Candidates vie for county seat

Incumbent Deschutes County Commissioner Alan Unger is facing off with Republican/Independent challenger Phil Henderson in a race for Unger's seat on the Deschutes County board of Commissioners.

Unger, a Democrat, has served two terms on the commission; he was previously mayor of Redmond. Henderson, a homebuilder by trade, with additional background in law, has served on the City of Bend Budget Committee and as a precinct committee person for the Republican Party.

Henderson promises to bring a "fresh look" to county issues.

"I think I have a unique set of skills and background experience that would serve the county well," he said.

Unger has played an active role in Sisters Country, particularly in the past couple of years. As vice chair of the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, he has been involved with some of the forest-health projects in the area. He featured prominently in discussions of the contentious proposal for a paved trail between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch. His role was somewhat controversial, as opponents of the paved trail felt that he was one-sided in his efforts.

"I was trying to bring people to the table," Unger told The Nugget. However, he acknowledged that he is in favor of a trail.

"I think we do need a trail between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch," he said. "I'll own being a 'champion' for the trail. I like the idea."

He said that he would like to see the Forest Service start the process over "and have a more-engaged Sisters with that." Unger also noted that Sisters' "Civility Project" grew out of the path controversy, and cited that as a positive development.

Henderson told The Nugget that he would likely not have engaged in the issue in the same way.

"If there's a consensus, you could lead the charge, but you shouldn't override the people who are affected," he said. "I don't think I would have jumped in like he did."

He said that he has concerns about the funding of the path, even if it's done with federal grants.

"It's not somebody else's money just because it's federal," he said. "Things have to make sense in a lot of ways before I'm an advocate for them."

Both men expressed concern about the growing traffic congestion throughout the county - including in Sisters.

Unger said he would like to see things move quickly in coming up with a traffic control solution at the Locust/Highway 20 intersection - and he believes relationships he has built as chair of the Central Oregon Commission on Transportation could help with that.

"How does it fit in?" he asked. "Let's make a plan and let's get started on it."

Henderson argues that traffic issues have been developing throughout Unger's tenure, and action has not been swift.

In many ways, the race sets up the classic contention between the established incumbent and an outside candidate. Unger emphasizes his experience, his engagement on numerous committees, and the relationships he has built during his tenure. He believes those roles and relationships position him to work effectively for county residents.

Henderson argues that commissioners "get more and more insulated the longer they're there.

"You get used to working with the departments as a commissioner and they give you the agenda," he said.

Henderson plans to host regular open houses in all areas of the county, so that he can hear directly from constituents - including those who don't have a specific interest or issue driving them.

Unger retains a strong interest in Sisters.

Unger notes that the County has helped fund an economic development director position in Sisters and that "we've got a great relationship between the City and the County now. We know each other, we can work with each other and we do good work."

The future of Sisters Eagle Airport is likely to involve County jurisdiction going forward. The issue is of considerable interest to some of the people who live in the county in the area of the airport.

The commissioners recently scheduled and then canceled a meeting on the airport. The cancelation occurred because it turned out that there was no imminent proposal for action on the part of the commissioners.

"As a group, we didn't think the timing was right to get engaged with it at the time," Unger said.

Asked why the commissioners couldn't take a briefing on the issues so that they are aware of the concerns existing around the airport, Unger said, "Maybe we should engage with that more. I think I should bring that up again."

Henderson told The Nugget, "This does raise the question ... of how do the County Commissioners (and all public officials, generally) hear how voters/residents/taxpayers are doing and what they are thinking about, when issues are not really 'ripe' for decision. I feel most hearings and policy committees are dominated by interest groups that have vested interests and that the general populace is not as vocal, and sometime not heard. We sometimes get policy by the

minority."

Ballots are out for the November 8 election. They may be returned by mail, but must be received by 8 p.m. on November 8 in order to be counted. A postmark does not make a ballot "received." There is a ballot drop site at Sisters City Hall.