County Politics

Proposed Grants Pass Homeless Car Camp
City Politics / County Politics / Homeless / Local News

Proposed Grants Pass Homeless Car Camp

City and county leaders in Grants Pass, Oregon, recently met to explore a joint proposal for a managed car camping site on the city's outskirts to address local vehicle residency. Below is a breakdown of the core proposal and the potential risks discussed. Car Camping Zone Idea: Local leaders discussed establishing a designated lot on the city's outskirts for approximately 30 to 40 vehicles housing unhoused residents. Proposed Structure: The county would supply the land,…

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September 24, 2026
How Appointed Commissioner Colene Martin’s Record Hits Local Families and Seniors
County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics

How Appointed Commissioner Colene Martin’s Record Hits Local Families and Seniors

For working families stretching paychecks to cover groceries, utilities, and rising property taxes, and retirees relying on fixed monthly budgets - living in Josephine County requires sharp attention to every dollar. Yet, the policy choices unfolding on the Board of Commissioners reflect a governing approach that prioritizes expanding county operations and pursuing new revenue sources - leaving everyday taxpayers to absorb the cost. A close examination of appointed Commissioner Colene Martin’s voting history and public…

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September 15, 2026
Susan Fischer-Maki’s Democratic Policy Alignment and the Case for Conservative Governance in House District 3
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

Susan Fischer-Maki’s Democratic Policy Alignment and the Case for Conservative Governance in House District 3

IntroductionSusan Fischer-Maki is the Democratic candidate running against Republican incumbent State Representative Dwayne Yunker. When evaluating candidates for Oregon House District 3, voters benefit from looking beyond campaign speeches to review a candidate's long-term public record, statements, and policy engagements. A closer look at Susan Fischer-Maki’s work spanning her tenure on the Three Rivers School Board, her consulting practice, state committee involvement, and current platform reveals a consistent alignment with the framework prioritized by Oregon’s…

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September 9, 2026
Behind the “Nonpartisan” Label: Leadership Records at Citizens for Responsible Government
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics

Behind the “Nonpartisan” Label: Leadership Records at Citizens for Responsible Government

When a civic organization steps into local political discussions hosting candidate forums, issuing voter guides, or weighing in on county ballot measures voters rely on transparency to understand who is shaping that work. Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) presents itself to Josephine County residents as a nonpartisan group. However, public records and party disclosures show that three of its five board members (60%) have held formal roles within the Josephine County Democratic Party. Given the…

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September 7, 2026
Judge Bain’s Rebuttal on SB 48 and Josephine County “Catch and Release” Claims
City Politics / County Politics / Homeless / Local News / State Politics

Judge Bain’s Rebuttal on SB 48 and Josephine County “Catch and Release” Claims

A recent article appeared in the Daily Courier that delved into the "catch and release" issues surrounding SB 48, written from Judge Bain's perspective. This is a summary of the article, but I urge everyone to read the actual article in the Daily Courier. Judge Robert S. Bain refutes recent local claims that Oregon’s SB 48 pre-trial release law creates a dangerous "catch and release" cycle, arguing that public perception clashes with court data. Key…

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September 6, 2026
Beyond the John West Recall: What the Court Records Really Show
County Politics / Election / Lawsuit / Local News / Recall

Beyond the John West Recall: What the Court Records Really Show

In the defamation lawsuit filed by former Josephine County Commissioner John West against Jay Meredith (author of the John West recall allegations), the early court proceedings followed a distinct path before reaching a procedural conclusion. The Early Rulings: Establishing Legitimacy During the initial phase of litigation, the defense filed an Anti-SLAPP motion in an attempt to dismiss the lawsuit early on the grounds that it targeted protected public speech. Presiding over the case, Judge Galli…

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September 4, 2026
Homelessness, Lawlessness, Fiscal Responsibility and Appointed Commissioner Colene Martin
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Homeless / Local News / State Politics

Homelessness, Lawlessness, Fiscal Responsibility and Appointed Commissioner Colene Martin

There are two completely different groups of people living on our streets. The first group wants help they’ve fallen on hard times or are actively working to break an addiction, and Grants Pass already has the resources to support them. The second group doesn't want help; they choose to live in public spaces, use drugs, and reject any assistance offered. Local leadership is failing to address the lawlessness of this second group. Without accountability, crime…

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September 1, 2026
Active Forest Management in Oregon: A Common‑Sense Look at What Went Wrong and the Path Forward
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

Active Forest Management in Oregon: A Common‑Sense Look at What Went Wrong and the Path Forward

Introduction For decades, active logging maintained healthy, resilient forests while powering the economy of rural Oregon. In Josephine County, timber harvests funded county services, sustained local sawmills, and prevented overgrowth. Beginning in the 1990s, heavy environmental litigation and federal "no-touch" preservation policies largely halted commercial harvest and proactive thinning. Instead of protecting nature, these policies converted millions of acres into overcrowded tinderboxes. Today, Josephine County faces the dual fallout: catastrophic megafires that destroy wildlife and…

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August 13, 2026
Candidate Colene Martin’s Stance on the Homelessness Crisis Demands Voter Scrutiny
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Homeless / Local News

Candidate Colene Martin’s Stance on the Homelessness Crisis Demands Voter Scrutiny

Oregon’s current strategy for handling homelessness has created significant challenges for local communities. State laws like HB 3115, which require local camping regulations to be “objectively reasonable,” have created legal uncertainty and contributed to costly litigation. State law does not require cities or counties to build and operate shelters, but when adequate shelter space is unavailable, enforcing restrictions on camping or sleeping in public spaces becomes legally complicated. Communities across Oregon are now forced to…

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August 6, 2026
Are We Being Priced Out of Our Own County? A Look at Commissioner Colene Martin’s Spending
County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics

Are We Being Priced Out of Our Own County? A Look at Commissioner Colene Martin’s Spending

IntroductionWhen Colene Martin was appointed to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, the hope was for steady leadership. But a look at her voting record shows a troubling trend: a consistent push for bigger government, new county positions, and higher service fees. While expanding county programs might sound good in a meeting room, it comes with a real-world price tag one that’s falling squarely on the shoulders of local taxpayers, especially our seniors living on…

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July 18, 2026