County Politics

Conservatism Means Accountability
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / Recall

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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December 28, 2025
County Business on Hold: Josephine County Commission Stalled by Quorum Breakdown
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

County Business on Hold: Josephine County Commission Stalled by Quorum Breakdown

Meeting Adjourned: A Josephine County Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for Monday, December 15th, at 1:30 p.m., was immediately adjourned at 1:31 p.m. Lack of Quorum: Only Board Chair Chris Barnett was present. Commissioner Ron Smith was absent, and one seat is currently vacant. It is unclear how Chris Barnett was elected as Board Chair. Legal Requirement: Oregon public meetings law requires a quorum of two members of the three-member board to be present to…

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December 16, 2025
When Disagreement Leads to Removal: A Warning Sign in Local Politics and Cults
County Politics / Local News

When Disagreement Leads to Removal: A Warning Sign in Local Politics and Cults

Recently, I wrote about how political parties can begin to resemble cults, especially when reflecting on our local Josephine County Republican Party. Not long after I posted on the topic, the new social media director of the “new” Josephine County Republican Party did exactly what I was warning about: he removed fifteen people from a Facebook group he created.These weren’t people causing disruptions or violating rules. They were removed simply because he didn’t like them,…

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November 25, 2025
When a Political Party Becomes a Cult
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

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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November 24, 2025
A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

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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November 23, 2025
The Cost of Blind Loyalty in Local Politics
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

The Cost of Blind Loyalty in Local Politics

I came across a comment on a political post that stopped me cold:“I am just super tired of people bashing my friends.” That statement was honestly alarming, not because friendship is bad, but because it showed how easily loyalty can override morality. I genuinely hope most people still know the difference between right and wrong, between moral and immoral actions. And I hope that when a friend steps onto the wrong path, we have the…

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November 19, 2025
Recall Signatures vs. Scrutiny: Commissioners on the Recall Tightrope
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / Recall

Recall Signatures vs. Scrutiny: Commissioners on the Recall Tightrope

It appears that enough signatures have already been collected for the recall of both Commissioner Chris Barnett and Andreas Blech. As of 11/17/25 Chief Petitioner Jim Goodwin submitted:Commissioner Blech: 7,079 signatures submittedCommissioner Barnett: 7,312 signatures submittedThe required number of signatures is: 6,445 valid signaturesSignature gathering remains open until: Sunday, November 23, 2025 The calls have already started from the commissioners and the republican party. They are demanding signature verification as opposed to a formula. Odd,…

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November 18, 2025
Elected, Exposed, and Ensnared: A Party’s Fight for It’s Soul & The Hypocrisy
County Politics / Local News

Elected, Exposed, and Ensnared: A Party’s Fight for It’s Soul & The Hypocrisy

It is interesting to watch from the sidelines. We have serious issues in our community. Some argue that we shouldn’t air our dirty laundry, and normally, I would fully agree. But because this is such a small community, one in which most people are already aware of the issues and the “dirty laundry,” it’s impossible to escape it. So, is it better to hide it or confront it? It’s far better to face it openly,…

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November 12, 2025
Questions of Legitimacy and Ethics Surround the Josephine County GOP Chair Recall
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

Questions of Legitimacy and Ethics Surround the Josephine County GOP Chair Recall

As I mentioned in another post, the issue of lacking a quorum—and why the Josephine County Republican Party remains in an “unorganized” state—highlights the core problem with the Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC): their tendency to pick and choose which bylaws to follow. The lack of a quorum also lies at the heart of the controversy surrounding the recall of the chair—a slippery slope filled with gray areas that have led to questionable and…

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November 12, 2025