County Politics

In Oregon: Do political parties endorse candidates for the primary and for non-partisan elections?
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

In Oregon: Do political parties endorse candidates for the primary and for non-partisan elections?

You will often see it happen at the local or county level, and the rules vary significantly depending on which party and which county you're looking at.1. State vs. Local "Neutrality"Generally, the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) and the Oregon Republican Party (ORP) maintain a policy of neutrality during the primaries. Their goal is to let the voters decide who the strongest nominee is. They typically save their resources and official "seal of approval" for…

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March 18, 2026
The Choice: Reformers vs. The Status Quo
County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics

The Choice: Reformers vs. The Status Quo

Attention Fiscal Conservatives: In Josephine County I find the current political divide deeply concerning. On one side, we have those fighting to maintain the status quo; on the other, we have reformers like John West and Simon Hare who are pushing for accountability and transparency. Financial MismanagementOur county is currently wasting money at an alarming rate. We have department heads earning over $200,000 a year, yet some of them manage only a single employee. This…

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March 14, 2026
The Reality: Why Freshmen Rarely “Bring Home the Bacon”
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

The Reality: Why Freshmen Rarely “Bring Home the Bacon”

The reality of funding in a legislator’s first (freshman) year is simple. If someone tells you they can bring a bunch of money back to the district in their first year, they are most likely not telling you the truth.If you don’t understand how funding actually works for freshman legislators especially those in the minority party here are a few facts you should try to understand. In the world of Oregon politics, it is actually…

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March 10, 2026
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