Mayor Harold White is going for his 12th term as Aumsville mayor against Jill Bird, a seven-year Aumsville resident with an interest in city government.
Harold White
“It’s an opportunity to serve your community,” White, a minister, said of his passion for serving. “Any way you can do some positive things for your community is good.”
White said the key issue for next year is the new police and city hall facility.
“It looks like is coming to fruition,” he said. “It’s one of the goals we set years ago. I wanted to stay and see that through.”
Other issues include improvements to First Street from Shaw Highway to the city and expansion of the sewer system.
Jill Bird
Bird, an agent/office manager for TRY Investments, has been to city council meetings as a concerned citizen and now wants to step in and help change her community for the better.
“By running for mayor, I am offering fresh thought, perspective and a new outlook for the city of Aumsville,” Bird said. “I don’t think it is always in the best interest of the town to do things the same way they have been done for the past 20 years just because that is the way they have been done. I would hope to encourage more people to come to meetings and see what is really going on because the decisions that are made really do affect all of us”
Bird’s main concerns are the continual raising and attempt to raise the system development charges, the need for updated policy and procedures for city employees and administration, and the need to evaluate and update the city’s charter.
“These are things that as mayor I feel like I can work to improve for the city,” she said. “I think I am a very easy person to talk to and work with, and I feel like I can be a voice for the community.”
Bird’s husband, Shane, has been an Aumsville police officer for more than a decade. Both have volunteered in Aumsville. She enjoys helping in her children’s classrooms, coaching T-ball, gardening and spending time with family and friends. The couple has two children, Noah, 6, and Zoey, 4.
Vying for three vacant council seats are: Gary Dahl, Greg Mozillo, Ken Fipps and Nico Casarez.
Greg Mozillo
Mozzillo, an incumbent, works as a fingerprint technician for the Salem-Keizer School District. A 17-year Aumsville resident, Mozzillo lives with his wife, Melony, and has a grown daughter and five grandchildren.
“I feel there should be a lot more change out here than there is, and we’re not seeing it,” he said of Aumsville. “We need some younger people in the town. We need to move forward, and get in line with things going on around us. We really need some new direction.”
Nico Casarez
Casarez, a part-time student and retail grocery employee, wants to put his youth and political experience to work for Aumsville, where he has lived for 14 years. He is a member of the city’s budget committee, is a professional technical student representative at Chemeketa Community College, and is a former student body president of Cascade High School.
“I take the budget news to neighbors to help keep them connected with how the city spends its money,” Casarez said. “Many of them encouraged me to run for city council.”
He believes the city council’s duty is to serve the people, and works hard to interpret what people tell him in his role on the budget committee.
“I try to listen to what people say and do what’s best for them,” he said. “My goal is to get more people involved in city issues.”
Casarez believes he can bring a fresh outlook to the job, and will be speaking on city issues at his Oct. 12 communitywide drop-in at the Aumsville Community Center.
Ken Fipps
Fipps, retired owner of Cascade Horticulture Spray and Pest Control, has lived in Aumsville for 20 years. He raised two children with his wife, Rosemarie, and five in California. The couple has two granddaughters in college.
“I’ve got common sense,” said Fipps, who has been on the city council since 1999. He resigned in April to have heart surgery, and with its success, is running again for a seat.
“I think of the people first,” he said of his approach to city government. “Every vote I make has to be for what the majority of the people want.”
Gary Dahl
Dahl, a group home supervisor and retired Marion County deputy, could not be reached for comment before press time.
The other three city council seats are occupied by council president David Drews, Robert Baugh Jr. and Charlie Button.
Issues before the council include reviewing a potential increase to city water rates, going over results from a Sept. 17 hearing on park system development charges, and building the new Aumsville City Hall/Police complex.
