Public Policy priorities underscore AAUW’s mission of advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

We support:

• A strong system of public education that promotes gender fairness, equity, and diversity
• Economic self-sufficiency for all women
• Equality, individual rights, and social justice for all women

Political Action

Although AAUW is nonpartisan, it is political and supports public policy legislation. The Public Policy Committee follows relevant bills while the Oregon legislature is in session, contacting legislators with support or disapproval. Updates on the current legislative action are available and State legislative priorities are available on the State website. Click below for more information.

All Politics Are Local

Our Public Policy Team believes that all politics are local. That’s why we have long been involved in issues affecting our local community. To learn more about the many ways we have made a difference, CLICK HERE.

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2023 Branch Public Policy Activities

October 2023 – SUCCESS! MORE WOMEN IN CITY GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP.

Sabrina Cotta        City Manager Pro Tem
Alisa Kolodzinski   City Recorder
Molly Taylor           Human Resources Director
Mariane Berry       Finance Director
Leslie Eldridge       Interim Parks Director
Carmel Zahran      City Attorney
Dorinda Cottle       Communications Director

Thanks to efforts of AAUW Ashland members for sending a letters asking the city to hire more women in city government leadership. The city hired a recruiting firm that demonstrated its ability to find qualified women and other diversity-based candidates.

April 2023 – ASHLAND SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FORUM

January 2023 – NEWLY-ELECTED ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

On January 8, 2023, three city council members — Tonya Graham, Eric Hansen, and Bob Kaplan — participated in a panel discussion. These councilors and their fellow council members spend countless hours preparing for and attending council meetings and study sessions, and listen to staff reports and citizen testimony in order to make the decisions that affect our daily lives.

Click here to view the meeting.

 PUBLIC POLICY   May 2024

      It’s Time to Vote!

Today (May 1) your ballot will be sent to you! It’s time to gear up to VOTE in the May 21 primary election. The ballot must be dropped in a marked ballot box or at the Jackson County Elections office by 8:00 pm on May 21, OR postmarked by the US Postal Service on or before May 21, 2024.

In addition to the Presidential primary, there are three statewide offices to vote for – secretary of state, attorney general, and treasurer. We have the US Representative from Congressional District 2 to vote for as well.

JACKSON COUNTY

In Jackson County, there are three citizen initiatives on the May 21 ballot. Measure 15-224’s ballot question is, “Should the Jackson County Commissioners switch from partisan to non-partisan starting in the 2026 primary election?” A “yes” means this measure changes section 9 of the Charter of Jackson County Oregon regarding the Board of County Commissioners. This measure changes the elected Commissioners from a partisan office to a non-partisan office. This means no political affiliation will be shown on the ballot next to the candidate for county commissioner. A “no” vote means the commissioners remain partisan.

Measure 15-225 asks the question: “Should the number of Commissioners increase to five with no more than three positions open per election?”  A “yes” vote means this measure changes Section 5 and Section 9 of the Charter of Jackson County Oregon regarding the number of elected officials on the Board of County Commissioners.  This measure increases the number of County Commissioners from three (3) to five (5). The measure sets out additional requirements regarding the two additional Commissioner positions who will be elected in the 2026 general election and will serve initial two-year terms. The purpose of the initial two-year term is so that no more than three of the five positions come up for election in the same year. Following the end of the initial two-year term of the two new commissioner positions, the election term will be four years. A “no” vote means the number of commissioners would remain at three (3).

Measure 15-226 asks the question: “Should salaries of Commissioners be decreased to $75,000.00, with future salary changes tied to average wages in Jackson County?”  A “yes” vote means this measure changes Section 24 of the Charter of Jackson County Oregon to delineate the county commissioners from other elected officials regarding compensation. Section 24 of the Charter would be amended to set the County Commissioners’ salaries at $75,000.00 starting January 2027. Any future change in commissioner salary would be annually indexed to the average wage in Jackson County. This will cause a decrease in commissioner salaries. Currently Commissioners’ salaries are set annually by the Jackson County Budget Committee.  For the fiscal year 2023-2024 the annual salary range is $123,884.80 – $142,416.00.  A “no” vote means the Commissioners’ salaries remain as they are now.

CITY OF ASHLAND

There are two additional ballot measures specifically for City of Ashland residents. Measure 15-227 asks “Shall the Ashland City Charter be amended to remove the City Recorder as an elected position and allow appointment to this position?”  A “yes” vote for this measure amends the City Charter to allow for the City of Ashland to hire an individual with appropriate training and skill to fill the City Recorder position to include public records retention law, public meeting law, and election process. The recorder is an administrative position that requires decisions to be based on knowledge, skills and ability. A “no” vote for this measure maintains this position as an elected official and maintains the existing language in the City Charter which outlines the sole qualifications for being an elected City Recorder and fulfilling the necessary job duties as being a resident and registered voter within the City of Ashland.

The second Ashland ballot measure is Measure 15-228 and asks “Shall the City of Ashland Charter be amended to allow the Chief of Police to designate a Sergeant-at-Arms?” Article 14, Section 2 currently says “the Chief of Police shall attend all meetings of the City Council and performs the duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms of that body …” The Charter’s current language does not allow for any consideration of schedule, illness, or training opportunities that may conflict with the City Council meetings. A “yes” vote would allow for the Chief of Police to designate another uniformed individual to fulfill the Sergeant-at-Arms duties in the event the Chief of Police is unable to fulfill that duty. A “no” vote means the existing charter language will remain in place which does not allow for anyone other than the Chief of Police to act as Sergeant-at-Arms at City Council meetings.

AAUW has a long tradition of voter engagement and voter education! Read about the issues! Educate yourself. Then be sure to VOTE on or before May 21!

Lisa Verner
Public Policy Committee Chair

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BE A TWO-MINUTE ACTIVIST!