News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Richard Esterman, a Sisters-based event promoter, has thrown his hat in the ring for Position 1 on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, the seat currently held by Tony DeBone. Esterman is running as a Republican.
Esterman previously ran unaffiliated for governor. He acknowledges that that run was largely symbolic, but this one is a serious bid to have an impact in his own region.
"Being a long-shot for governor, I learned a lot," he said. "This is a serious attempt. I'm serious about this. I think I could do a lot of good in my own backyard."
At this stage of the campaign, Esterman's agenda seems to be more about an approach to how government is conducted than it is driven by specific issues.
"Nobody has any faith in government anymore," he said.
He wants to play a roll in restoring that faith.
"With me it's going to be people first and party and government second," he said.
He also noted that he would refuse the medical benefits package that goes along with the job.
"It's a good medical package, but I strongly feel that if the people who put you in office have a tough time and have terrible benefits, why should you have a (good program)."
As for specific issues, Esterman says, "Right now I'm in the research and listening stage."
Perhaps the highest-profile issue in Sisters Country that involves the commissioners is the question of further development of property owned by the Cyrus family in the Aspen Lakes area. The candidate has not delved into that issue yet.
"To be honest with you, I haven't read up on it," he said. "I don't know all the particulars. I've got to research it. I'm not going to comment on that."
However, Esterman does offer general opinions on the role of government in attracting business to Deschutes County. He believes the county should actively offer incentives to attract business, and he opposed an increase of room tax in the county.
"Taxes don't work," he said. "I'd like to get in there, look at the books and see where we're wasting money."
The candidate is committed to the tourism industry, of which his business is a part.
"I'm in favor of bringing people to the area," he said.
Esterman's events business has expanded significantly in the past couple of years, adding several events in Sisters and others in the surrounding area. He said he is training someone to operate the events should he be successful in unseating DeBone in the May election.
Esterman has a website to support his political interests at www.listen2thepeople.com.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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