City filing time open

He believes the more he learns from visiting with residents, civic organizations and businesses, the better prepared he will be to become an effective leader.

“One thing I have learned is that there are a lot of different opinions out there about how everything should work,” he said after 140 one-on-one-meetings and three neighborhood gatherings.

He said these conversations have taught him there are two things that residents of The Dalles want addressed above all others:

• End the divisiveness in city government that has polarized people in different camps.

• Get a clearer direction in place for urban renewal by setting uniform criteria to guide decisions.

What exactly it will look like to tackle those two issues, Mays does not yet know, but he’s ready to take on the challenge.

He said it is important for an elected official to stay independent and not get caught up in political divisiveness.

He announced in February that he would seek a two-year term in the post being vacated by Mayor Steve Lawrence. The filing deadline for that position and three council seats is 5 p.m. on Aug. 28.

As of press time Friday, no one had filed as a candidate for the two-year councilor at-large position currently held by Taner Elliott, the four-year term of Position 1 now filled by Timothy McGlothlin or the four-year Position 3 seat held by Russ Brown.

Filing forms and information about election procedures and rules are available on the city’s website, www.ci-the-dalles.or.us under What’s Happening.

To qualify for an elected office, the candidate must be a registered voter who has lived in the city for at least 12 months before the Nov. 6 election. Position 1 candidates must live on the west side of town and Position 3 on the east (see map on city site for boundaries). The at-large seat candidate can live anywhere in town.

Mays has not run for a political office before but has plenty of experience in local government. He is currently seated on the city’s budget committee and worked as a city manager for several communities, including Cannon Beach, Jefferson City, Mo., Collinsville, Ill., and Sterling, Ill. He also served as interim manager for Clatsop County following his retirement and spent five years as director of management services for the Village of Homewood in Illinois.

He holds a Master of Arts degree in public affairs with an emphasis on general public administration and human resources administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill.

His bachelor’s is in parks and leisure studies administration with a minor in general business administration and was obtained from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. He has served on the boards of civic organizations, nonprofits and professional groups, as well as numerous local special event committees.

Richard and his wife, Rose, moved to The Dalles several years ago to be close to daughter, Christine Crow, and two of their grandchildren. Mays can be reached about his candidacy at 541-769-0858.