Introduction:
Simon Hare is a seasoned public servant with over a decade of direct experience in Josephine County’s fiscal and administrative governance. Having served both as a two-term County Commissioner and as the county’s Budget Officer, Hare possesses a deep institutional understanding of the region’s unique financial challenges. His background combines high-level legislative oversight with the technical, “hands-on” management of public funds, making him a candidate defined by his experience in maintaining essential services under tight budgetary constraints.
Direct Financial & Budgetary Experience
- Former County Budget Officer: Following his time as a Commissioner, Hare served directly as the Josephine County Budget Officer. This role involved the technical oversight of county funds, department allocations, and fiscal planning.
- Fiscal Oversight (Board of Commissioners): During his eight years as a County Commissioner, he was responsible for approving annual budgets, managing county assets, and overseeing the distribution of public funds across all county departments.
- Grant & Resource Management: His tenure involved navigating complex funding issues, including federal PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) and O&C (Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands) timber funds, which are critical to the county’s solvency.
Administrative & Governance Background
- Two-Term County Commissioner: Hare served two full terms (2011–2019) on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. This provides him with a deep institutional knowledge of how the county’s financial systems interact with legislative mandates.
- Executive Leadership: Having served as Chair of the Board multiple times, he has experience leading public meetings, coordinating with department heads (including the Sheriff and Public Works), and representing the county’s interests at the state level.
- Crisis Management: He has experience managing the county’s finances during periods of significant “shoestring” budgeting and public safety funding shortages, which is highly relevant to the Treasurer’s role in ensuring fiscal stability.
Professional & Local Background
- Small Business Owner/Agriculture: Outside of public office, Hare has a background in the private sector as a self-employed farmer and rancher in the Illinois Valley. This provides a perspective on private-sector financial management and local economic realities.
- Local Roots: As a long-time resident of Josephine County (specifically Cave Junction), he has a personal stake in the community’s long-term financial health and a historical understanding of local tax issues and ballot measures.
Simon Hare for Josephine County Treasurer
Simon Hare is a seasoned fiscal administrator with over a decade of direct experience in Josephine County’s budgetary and legislative governance. Having served two terms as a County Commissioner and subsequently as the county’s Budget Officer, Hare possesses a deep institutional understanding of the region’s unique financial landscape, from federal timber funding to local tax structures. His background bridges the gap between high-level policy oversight and the technical, “hands-on” management of public funds, positioning him as a candidate who understands how to maintain essential services under rigorous fiscal constraints while ensuring long-term county solvency.
