News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Challenger Patti Adair of Sisters defeated incumbent Tammy Baney in the primary election for Position 3 on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners.
Adair, who polled nearly 52 percent of the vote as of early Wednesday morning, will face off against Democrat James Cook in the November general election.
Adair, Deschutes County Republican Party Chair, indicated to The Nugget that she did not have a strong sense of the outcome before election day.
"I was surprised because I, of course, didn't do any polling," she said. "I had a lot of people who worked really hard... (who) thought it was time for a change."
Adair, a former CPA, ran on a platform of increasing scrutiny on county finances and marijuana regulation.
She said she is concerned about the property tax burden borne by local residents.
"So many people tell me that their property tax bill is so horrible," she said. "People on a fixed income are really struggling with it."
She said she plans to attend budget hearings in the upcoming weeks to delve further into county finances.
Adair said she will focus on "reformulating my team" in the months leading up to the November general election. She plans to meet as many people in the county as she can in person and looks forward to riding in the Sisters Rodeo Parade in June.
Adair expressed appreciation for the support of the Sisters community.
"I truly appreciate their support and I hope I can run an excellent campaign so they will be supporting me in the general election," she said.
Baney has served on the Board of Commissioners for 12 years. In a prepared statement, she said, "I am proud of the work I have done for our county. Having led us through the recession, expanded mental-health and veteran services, reduced burdensome regulations and increased transparency at the state level to address local transportation and housing needs, the work is never really done. I look forward to continuing to serve in the next few months and I am grateful for those who have mentored, challenged and supported me. Deschutes County is a dynamic, economic force in Oregon, I am proud to be a part of it."
Tony DeBone, who chairs the Board of Commissioners, won his primary race against Tumalo businessman Ed Barbeau by a wide margin. DeBone will face Democrat Amy Lowes in the November election.
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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