When the city of Damascus incorporated, I believed that I could help by being part of our city council. I have served on that body for four years now and have experienced firsthand the need for strong leadership and what results when it is lacking. I have been asked by many of my friends, neighbors, and colleagues to consider continuing to use my skills as we go about the work necessary to create this city.
In that spirit, on the first day of the filing period, I filed to run for Mayor of our city. In an attempt to improve our leadership and help Damascus move into the future with a clear vision and strong purpose. With the help and guidance of my wife and a group of dedicated supporters, I have been preparing to run a campaign focused on the needs of our community, its people, and its future.
Shortly after I filed to run, a fellow councilor, whom had asked me to run and offered her support, decided to also enter Mayoral race. The result of that unanticipated reversal of support created the opportunity for a third candidate to enter the race and potentially win with far less than a majority.
Unfortunately, a third candidate has taken advantage of the opportunity created by my colleague’s sudden change of mind and represents in my opinion, a divisive, narrow vision and direction for Damascus that is not positive nor beneficial for the majority of our citizens.
My supporters have interpreted the results of past elections for both council and citizen initiatives and used those results to evaluate possible outcomes for this election cycle. We have come to the conclusion that if all three candidates remain in this race, the odds are uncomfortably high that my council colleague and I will split the majority vote and allow the other candidate to win the race. I and many others do not believe that outcome is in the best interests of Damascus. We have worked too hard together to craft a future that all can live with to see those efforts derailed by someone who wishes to impose his personal goals on an entire city and create chaos in his efforts.
Another Damascus citizen came to the same statistical conclusion. Last week he offered an interesting solution; a coin toss between my council colleague and myself. The winner to remain in the race, loser of the coin toss to support the winner in a public effort to continue the positive direction we both have been working toward.
Even though I strongly believe that my leadership skills and consensus building abilities make me the strongest candidate for this office, I fully understand that Damascus is more important than any one person’s political ambitions. With that belief in mind, after talking to my wife and advisory team, the next day I agreed to the coin toss.
Unfortunately, my council colleague does not recognize the realities and share my concerns for the possible outcome, and after considering it for the remainder of the week, has declined to risk the coin toss. While she is willing to gamble with the future of our city against her political future, I am not.
I would be honored to serve as the Mayor of Damascus as we become the great place to live we all enjoy now and wish to see carried forward. Conversely, I will not be responsible for allowing a situation to continue that leaves open the chance to have our progress halted or for backsliding to begin.
When I became a city councilor I took an oath to represent and protect the best interests of every citizen in Damascus. I have taken that oath very seriously and have consistently used it to guide my decisions and efforts. I will not violate or dishonor it now.
Therefore, with great regret and apologies to those who have supported me, along with my deepest thanks and appreciation for their support, I am withdrawing from the race for Mayor of Damascus effective immediately.
David R. Jothen
Councilor
City of Damascus, Oregon