(Photos left to right, Tony DeBone, Patti Adair, James Cook, Amy Lowes)
POSITION 1
TONY DEBONE (R)
Why did you decide to run for Deschutes County Commissioner?
Eight years ago, I was called to run to represent Southern and rural Deschutes County as well as all the people of the county. I had been getting more and more involved in the community with a low power FM morning radio show in La Pine where I interviewed the sitting commissioners, sheriff and county staff. I knew I could make a difference from my experience in community service on the rodeo board, park district board of directors.
What are the skills and strengths that make you uniquely qualified to lead the Deschutes County as Commissioner the next four years?
Deschutes County currently has low unemployment and a lot of growth pressure. I am now an experienced commissioner for all citizens of the county and I am honored to serve. There are many departments and services of the county and I have been able to successfully lead as a commissioner. From the health department for public health and behavioral health to the road department and solid waste, from the county fairgrounds to the customer service culture in the offices of the Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor, Treasurer, Clerk and Justice of the Peace we are all here to serve the citizens.
What are three personal accomplishments that show you are ready for this job?
I have life experience that is very valuable in this job. I have lived in a few places, been a homeowner, had multiple technology careers. My wife of 24 years and I have run businesses together and successfully raised our son here in Deschutes County. I have made relationships with our state legislators and look forward to advocating for the positions of Deschutes county residents when the legislature is in session. I am open, honest and approachable as your commissioner.
What do you feel are Deschutes County’s biggest challenges we face in the next five years?
In the next five years, we are dealing with population growth and the development pressure that comes with that. We keep the community development department running at a very professional pace to respond to the activity. While working with neighborhood associations for defensible space and the Deschutes Forest Collaborative, we all need to learn to live in a fire adapted environment. I am a proponent of active forest management to protect and preserve the forests that we love so much. We do not want to live with multiple weeks of uncontrolled smoke in the summers.
AMY LOWES (D)
Why did you decide to run for Deschutes County Commissioner?
When a business I owned was being affected by County decisions, I started attended Commissioners’ meetings and discovered that my healthcare skill set was not being represented. Our Commissioners manage a healthcare budget of approximately $55 million and their decisions were not considering the complexities involved with properly treating patients. Additionally, the Commissioners did not reflect the values of the people I’ve known for the past 22 years living in Central Oregon and I knew I could do a better job serving the residents of Deschutes County.
What are the skills and strengths that make you uniquely qualified to lead the Deschutes County as Commissioner the next four years?
As a single mother, a nurse and a former business owner, I am uniquely qualified to serve the County and represent the diverse needs of our urban and rural residents. I honed my advocacy skills during ten years as a hospice nurse, serving everyone from patients in homeless camps to those in mansions, across Central Oregon. I will bring a new and needed perspective to the county. As a successful business owner with 50 employees, I developed the fiscal management skills we need at the county. My opponent has failed to provide oversight for a multimillion-dollar 9-1-1 radio system, putting the lives of the public and law enforcement at risk, which is one reason why The Bend Bulletin endorsed me. I am committed to keeping our expenditures and revenue closely monitored. I am passionate about service. You can count on me to listen and be responsive. Please reach out to me at amyfordeschutes@gmail.com with your questions or concerns.
What are three personal accomplishments that show you are ready for this job?
1. Receiving the endorsement of The Bend Bulletin, The Source Weekly, conservation groups, political organizations, and business leaders, such as Preston Callicott and Amy Tykeson, as well as the Mayor of La Pine, my opponent’s hometown.
2. Becoming an RN and serving as an advocate at St. Charles and for Partners in Care (Hospice), standing up and being a voice for the needs of hundreds of families during very a difficult time in their lives.
3. Running a handful of successful businesses that employed over 50 people while being a mom to my two children, many years as a single parent, and supporting them to flourish and thrive. My strengths in helping people feel understood, listening to conflicting points of view, and creating consensus are valuable skills I will contribute to county government.
