A message from Mayor Tonya Graham
It was with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of former Mayor John Stromberg just before the holiday weekend. Since hearing the news, I have spent some time reflecting on John and his service and what he meant to this community.
I first met John when I applied to serve on the Housing and Human Services Commission about eight years ago. After a two-hour discussion, he asked me instead to serve on what was then called the Wildfire Mitigation Commission. He was famous for these long interviews with prospective commission candidates, but it was all part of his process to ensure that the right person was in the right place assisting the Council in its work.
John was thoughtful, smart and kind —and he had a huge heart for Ashland. He was our greatest fan, and he worked hard to keep our community safe and moving forward. His greatest legacy from his 12 years of service as our mayor is the wildfire fuel reduction work in the Ashland watershed. He made it his signature initiative, and it continues to protect all of us and position our community as a leader in the wildfire risk reduction space.
He was the mayor for the first two years that I served as a Councilor, and I appreciated how he worked to integrate new Councilors. We did not always agree —but then, we aren't supposed to. That's the point of a Council —to bring different perspectives to the table in a thoughtful, productive way. As mayor, John held that space for the Council and helped us move through many challenging issues.
Rest in peace, John. Thank you for all you invested of yourself in our community. We are so much better for it.
Picture: Former Mayor John Stromberg speaking at the 2016 State of the City Address.