(This doesn't give me much confidence in voter registration.)

May 4, 4:20 PM EDT

Ashland, Ore., mayor says he can't afford to live in Ashland

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) -- In recent decades, real estate has gotten pricey in the Southern Oregon college, tourist and Shakespeare town of Ashland. Now, even the mayor says he can't afford to live there.

Mayor John Morrison, 63, has lived in Ashland 18 years and said he recently moved from quarters he rented for about seven years. "The rent went up about four times and I just couldn't afford it," he said.

He said he lives on a fixed income and his $500 mayoral stipend.

For the moment, he has listed a friend's address as his residence for purposes of his voter registration, driver's license and his filing to run for commissioner in Jackson County.

But he told local newspapers that he spends most of his time up the road a piece in the town of Talent, with the former mayor of that town, Marian Telerski.

"I do spend quite a bit of my life in Talent with my girlfriend," he said. "She's got a bigger TV than I do."

He said he's looking for new digs, though.

"I'm hoping for senior housing because I'm on a fixed income, but I haven't found a place yet," he said. "I've made no bones about the fact that rents are high in Ashland."

Morrison is finishing his mayoral term this year and is required to be an Ashland resident and a registered voter.


County and state officials say residency requirements are not exacting.

"Really it comes down to the person's answer to the question: Where do you live, where do you consider your permanent address?" said John Lindback, director of the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division.

Jackson County Clerk Chris Walker said some voters say they live under a bridge or in the WinCo parking lot and have their mail delivered to the clerk's office.

Some factors in determining residence include a driver's license address, where mail is delivered, where immediate family members reside, where utilities are paid or what address is listed on state and federal income tax statements.

"We can consider those, but we are not limited to them," said Walker. "The interpretation is very broad."

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/

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