Local Politics

In Oregon: Some serious election initiatives to be aware of in the upcoming months
Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

In Oregon: Some serious election initiatives to be aware of in the upcoming months

In Oregon, there is a movement for open primaries that is currently driven by a new 2026 ballot campaign called the Voters Fairness Act. This follows a failed attempt to get a similar measure on the 2024 ballot and the recent defeat of Measure 117 (Ranked-Choice Voting) in November 2024. What Laws Are Being Proposed?The current push consists of two main initiatives targeted for the November 2026 ballot, Initiative 55 and Initiative 56.Initiative 55 (Constitutional…

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January 4, 2026
Homeless: Repeal HB 3115 with Ballot Initiative 2026-054
City Politics / Homeless / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

Homeless: Repeal HB 3115 with Ballot Initiative 2026-054

A critical ballot initiative is coming that could restore local control in Oregon. HB 3115 forces cities to meet a vague “objectively reasonable” standard before acting, leaving them vulnerable to costly lawsuits and unable to protect their communities.Initiative 2026‑054 puts power back in the hands of voters. In November 2026, Oregonians can repeal HB 3115 and give cities the ability to enforce commonsense policies that protect neighborhoods, public spaces, and public safety. Some background:What Would…

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December 29, 2025
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 a Political Party Becomes a Cult
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

When a Political Party Becomes a Cult

This is Part II: Part I is entitled, “A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?” Part I dealt with political party versus political philosophy.Part II - IntroductionPolitical parties naturally attract people who share similar beliefs, but sometimes the internal culture shifts from healthy teamwork to something more rigid and unhealthy. When loyalty becomes more important than honesty, and group identity replaces critical thinking, a party can begin taking on patterns that resemble cult-like…

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November 24, 2025
A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?

Part I:This is my journey through politics and the Josephine County political scene. I’ve been a committed conservative for many years long before moving to Oregon. I was active on social media, spending hours supporting conservative candidates and policies. Even then, I wasn’t involved in any political party.A few years ago, while promoting a conservative candidate online as I often did, someone from the local Republican Party’s communications team noticed my writing. That eventually led…

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November 23, 2025
The Cost of Blind Loyalty in Local Politics
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

The Cost of Blind Loyalty in Local Politics

I came across a comment on a political post that stopped me cold:“I am just super tired of people bashing my friends.” That statement was honestly alarming, not because friendship is bad, but because it showed how easily loyalty can override morality. I genuinely hope most people still know the difference between right and wrong, between moral and immoral actions. And I hope that when a friend steps onto the wrong path, we have the…

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November 19, 2025
Recall Signatures vs. Scrutiny: Commissioners on the Recall Tightrope
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / Recall

Recall Signatures vs. Scrutiny: Commissioners on the Recall Tightrope

It appears that enough signatures have already been collected for the recall of both Commissioner Chris Barnett and Andreas Blech. As of 11/17/25 Chief Petitioner Jim Goodwin submitted:Commissioner Blech: 7,079 signatures submittedCommissioner Barnett: 7,312 signatures submittedThe required number of signatures is: 6,445 valid signaturesSignature gathering remains open until: Sunday, November 23, 2025 The calls have already started from the commissioners and the republican party. They are demanding signature verification as opposed to a formula. Odd,…

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November 18, 2025
Questions of Legitimacy and Ethics Surround the Josephine County GOP Chair Recall
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

Questions of Legitimacy and Ethics Surround the Josephine County GOP Chair Recall

As I mentioned in another post, the issue of lacking a quorum—and why the Josephine County Republican Party remains in an “unorganized” state—highlights the core problem with the Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC): their tendency to pick and choose which bylaws to follow. The lack of a quorum also lies at the heart of the controversy surrounding the recall of the chair—a slippery slope filled with gray areas that have led to questionable and…

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November 12, 2025