Local Politics

Opinion Chad Hansen is making a case for practical, locally focused leadership as he seeks Josephine County Commissioner Position 2. His stated priorities include fiscal responsibility, public safety, property rights, local control, infrastructure and economic growth issues at the heart of the county’s discussions about essential services and its future. His campaign draws on experience outside elected office, including construction, residential development and participation in local government committees. Those experiences provide a concrete foundation for…

Opinion In Josephine County, where careful stewardship of public resources matters deeply to local families and businesses, Simon Hare is stepping forward once again to serve. A longtime resident whose family roots in the county stretch back to 1958, Hare is running for County Treasurer with a clear message of fiscal responsibility, greater openness, and practical experience earned through years of public service. Hare first earned the trust of voters in 2010 when he was…

Opinion John West, a lifelong Josephine County resident, was elected county commissioner in 2022 and took office in 2023. With a background in forestry, land development, and business, he has emphasized fiscal restraint, smaller government, and more efficient county services. Fiscal Discipline and Essential ServicesWest's governing philosophy centers on controlling spending and concentrating county resources on essential functions. He has called for smaller, more efficient government and has made reducing spending and lowering property taxes…

Opinion 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…

Opinion The role of an elected Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is to provide public oversight, fiscal responsibility, and transparent governance. But recent policy shifts in administrative meetings are raising serious questions about where the real authority lies and whether the public is being left in the dark.We need answers to these critical transparency questions:Delegation of Power: Is it true that the BCC recently approved a policy change giving individual department heads the unilateral authority…