A6
ELECTION 2020
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Local candidates compete in contested races
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Eagle sent each candidate
in a contested local race an elec-
tion questionnaire.
The questionnaires were mailed
the same day to the mailing address
the candidates listed when filing to
run for office.
The candidates were instructed
no late submissions would be
accepted.
The following are the unedited
responses received by deadline by
position in alphabetical order.
GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF
Todd McKinley, Mt. Vernon
The position I am running for
is the Office of Sheriff. The Sher-
iff is the chief law
enforcement offi-
cer within the
county with much
responsibility. A
Sheriff is respon-
sible for a diverse
range of crimi-
Todd
nal investigation,
McKinley
search and rescue,
legal process, and
daily jail operations.
I am running for the position
of Sheriff, as I believe, and have
for some time, there needs to be
a change. The people of this great
County need a Sheriff that will
look out for all, one that is going to
honor the Sheriff’s code of Ethics.
I have been a Grant County resi-
dent since 1977. I lived and worked
on our family ranch until the mid-
1990s, raising cattle and hay until
I started logging for Charlie O’Ro-
urke. I worked there and at Prai-
rie Wood in the truck shop until I
was hired as the School Resource
Officer for Grant County in 2001.
I served under Sheriff Reusser as
a Reserve Deputy for a time and
then for Sheriff Palmer after Sher-
iff Reusser’s passing. After serv-
ing as the School Resource Officer
under the COPS Grant, I worked
as a Patrol Deputy until 2008, then
I was promoted to Undersheriff
upon the retirement of Undersher-
iff McNellis. I served the citizens
of Grant County in the capacity
of Undersheriff until December
of 2015 when I was hired as the
Director of the Juvenile Depart-
ment and Community Corrections,
becoming a certified Parole Offi-
THE QUESTIONS
1. Please describe the position for which you are running and its importance. (50 words or less)
2. Why are you running for this position? (50 words or less)
3. What is your background, and what qualifications and experience would you bring to this position? (200
words or less)
4. What issues would you like to address, and how would you do so? (200 words or less)
cer. During my time working for
the Sheriff’s Office, I performed
all manner of investigations, and
headed up the Search and Rescue
team. I have also served as a vol-
unteer firefighter for over thirty
years. All of this experience has
given me a very well rounded out-
look on expectations for the ser-
vice to the people of Grant County.
Grant County is a very unique
county. We take pride in our way
of life, and care for our surround-
ings in a very respectful manner.
If elected Sheriff, I would like to
bring some pride back into the
Sheriff’s Office. I want to see the
staff be cared for and respected as
much as our surroundings. They are
the backbone of the criminal justice
system in the county, and should
be treated as a valuable resource.
There has been much written and
said about the state of affairs in
the agency, and I want to change
that. I also would like to see more
attention placed on the drug prob-
lems in this county. As Director of
Parole and Probation, I have had a
first-hand glimpse at the depth of
this epidemic and the destruction it
causes to lives. This problem does
not just touch the lives in the throes
of despair, but the families and the
victims of the users’ crimes and the
tax payer at large. I also would like
to see some separation between
the County Court and the Sheriff’s
Office. I think the current dep-
uty/commissioner arrangement is
unhealthy and I would bring an end
to that.
Glenn Palmer, John Day, did
not respond.
JOHN DAY
CITY COUNCIL
Three vacancies
After
the
questionnaires
were sent, Richie Colbeth,
John Day, informed the Eagle
he was running a write-in
campaign.
David Holland, John Day, did
not respond.
Chris Labhart, John Day
1. City Councilor for the City of
John Day. The city council sets pol-
icy and establishes
short term and long-
term goals for the
city. Works with
staff, department
heads and employ-
ees to carry out pol-
icy and goals.
Chris
2. I want to
Labhart
see infrastructure
throughout the city continue to be
improved. Many of our streets need
repair. We need to finish projects
before we start new ones. We have to
work together to accomplish goals. I
believe I bring balanced experience
to the position of city councilor.
