Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Ashland City Council Election 2026

4 of 6

council seats up

Vote for up to 4

12 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council · Vote for up to 4

Linda AdamsBoard secretary of the Trusted Homes Community Land Trust and a retired educator. Lists service as Ashland Transportation Advisory Committee chair and Citizens Budget Committee vice chair.5sourced
Jack BuckleyStagehand at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival who has held union offices with IATSE Local 154. Lists no prior governmental experience.5sourced
Teresa CisnerosConsultant and founder of Crane Clan Consulting who serves on the Governor's Racial Justice Council. Founded Coalicion Fortaleza and served as its interim executive director.3sourced
Brian HellwigCo-founder of Archilever AI and of Priceless Pets. Lists no prior governmental experience.3sourced
Bob KaplanIncumbentRetired economist who has served on the Ashland City Council since 2023. Previously led the Inter-American Foundation as president and CEO (2010-2017).6sourced
Kerry KencairnLandscape architect and site planner who serves on the Ashland Planning Commission. Also volunteers as a court appointed special advocate.5sourced
Ronan KilkellyAssistant lead electrician at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Lists an MFA from CSULB and no prior governmental experience.4sourced
Clarinda MerripenRetired; lists proprietress of The Black Sheep Pub among her past work. Also lists roles in the video game industry, including vice president at Cryptic Studios.4sourced
Brandon PolancoFilm producer and director who also creates brand content for Soul Hum Elixirs. Serves on the city's Social Equity and Racial Justice Advisory Committee.3sourced
Dan RubySelf-employed business consultant and elected Ashland School Board director. Previously led a community college foundation and a science museum.2sourced
Victoria SlabodaStagehand Specialist II at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Lists no prior governmental experience.3sourced
Aydin TimmonsWorks at Case Coffee Roasters and is affiliated with Ashland Christian Fellowship. Holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern Oregon University.3sourced

All four seats are elected at large with no position numbers, and voters may vote for four candidates. The top three finishers win four-year terms and the fourth-place finisher wins a two-year term. The mayor is not on this ballot.

4 notes on these statements

Councilors Jeff Dahle, Eric Hansen, Bob Kaplan and Derek Sherrell hold seats with terms ending December 2026. City of Ashland

Bob Kaplan is the lone council incumbent among the 12 candidates, according to Ashland.news. Ashland.news · Aug 20, 2026

Councilor Derek Sherrell, appointed in 2025, told Ashland.news in June 2026 that he did not plan to run for another term. Ashland.news · Jun 23, 2026

Bob Kaplan's wife, Lorrie Kline Kaplan, is board president of Ashland.news, which wrote several of the candidate profiles cited here; Ashland.news disclosed this in its June 23, 2026 article. Ashland.news · Jun 23, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Dylan BloomCity Councilor; term ends December 20285sourced Gina DuQuenneCity Councilor; term ends December 20285sourced Tonya GrahamMayor; term ends December 20283sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesUtility bill fees and Measure 15-243, City budget, Night lawn and shelter Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Utility bill fees and Measure 15-243

Where it standsMeasure 15-243 is on the Nov. 3 ballot after the council voted 4-2 in August 2026 to refer it.

What's on the tableWhether new or higher utility-bill fees unrelated to utility operations need voter approval, and how the council handles fee proposals afterward.

A yes vote would amend the Ashland Charter to require voter approval of specified new or increased utility-bill fees or taxes before they could be implemented; a no vote leaves the charter unchanged. Jackson County Voters' Pamphlet, Nov 3, 2026 General Election (Measure 15-243, p. 15-10) · Sep 14, 2026
The 2025 fee changes added a combined $12.50 a month to residential utility bills. Jefferson Public Radio · Sep 11, 2026
The ballot language permits inflation-based increases without a citywide vote and exempts franchise fees and charges from outside jurisdictions. Ashland.news · Aug 11, 2026
The council is considering whether to extend the $5.15 monthly parks fee, which is scheduled to expire in June 2027. Jefferson Public Radio · Sep 11, 2026

City budget

Where it standsIn April 2025 the council agreed to add three utility-bill fees after city staff described cuts of around 5% to departments.

