Page 6
North Douglas Herald
April 2024
Drain Needs YOU!
Community Pages
2024 Oregon Elections: Vote - Run for Office
By Rusty Savage
As the Oregon Primary Election
draws near, May 21st, the North Douglas
Herald is hearing from a variety of
sources. From folks inquiring about
candidates, candidates messaging and
campaigning for voters and general and
specific questions from citizens on the
nuts and bolts of and differences in the
Primary election in May and the General
election on November 5th.
Although, the Herald isn’t endorsing
any candidates at this time, we feel it’s
important to give our readers some
insight on who is running for local and
state offices as best we can. Additionally,
because voting is a right, privilege
and obligation of our citizens that isn’t
always easy to carry out. Generally it’s
due to a lack or loss of information and
communication or perhaps some other
obstacle. So here is what we came up
with.
First of all you must be eligible to
vote in the State of Oregon. To be eligible
to vote you must be: a resident of Oregon,
a US citizen (or will become one by
Election Day)and at least 16 years of age
(If you are 16 years of age, you will not
receive a ballot until an election occurs on
or after your 18th birthday.)
For Incarcerated Voters &
Returning Citizens, in Oregon, you only
lose your right to vote if you are currently
incarcerated for a felony conviction. If
you lost your voting rights because of
a conviction, you could register to vote
immediately after release. Your voting
rights are not restricted by pretrial
detention, misdemeanors, probation, or
parole.
Voters without a traditional
residence, you must provide a residence
address on the voter registration form,
but this address may be any location in
the county that describes their physical
location. This could be a shelter, park,
motor home, or another identifiable
place. The county clerk’s office can be the
mailing address of a person experiencing
homelessness or residing where mail
service is unavailable. Voters can pick up
their ballot at the county elections office.
Next, you have to be registered to
vote. To register to vote online you will
need an Oregon driver license, permit or
ID card number issued by the Oregon
Driver and Motor Vehicle Services
Division (DMV).
If you do not have an Oregon
driver license, permit or ID card, you
can still use the online voter registration
application. The information you enter
will display on a voter registration card
(PDF document) that you will need to
print, sign and deliver to your county
elections office to complete your
registration.
There is a registration deadline,
a new registrant must submit their online
registration by 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific
Time on the 21st calendar day before
an election to be eligible to vote in that
election.
Alternative to Registering Online.
Instead of registering to vote online you
can complete a Voter Registration form
and return it to your county elections
office.
The voter registration deadline
for in-person is April 30, 2024. By
mail, it should be received by April 30,
2024 and Online is April 30, 2024. The
absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline
for in-person: May 21, 2024 and by mail,
it must be postmarked by May 21, 2024.
The polls open on Election Day from 7:
00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Elections for the Oregon House
of Representatives and State Senate will
take place in 2024. The general election
is on November 5, 2024. The primary
is May 21, 2024. For State Primary
candidates, the filing deadline was March
12, 2024.
There are county and municipal
elections that will take place both in the
Primary and in the General elections.
Candidates running for offices in the
May election were required to have filed
with Douglas county election officer
prior to March 12th. For those who want
to run for municipal office in the General
elections, have until August 27th to file
with City Elections officer.
In Douglas county, for the county
offices, there are candidates for County
Clerk - Dan Loomis (R), Samantha
Frost (R): for County Sheriff - John
Hanlin (Incumbent) (NonPartisan),
Gregg Kennerly (NonPartison), Brad
O’Dell(NonPartison):
for
County
Treasure - Samuel W Lee III (R): for
Justices of the Peace for Canyonville,
Machelle Briggs-Mayfield (NonPartison)
and forReedsport, Kathleen K Miller.
The Primary candidates for State
offices in the House and Senate who win
their party bid in the May, will go on to
the General election in November.
In the Senate races in District 1, Sen.
David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, faces
a four-way primary fight in the 1st Senate
District, which includes Curry and parts
of Coos and Douglas counties. Brock
Smith served six years in the House
before he was appointed to the Senate
in 2023 to finish the term of former Sen.
Dallas Heard. His opponents are former
Roseburg City Councilor Ashley Hicks,
Navy veteran and frequent candidate
Paul Romero and logger Todd Vaughn.
The neighboring 2nd District,
which includes Josephine and parts
of Douglas and Jackson counties, will
feature a primary between Rep. Christine
Goodwin, R-Canyonville, and Noah
Robinson, son of disqualified Sen. Art
Robinson, R-Cave Junction. A group of
Josephine county voters sued late last
week to keep Goodwin off the ballot,
claiming she doesn’t live in the district.
Goodwin denied those allegations, and a
hearing wasn’t scheduled in time to affect
the primary.
In the House races, for District 1
- Bret Cecil (D) is challenging incumbent
Court Boice(R). In District 2 - Virgle
Osborne is still in term. In District 4 -
Richard Chasm (D) and Alek Skarlatos
(R) are competing for the seat vacated by
Christine Goodwin (R), who is retiring
to run for State Senate. In District 9
- Erik Schuttpelz (D) running against
incumbent Boomer Wright (R).
I am covering Drain municipal
elections here, which will be on the ballots
of the general election in November. The
North Douglas Herald will dedicate
the next few issues to try and cover as
many local candidates in towns and cities
across our coverage area. For this article,
we’ll cover the City of Drain.
To begin with, I want to thank the
Drain Elections Officer, Penny Jenkins
for her patience and thoroughness
in providing details and information
regarding her duties and the details and
steps and requirements for elections in
Drain. Penny is also the City Recorder in
her official capacity.
