Local Politics

Re-Elect Dwayne Yunker – Conservative Leadership You Can Trust
County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics

Re-Elect Dwayne Yunker – Conservative Leadership You Can Trust

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Oregon State Representative with experience in local government, real estate, and military service. Represents House District 3, encompassing Josephine County. Background includes municipal leadership, legislative service, and a career in property and business development. Known for active participation in legislative debate and committee work. PUBLIC OFFICE EXPERIENCE Oregon House of Representatives – District 3State RepresentativeDecember 2023 – Present Appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives in December 2023; subsequently elected to a full…

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March 21, 2026
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
A Closer Look: Leading Republican Candidates for Oregon Governor
Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

A Closer Look: Leading Republican Candidates for Oregon Governor

The Upcoming Oregon Republican Primary will be coming up on May 19. Rather than focus on more than a dozen candidates I wanted to focus on four candidates for now:, Ed Diehl, Danielle Bethell, Chris Dudley and Christine Drazan. If you lean conservative and are a non-affiliated voter (NAV) this is the time to register if you wish to influence the outcome of this primary. Republican Candidates for Oregon Governor Key Campaign Details Ed Diehl:…

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February 2, 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
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