What do you feel are Deschutes County’s biggest challenges we face in the next five years?
The three biggest challenges I hear about are housing affordability, managing growth, and ensuring adequate health care services for all residents, especially those afflicted with mental illness and addiction. We need a 24 hour sober center, adequate funds for public safety, a fully functional 9-1-1 system, thoughtful planning to manage development without sprawl, increased affordable housing, and reliable public transportation. We are experiencing a mental health crisis that affects the well-being of individuals, families, schools and communities. We need to invest in public-private partnerships that help address and serve those most in need early on, before they become a larger burden on the system.
POSITION 3
PATTI ADAIR (R)
Why did you decide to run for Deschutes County Commissioner?
As a former Certified Public accountant, I could see the need for greater fiscal restraint and cost savings measures to reduce the burden on property taxpayers.
What are the skills and strengths that make you uniquely qualified to lead the Deschutes County as Commissioner the next four years?
Not only was I a Certified Public Accountant, I have spent considerable energy fund raising for many schools, a hospital, and even a private road project. In addition, I devoted energy to providing for the homeless. My goal is to provide Deschutes County residents with responsive representation.
What are three personal accomplishments that show you are ready for this job?
I took the Deschutes County College Fall 2017 and have been intensively studying our county since those classes. After completing my BA in History at the University of Oregon, I finished my CPA Certification. I have raised over two million dollars for various charities. My accounting skills, integrity and energy would be an asset to the Board of Commissioners.
What do you feel are Deschutes County’s biggest challenges we face in the next five years?
We are currently facing tremendous growth particularly in Bend. Yet we do not want to lose our Central Oregon feel and become Portland. We need to maintain a balance with our gorgeous natural resources and local land use decisions.
JAMES COOK (D)
Why did you decide to run for Deschutes County Commissioner?
Based upon my record as chair of the Redmond Urban Area Planning Commission, I was asked to run. I believe when we are asked to serve our community in an important position we are capable of fulfilling, it’s our duty as citizens to step up and say yes. I have two grandchildren who live in Deschutes County and I believe the decisions the County Board of Commissioners makes in the next four years will have a great impact upon whether our county remains liveable and affordable when the time comes for them to begin their own families. I want to be a part of making sure our children and grandchildren can choose to live here as adults.
What are the skills and strengths that make you uniquely qualified to lead the Deschutes County as Commissioner the next four years?
As chair of the Redmond Planning Commission I understand Oregon land-use laws; have approved multiple housing developments including affordable senior living, ADUs and single and multi-family homes. I have worked with the city on amendments to our Comprehensive Plan and helped craft zoning revisions, in the process streamlining the approval process and saving money for developers, the city and homebuyers. I have also served on our Budget Committee and understand the need to make hard decisions when setting budget priorities and the unique aspects of budgeting for a local government.
What are three personal accomplishments that show you are ready for this job?
1. I have managed a small business for a quarter century, working with clients ranging from small businesses, nonprofits and religious organizations to Vince Gill and the 1999 Papal Visit.
2. As chair of the Redmond Planning Commission and member of our Parks, Budget and other committees, I have worked collaboratively with members of both political parties and a variety of interest groups.
3. With my wife of 34 years, I have helped raise two successful adults and enjoy sharing the lives of our grandchildren. They motivate me to be deeply committed to maintaining our Central Oregon values and lifestyle for future generations.
What do you feel are Deschutes County’s biggest challenges we face in the next five years?
1. Our most immediate challenge is ensuring our 9-1-1 radio system is operational and restoring the trust of our police and fire departments in the management of the 9-1-1 Service District.
2. Long term, we must manage the rapid growth that will see our population approach 250,000 by 2035. Our focus must be providing affordable and achievable (non-subsidized) housing for our residents.
3. I will also address the increasing toxicity of politics that has begun to filter down to our local level by working to make elections for County Commissioners non-partisan.
