Are we due for a larger Deschutes County Commission?
LandWatch Supports Ballot Measure 9-173 to Expand the Deschutes County Commission
Photo: Matt Oliphant
Central Oregon LandWatch recently added our name to the long and growing list of supporters of Ballot Measure 9-173. The measure will appear on the November ballot for consideration by all Deschutes County voters. The measure asks whether the size of the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners should be expanded from three to five commissioners. LandWatch feels strongly that the answer is “yes,” and here is why:
Deschutes County has changed and grown.
Central Oregon has been the fastest-growing region in the state for decades and in recent years, Deschutes County has vaulted into one of the fastest-growing counties in the entire country. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that Deschutes County has carried only three commissioners since the county and the commission were established in 1916. The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of the County. It sets policy and makes important decisions about public health; transportation; public safety; land use; and protection of farmland, forests, wildlife, and water. As a result, the health and protection of our natural resources is largely in the hands of this three-person board.
The issues are complex.
Today, with a population of 210,000 people, the issues coming before the commission are numerous, complex, and impact the well-being of the County’s people and natural resources. Many of the land use issues LandWatch works on before the Commission involve detailed legal criteria, thousands of pages of documents, and hundreds of public comments. Such complex issues require a lot of work for decision-makers.
There’s wisdom in the old saying “Two heads are better than one” that can be applied here, too. A larger County Commission will have more time and more brainpower to better review and comprehend the issues at hand. Deliberations between more than three points of view would yield more robust and nuanced decisions, benefitting all of Deschutes County.
Public participation in county matters is important.
Goal 1 of Oregon’s comprehensive land use planning system is “Citizen Involvement” and it requires all Oregon cities and counties to develop a program that ensures the opportunity for the public to be involved in all phases of the planning process. A smaller three-person commission provides fewer meaningful opportunities for the community involvement that is at the heart of land use planning in Oregon.
Clackamas, Lane, and Multnomah counties all have five county commissioners, and enlarging the Deschutes County Commission would bring the county into alignment with most other large counties in Oregon. LandWatch believes that this is reflective of a desire to provide County governance that is responsive to the needs of County residents. Larger county commissions provide more opportunities for residents to make their voices heard, which is a foundational pillar of Oregon’s land use system.
Our bottomline:
A five-person county commission will provide greater representation on many important issues in our growing county, will lead to more robust and nuanced decision-making, and will help ensure all county residents’ voices are heard. LandWatch enthusiastically supports Ballot Measure 9-173 to expand the Deschutes County Commission from three to five seats, and we urge you to vote “yes” when you receive your ballot in the mail in October.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Central Oregon LandWatch cannot endorse political candidates; that is prohibited by the IRS for a 501(c)(3) organization to remain tax-exempt. Nonprofits with our tax status are allowed and encouraged to take positions on ballot measures, as these are issues of public policy rather than involvement in a political candidate’s campaign. This distinction allows nonprofit organizations to advocate on causes aligned with their mission without crossing into prohibited electioneering.