County Politics

Governing With the Community, Not Around It
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

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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March 5, 2026
Family Staffers Are Legal. A Shadow First Spouse Office Isn’t – Cronyism
County Politics / Local News / State Politics

Family Staffers Are Legal. A Shadow First Spouse Office Isn’t – Cronyism

Oregon’s ethics laws are clear, but they are not identical for every branch of government. While some critics point to "double standards" regarding family members in the Capitol, the reality is a matter of established law versus executive overreach. I wonder how many people know that state representatives and senators are within legal rights to have family members working for them, the Governor is not afforded the same legal rights. The Legislative Standard (ORS 244.177)Oregon…

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February 21, 2026
Current Status HB 3115 Repeal – Ballot Initiative 2026-054
City Politics / County Politics / Homeless / Local News / State Politics

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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January 28, 2026
Why Majority Rule, Not Universal Consensus, Shapes Our Government
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

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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January 20, 2026
Josephine County Commissioner Vacancy: Appointment vs. Election Terms
Charter / County Politics / Local News

Josephine County Commissioner Vacancy: Appointment vs. Election Terms

Based on the Josephine County Charter, an individual appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of County Commissioners does not serve the remainder of the original four-year term. Instead, they serve only until a successor is elected at the next general election and takes office. The following specific sections of the charter explain this process: 1. Duration of the Appointment Section 24(1) explicitly defines the duration of the appointment. It states that when a…

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January 14, 2026
Clean Forest Program – Josephine County
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

Clean Forest Program – Josephine County

I came across a comment by Konnor Kirkpatrick in Facebook that caught my attention regarding the Clean Forest Project. I have often wondered why our beautiful forest areas in our region keep deteriorating and perhaps this might explain part of it. Maybe Kirkpatrick can add his thoughts to this and correct any misinformation I might have written. Program Origins Clean Forest Project (nonprofit) Started: mid-2000s Purpose: Volunteer-led cleanup of illegal dumping and trash on public…

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January 11, 2026
The Year of the Storm: A County in Chaos Politically
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

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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January 8, 2026
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