Oxford News

Mark Jackson sat among a handful of Oxford citizens Friday afternoon, talking about what he thought is important for the city's future.

While he doesn't reside in — or even near — Oxford, Jackson said he has enjoyed getting to know what makes the city and its residents tick.

Jackson, currently the city administrator of Story City, Iowa, is one of two final candidates for Oxford's vacant city manager position.

He spent time Thursday and Friday of this week touring the city and getting a feel for the area.

"It's a beautiful community," Jackson said. "I can tell the downtown is active and vital, but I look at it and think 'Okay, where is my wife going to shop?' So I look at is as if you're looking to bring people into this community, what is it that will bring them here and then keep them here?"

Jackson said he was initially drawn to the position because of Miami University. Growing up in Kalamazoo, Mich., a university town, he said he has always enjoyed the "atmosphere and vitality" that comes along with a university community.

In terms of his work philosophy, he said he has always tried to think three to five years ahead of where he is now.

"I have always told people that my job is not to think about where I'll be tomorrow, my job is to think of where I'll be in three years," he said.

Jackson has served as Story City's city administrator for almost 14 years, something he said he would prefer to do in Oxford. He said in looking at other city managers over the years, the most successful ones have been those who had long tenures in their communities.

"I'm not the type of manager who wants to hop around — I have never wanted to do that," he said. "I ask three basic questions: Is my family going to like living here? Are my kids going to like going to school here? Am I going to be able to last 10 years?"

When asked what surprised him about Oxford, Jackson said he did not expect the lack of diversity he found. He said most university communities have diverse populations, something he said he would like to see remedied.

Jackson said he would look forward to working alongside members of the university, as it helps give different perspectives on things. He said he has never thought of universities as controlling their respective cities, rather that they have different interests that must be considered by the local government.

"Reasonable people can do reasonable things," Jackson said. "Sometimes it takes a different relationship or a different approach, but I have never looked at it as if there's any 800 pound gorilla telling me what to do."

The second finalist for the job, Douglas R. Elliott Jr., will be in Oxford Saturday.

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139, ext. 86102, or at rgauthier@coxohio.com.