What's on the tableHow the next council funds services in the next budget cycle, including whether to extend or change existing fees.

City Manager Sabrina Cotta said all departments had been subjected to cuts of around 5% for that budget biennium. Ashland.news · Apr 3, 2025
Cotta said the general fund largely comes from property taxes, which the state caps at a rate lower than rising inflation and personnel costs. Ashland.news · Apr 3, 2025
The council agreed to include three additional fees on utility bills for wildfire mitigation, public safety and the Parks & Recreation department. Ashland.news · Apr 3, 2025

Night lawn and shelter

Where it standsOHRA began managing the city's Dusk to Dawn Lawn on Sept. 28, 2026 under a six-month pilot.

What's on the tableThe long-term location, operating standards and daytime options for the night lawn before the pilot ends.

The pilot runs from Sept. 28, 2026 through March 30, 2027, and the city will pay OHRA $57,500 for the pilot period. City of Ashland news release · Sep 30, 2026
The council directed staff to schedule discussions during the pilot on site location, operational standards and daytime options, with the goal of adopting a long-term direction before the pilot concludes. City of Ashland news release · Sep 30, 2026
In March 2024 the council voted 5-1 to decline a $1.8 million ACCESS grant for renovating the 2200 Ashland St. building and to close its emergency shelter on March 31. Ashland.news · Mar 6, 2024

Wildfire protection

Where it standsThe city adopted a Community Wildfire Protection Plan in 2025 that urges home hardening and defensible space.

What's on the tableHow and how fast to fund the plan's home-hardening and defensible-space work.

The city adopted a comprehensive Community Wildfire Protection Plan after two years of technical analysis and community engagement. Ashland.news · Aug 12, 2026
The plan found that low-income households lack the resources to take home-hardening and defensible space measures. Ashland.news · Aug 12, 2026
Councilor Bob Kaplan said a bond measure or other financing tools could help property owners, especially those with fewer resources, make wildfire-resilience improvements. Ashland.news · Jun 23, 2026

City Hall and civic campus

Where it standsFacilities studies recommended consolidating most city services at 90 North Mountain Ave.; the council discussed the idea in a January 2026 study session.

What's on the tableWhether to consolidate city offices on one campus, what to do with City Hall, and how to pay for building repairs.

The consultant ORW Architecture recommended that the city establish an Ashland Civic Campus at 90 North Mountain Ave. and sell or lease City Hall for commercial use. Ashland.news · Jan 16, 2026
Mayor Tonya Graham said the city has 90 city-owned buildings and park facilities requiring over $70 million to replace major equipment and bring them into compliance. Ashland.news · Jan 16, 2026
Graham said voters rejected a 2020 bond measure to pay to rebuild Ashland City Hall. Ashland.news · Jan 16, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should the next council balance the city budget?
2. Measure 15-243 would require a public vote on new or higher utility-bill fees. Where do you stand?
3. What should the city do about the night lawn camping area for people experiencing homelessness?
4. Should the city pay to help property owners protect their homes from wildfire?
5. A consultant recommended consolidating city offices on North Mountain Avenue and selling or leasing City Hall. What should the council do?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineJackson County ElectionsOct 13, 2026
Ballots mailed to votersJackson County ElectionsOct 14, 2026
Election DayJackson County ElectionsNov 3, 2026
Last day to receive valid postmarked ballotsJackson County ElectionsNov 10, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Dylan Bloom, Gina DuQuenne, Tonya Graham4 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Ashland has a council-manager form of government. The mayor, who presides at council meetings, is elected at large for a four-year term, and six council members are elected at large for four-year staggered terms. City of Ashland
The mayor takes part in council discussion but votes only to break a tie. City of Ashland
Four council seats are up in November 2026, elected at large with no position numbers; voters may vote for four candidates, and the highest vote-getters fill three four-year terms and one two-year term. City of Ashland news release · Sep 29, 2026
Mayor Tonya Graham was elected in November 2024 with a term ending December 2028. City of Ashland

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