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 Mismanagement
Our 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 level of bloat is unsustainable.
The new Board of County Commissioners (BCC) which includes Commissioner Colene Martin apparently plans to ask voters for a tax increase to fund the animal shelter. In the same breath, they are moving to hire 21 new employees and from my understanding without any formal analysis to justify the need for these positions. This alone shows us a clear lack of transparency from the new BCC.
The new BCC has also found it important enough to approve a Rate Fee Increase for Southern Oregon Sanitation’s Kerby station in addition to raising the rates on the Marijuana Annual Compliance Ordinance.
This is not a fiscally conservative approach to our bloated county government. In fact the opposite, expand our local county government and raises taxes and rates.
The Case for the Reformers
The “reformer” group has the specific experience needed to trim a bloated, inefficient government:
- Simon Hare: Running for County Treasurer. Served two terms as commissioner during one of our worst economic periods following the collapse of the logging industry. He successfully navigated a serious budget crisis. Furthermore, he acted as the whistleblower regarding Andreas, Barnett, and Smith, which was the primary catalyst for Andreas and Barnett’s recall.
- John West: Running for Position 1 Commissioner. The push to recall West was largely driven by department heads who benefit from the status quo. John West is the true reformer who devoted his tenure to a more efficient transparent county government. His commitment to transparency is a direct threat to the bloated status quo.
- Chad Hansen: Running for Position 2 Commissioner. Bringing essential oversight from his work on the budget committee, Hansen ensures every taxpayer dollar is justified. Chad Hansen offers a blend of private-sector efficiency and hands-on community service. As a local contractor and business owner, he brings a “bottom-line” approach to fiscal responsibility and infrastructure management. His work with Home Bridging initiative demonstrates a practical ability to navigate grant administration and draft formal policy. Ultimately, his career highlights a proactive commitment to local control, public safety, and rural economic revitalization.
Defending the Record
It is important to note that there is no proof of John West engaging in any wrongdoing. He has been cleared of all 20 “ethics” violations, which proved to be entirely baseless. Additionally, his defamation lawsuit is moving to trial; the fact that it wasn’t dismissed at the first hearing is a significant indicator of its merit.
If critics have actual proof of misconduct, they should present it to the community. Otherwise, they should reconsider the use of propaganda, conjecture, and defamatory rhetoric.
Summary:
The choice is simple: Do we continue to fund a “status quo” that rewards $200,000 salaries with zero accountability, or do we install a team with a proven track record of cutting waste?
The current BCC’s strategy is to expand the government first and ask taxpayers to foot the bill later. The Reformers – Hare, West, and Hansen are the only candidates with the backbone to prioritize the taxpayer over the bureaucracy. They aren’t just promising change; they have already faced the fire, cleared their names, and delivered results. Fiscal conservatives – it is time to step up to ensure our county is fiscally sound for our community and for future generations.
Don’t vote to fund the bloat – vote for the team that has already proven they can trim it.
