Governing With the Community, Not Around It

Election season is underway, hopefully this is useful for those in office and those running for office. What are the key elements of any governing body? In my mind, it comes down to transparency and accountability. When both are present, they create a bidirectional trust factor, which is essential to the success of any government or business.With full transparency and accountability, leaders can earn trust and, in turn, be trusted by the very people they…

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Current Status HB 3115 Repeal – Ballot Initiative 2026-054

I know many people are very interested in this initiative: As of late January 2026, Oregon Initiative Petition 2026-054, officially known as the "Local Control & Safety Act," has just cleared a major procedural hurdle. The most recent update occurred on January 22, 2026, when the Oregon Elections Division received the certified ballot title from the Attorney General. This move allows the initiative to move closer to the signature-gathering phase for the November 3, 2026,…

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Why Majority Rule, Not Universal Consensus, Shapes Our Government

I have read and heard some people argue that elected officials should serve the entire community. In theory, this sounds admirable, but in practice it simply is not possible.If one side of the aisle believes that more government is the solution while the other believes that less government is more efficient, where do you meet? If one side believes in saving the spotted owl while the other believes in saving jobs and economic prosperity, where…

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The Year of the Storm: A County in Chaos Politically

In Josephine County the past twelve months have felt less like a standard election cycle and more like a political thriller. Driven by a wave of endorsements from the local party establishment, a new slate of leaders took office with promises of reform. Instead, the community has watched a cascading series of resignations, investigations, and legal challenges that have left the local government in a state of unprecedented flux. There was one political party responsible…

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Homeless: Repeal HB 3115 with Ballot Initiative 2026-054

A critical ballot initiative is coming that could restore local control in Oregon. HB 3115 forces cities to meet a vague “objectively reasonable” standard before acting, leaving them vulnerable to costly lawsuits and unable to protect their communities.Initiative 2026‑054 puts power back in the hands of voters. In November 2026, Oregonians can repeal HB 3115 and give cities the ability to enforce commonsense policies that protect neighborhoods, public spaces, and public safety. Some background:What Would…

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Conservatism Means Accountability

Political parties play an important role in a healthy democracy. They recruit candidates, help them get elected, and advance shared policy goals. But that role carries responsibility. When party loyalty is placed above public trust, ethical standards, or the rule of law, the party risks undermining the very principles it claims to defend. The following points outline where that line should be drawn and where our party has too often missed it.Political parties exist to:•…

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When a Political Party Becomes a Cult

This is Part II: Part I is entitled, “A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?” Part I dealt with political party versus political philosophy.Part II - IntroductionPolitical parties naturally attract people who share similar beliefs, but sometimes the internal culture shifts from healthy teamwork to something more rigid and unhealthy. When loyalty becomes more important than honesty, and group identity replaces critical thinking, a party can begin taking on patterns that resemble cult-like…

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A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?

Part I:This is my journey through politics and the Josephine County political scene. I’ve been a committed conservative for many years long before moving to Oregon. I was active on social media, spending hours supporting conservative candidates and policies. Even then, I wasn’t involved in any political party.A few years ago, while promoting a conservative candidate online as I often did, someone from the local Republican Party’s communications team noticed my writing. That eventually led…

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JCRCC: Quorum of One? Not Possible and Not Legal

This gets to the heart of the reason why the Josephine County Republican Party remains in the state of “unorganized” until the ORP steps in. This also gets to the heart of the problem with the Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC) and their desire to pick and choose which bylaws to follow and not follow. What Happened At the last Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC) meeting, the minutes said: “The meeting was called…

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