There are 5 elected public offices
functioning in the City of Drain. The
Mayor serves a 2 year term and the four
Council persons serve 4 year terms.
These are staggered so that every 2 years,
two of the seats are open for election. In
November, the Mayor and 2 council seats
are up for election. At this time (the 3rd
of April) There are no filings for these
3 offices. Of the offices open: There is
the current Mayor, Erin Sparhawk. The
Council position #1 is currently Grant
Vaugn who was appointed 3/22 when
it was vacated by the previously elected
council person. Also Council position #3,
Katie Decker, also appointed 9/22 due to
vacancy. This is the protocol for vacated
council seats - application to and then
elected by the Mayor and City Council
to serve the remainder of vacated seats
term. Of the two remaining seats, Council
position 2 - Kevin VanPelt was elected in
2022 and will serve until 2026. Council
position 4 - Aaron Lymath was also
elected in 2022 and serves until 2024.
According to Penny the process has
2 options. For any open office you can,
either apply with the Candidate Petition
Submission (CPS) and pay a $10 fee
or apply with the CPS and a separate
Signature Form with at least 25 signatures
and no fee. As with the requirements of
the general election the deadline to apply
is August 27th. You can pick up either of
the forms and get detailed information at
the Drain City Hall at 431 Payton Avenue
in Drain, the same office where you pay
your electric bill. Just ask for Penny and
she will ensure that you are informed
on the requirements for office and the
general process and other details.
Our democracy is a citizen lead
government and this is an opportunity
for residents of Drain to lean in and
be part of the great machinery of self
governance. If you have eye to step out
into a political career, local politics is the
greatest introduction into that arena. Or
perhaps you have a passion or dedication
to serving, improving or leading in your
community. You know, see a wrong and
try to right it, have a vision and a will to
achieve it, or maybe it’s just your turn to
try your hand at working to help make
your community a better, safer and livable
place for your family, business,neighbors
and visitors.
So make sure to get registered
to vote, learn about and support your
candidates and consider petitioning
for an office yourself. The democratic
experiment requires participation and if
you want to engage in yours and your
childrens and neighbors future, well
that’s how we make it work.
Ballots and Voters Pamphlets will
be mailed out 14-18 days prior to election
day. You can mail your ballot as long as
it is postmarked by November 5th, If you
want to drop off your ballot, the ballot
box is at City Hall and must be in the box
by 8:00pm on November 5th. The ballots
are then transferred to Douglas county
elections office by 2 sworn election
officials and is counted at the Douglas
county Elections Office.
If you have questions about voting,
wherever you are. Check with you city
Elections Officer or with your County.
If you can, look at the issues and the
candidates, get informed. Voting is the
first civic duty and it’s essential.
Be A Team Player
Join A Committee
By Rusty Savage
Did you know that things can’t get done
without you? It’s true, the things that we need
and enjoy in this town aren’t often the result
of one individual’s sole efforts. You’ve heard
that it takes a Village? Well that’s a little out of
context because we’re not talking about raising
kids. I am talking about the committees and
organizations that bring us the enhancements of
our lives that makes a community thrive. Have
you been dismissive of the value and need for,
say the North Douglas Fair? It’s because the
Fair committee needs you to be a part of what
can make it great again.
Have you been to the cemetery lately? Does
it look OK? If not, it’s because the Cemetery
committee doesn’t have you there to see to
it’s improvements and embellishments. What
about the Civic Center Committee, are you
waiting on them to come up with new ideas and
events that you care about? It’s because they
need you to join them and become a part of the
answer to your own questions.
See something needing to be done for
this towns improvement? Yep, the Planning
Commission is calling your name. What’s up
with the decline of businesses around here? Oh
yea, that’s what the Chamber of Commerce is
for - but wait they need your input to get their
momentum going.
There’s no shortage of need for you to
volunteer and join with like minded people,
like your neighbors. No that need is long and
there’s an empty position just waiting for you
to step up. You’ll like the result, the feeling of
belonging and the satisfaction of action.
There are plenty of committees and citizen
groups looking for people and you will fit in
somewhere, I have no doubt. Just today I had
a couple of folks come to the office to talk to
me about the group they want to form. After
the Icemegedden in January, Snowmegedden
a few years ago, recent wild fires and floods,
well the truth is - folks get caught off guard and
need help. There is no shortage of good people
helping in times of hardship and disaster. This
group wants to organize preparedness as well
as gathering people and resources to get things
done in those times. I promise, there is no
shortage of groups that need you.
Want to know what’s available? Where
you might fit in? Do you have an area of
interest? Do you want to find a cause. Shoot the
Herald an email and I will try to point you in the
right direction. You may not even know it, but
you are needed. It’s time to get involved. Send
us an email - citizens@ndherald.com.
Yoncalla Rodeo
Continued from Page 1
The Yoncalla Rodeo & Equestrian
Association would like to welcome
community members to join the
association and help with the Yoncalla
Rodeo. Volunteers are what makes the
association a success and what also helps
preserve the Rodeo way of life. It is not a
requirement that members live within the
Yoncalla area.
The YREA meets once a month
on the third Tuesday of the month at the
Yoncalla Community Center located
at: 400 Main Street, Yoncalla, Oregon.
97499. As the weather improves, the
meetings will move to the Yoncalla
Rodeo Grounds. Should anyone have
any questions in regards to the YREA
please feel free to give Randy Thompson
a telephone call at: 541-784-8667.
Follow our Facebook page for meeting
reminders and updates for Rodeo sign-
ups, dates/times, and volunteers and
vendors opportunities.