Jackson County Fire District 5 Director Position 4
Special districts in Oregon are formed to provide specific local government needs. They are created by a vote of the people in the local area being served. Examples include people’s utility districts, library districts, water districts, fire protection districts, and more. They are governed by a board of directors, which is responsible for management and financial accountability. Special districts are empowered to levy any necessary taxes and fees to fulfill their mandate. Board members are not paid but may receive a per diem reimbursement.The 267 fire protection districts in Oregon can have different structures and mandates, but all are responsible for funding and staffing fire prevention and safety services, and for managing the budgets of local fire stations.Qualifications: Candidate must be a registered voter or a landowner in the district. If the district has a supporting ordinance, employees of the district are not eligible. ORS 478.050Term: 4 years
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Jennifer Hadden
(N)
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Eleanor Ponomareff
(N)
What skills and experience, including prior board experience, do you bring to the position?
What do you see as the top priorities for the District, and how would you achieve them?
How do you understand the board’s role in relation to that of the fire chief?
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Candidate has not yet responded.
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Town Where You Live
Talent, OR
Your Experience/Qualifications
Jackson County Fire District 5 Budget Committee (appointed 2025); Rogue Valley Sewer Services Budget Committee (2022-2024, Chair 2024); Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee (2020-present, Chair 2025); Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Senior Advisory Council (2023-present); Talent City Council (2019-present), Council President (2021-22; 2025-present); BS Mathematics; MS Journalism; Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Ashland Fire & Rescue.
County
Jackson
Term
4 years
Term Expires
2029
As a member of the Talent City Council since 2019 and a newly-appointed member of the Fire District 5's Budget Committee, I bring years of local government and budgeting experience to the board. Now more than ever, a solid grasp on government financials and oversight is essential to resolve the district’s serious financial problems. I also serve on several regional entities – including RVCOG’s Senior Advisory Council, serving older adults, and the Budget Committee of the Rogue Valley Sewer Service, another special district. Employed as a software engineer, I am also a graduate of Ashland’s Community Emergency Rescue Team (CERT) program, and the parent of two Phoenix High School graduates.
When three board members abruptly resigned their posts last year, the public learned that Fire District 5 was in deep financial trouble of its own making. A lack of oversight allowed the administration to exaggerate revenues by $1.3 million. We know that reliable emergency service is essential for a community to feel safe. And that reliability depends first and foremost on financial stability. Helping to resolve the district’s financial issues, and restoring the public's trust, will be my first priorities. As a newly-appointed member of the Budget Committee for the district, I am already part of the team working to rebuild that trust. If elected to the board, I am committed to ensuring honesty, accountability, and transparency.
We, the community, elect our representatives on the board. The board hires and oversees a fire chief, who in turn runs the day-to-day operations that keep our community safe. The board must hold the chief accountable both to the law and to the community. When the district's prior administration kept auditors from uncovering financial errors, it was clear that the former board had failed to do its job. Serving on the district’s Budget Committee this year, I have had the opportunity to work with the professional staff of Fire District 3, who are lending their expertise to help bring financial stability to Fire District 5. If elected, I would work to ensure that the board understands its responsibility under the law, and to the community.
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