Krause and Sparacino Go Head-to-Head for Jackson County Board of Commissioner Seat

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — It’s a two-horse race for the Jackson County Board of Commissioner seat vacated by Dave Dotterer, who has decided to end his term of office.

Fighting for election on November 5 is public interest stalwart Denise Krause (Democrat) and Medford Mayor Randy Sparacino (Republican).

Krause is a well-known figure in Jackson who campaigns for transparent government, people, and animal rights.

Medford Mayor Sparacino turned down recent media requests for an interview but did say in April that he decided to run for Commissioner to further his career in public service.

Transparency in Local Government and Provision of Affordable Housing

Krause is pinning her election campaign on the lack of transparency in local government and overcrowding at the Jackson County Jail.

Sparacino is concentrating his campaign on providing more housing and overcrowded conditions at the local jail.

Both candidates have been endorsed by their political parties.

Denise Krause

Krause believes that all politics are local as they affect the man-in-the-street daily.

Calling for transparency in local government, Krause believes that only a handful of people are making major decisions about how to spend taxpayer’s money. She says government must serve the people who elect them and, if successful, will invite community engagement.

She shot into public focus earlier this year when she fought to change the structure of the Jackson Board of Commissioners. Krause designed three ballot measures – to make the board nonpartisan, to increase the number of commissioners from three to five, and to decrease the salaries paid to the commissioners. All three measures failed at the May primary election.

Krause was unsuccessful when she ran for county commissioner in 2022, and if she wins this November, she will become the first Democrat elected to the Jackson Board of Commissioners since 2006.

Krause is director of the Rogue Valley Transportation District and a member of its Budget Committee. She also serves as a precinct committee chairperson of the Democratic Party.

Randy Sparacino

In April, Sparacino gave an interview to The Dove, a Christian media company, where he said that public service is his driving force.

Sparacino said the county commissioner seat was a good fit to enable him to do more for the community. It offered policy-making and decision-making factors absent in his role as Mayor of Medford.

Discussing his desire to accelerate housing provision, Sparacino said local government must ensure that it steers clear of roadblocks and barriers preventing developers from providing affordable housing efficiently.

Sparacino previously served as Medford police chief, and his campaign is supported by Commissioners Rick Dyer and Dave Dotterer, who is retiring.

The Medford Mayor was unsuccessful when he ran for State Senate in 2022. He serves on the Jackson County Airport Advisory Committee and the Rogue Community College Board of Education.

To view November 5 voting options visit:

https://www.votejacksonfl.gov/Ways-to-Vote/Accessible-Voting