3. I was raised in John Day and
understand the culture of our rural
community. I am a retired educator,
coach and mentor. I have held elected
and appointed positions in local,
county and statewide offices. I have
experience in budgeting, goal setting
and collective bargaining from both
management and union sides. I have
worked with and continue to work
with youth, adults and seniors in a
variety of volunteer organizations. I
have worked with elected leaders in
all levels of government and have
networked to complete many proj-
ects in the local area. I brought Air
Life of Oregon into Grant County
and worked with the City, County,
Blue Mountain Hospital and the For-
est Service to construct a helipad next
to the hospital. I am currently Presi-
dent of the John Day Senior Center
and under my leadership, we have
undertaken and completed many
projects. We recently purchased land
from Elks Lodge 1824 for the center
and have almost finished some major
remodel projects inside the center.
I was involved with the 3rd Street
extension project. All of these proj-
ects were undertaken and completed
under my watch.
4. I believe the City of John Day
needs to continue working on main-
taining and improving our infrastruc-
ture (streets, sidewalks, utilities). The
City must continue working in col-
laboration with Parks and Rec, The
Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer
organizations, Grant County Court,
health care community, schools and
our business community. We have
abandoned houses throughout the
City and need to use our ordinances to
deal with this problem. I support the
selling of the swimming pool prop-
erty to Kam Wah Chung & Co (the
State of Oregon) for a new visitor’s
center. We need to continue working
on beautification projects through-
out the city. Signage and landscap-
ing are projects that need looked at.
I would encourage the City to work
with Hope 4 Paws to deal with pet
concerns.
Heather Rookstool, John Day
1. My name is Heather Rook-
stool. I’m running for John Day’s
City Council. It
is important to
me that the mem-
bers of the counsel
come from diverse
backgrounds with
the important job
they have to do. I
Heather
feel as a citizen of
Rookstool
John Day it is our
responsibility to be
involved.
2. I’m running for City Council
because: As a mother and small busi-
ness manager I can bring fresh ideas
in the hopes of building this town
to benefit our youth and small busi-
nesses which are vital to the future of
our city.
3. My background: I moved to
John Day at the age of 15 in 2000
and graduated from Grant Union
in 2003. I married my high school
sweetheart, Zane, in 2007 and moved
back to John Day with our two chil-
dren, Zeke (now 12) and Zoey (now
10). I’m currently the Grant County
Coordinator for MFMC which is a
comprehensive sexual health curric-
ulum taught in 6th-8th grade schools
in Grant County. I’m also the Man-
ager of Java Jungle and love having a
Downtown small business for travel-
ers as well as locals to stop in and get
a yummy coffee. It also provides me
with the opportunity to feel the pulse
of the community. Some of my qual-
ifications for this position are that I
have served or am currently on the
following boards; Fair Board Vice
President, Grant County little league
2 years of VP of softball and base-
ball and currently the Player Agent,
John Day swim team Fundraiser
Rep, Grant Co wrestling club Fund-
raiser Rep.
4. Some of my reasoning for run-
ning for the city council are as fol-
lows; 1st I would like to help and
support our local small businesses in
John day, I believe if our council and
city management did more of this the
citizens would follow. I believe our
city officials should be checking in
and talking to our small businesses
and seeing what they need and how
it is going, with our small businesses
we don’t have a city and I don’t want
to see any more empty building in
John Day.
2nd thing I think we can do as a
city council is to make sure we are
“living within our community needs
and budget” I think there is some
great ideas happening but I don’t
know that our budget supports those
ideas and I’m ok with not being a
“Yes” woman!
3rd I want to find a way to have
a Pool for our community. I don’t
have all the answers but I’m willing
to look into options and hear ideas. I
feel this is an important asset to our
county!
Elliot Sky, John Day
1. Public leadership needs all
types of people from the commu-
nity to participate in
and provide direc-
tion for our local
government. The
city council deter-
mines where and
how to invest time
and resources, pri-
Elliot
oritizing and pro-
Sky
viding oversight to
activities and pur-
suits that will impact the community
for years to come.
2. I am running for John Day
See Election, Page A7
S211167-1