds of solar-electric systems here in Ashland, and hundreds more across the Rogue Valley. We have a lot of work to do… the vision is to grow into a Net-Zero Rogue Valley! 

I love solar, and how it supports humans, ecology, and economics. Through the years I’ve advised solar to citizen climate group, mayors, council members, City staff, and both State and Federal officials.

I also love people. We’ve done a number of hands on workshops installing and  teaching renewable energy with Talent City Makers, Girls Build, RCC. And we’ve participated in volunteer projects here in Ashland, the Rogue Valley, the Quinault Indian Nation in Washington, and the Dakota people at Standing Rock.