(TILLAMOOK, OR. September 27, 2023) On August 14th, the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners invited candidates to apply for Commissioner Position 2. Submissions were received by 15 eligible candidates by the September 14th deadline.
The person chosen to fill this position will serve the remainder of the term vacated by the retirement of Commissioner David Yamamoto beginning in November or December of 2023 through the end of the calendar year of 2024. In order for the chosen candidate to continue in this position after December of 2024, they must be elected by the citizens of Tillamook County during the 2024 election cycle.
After a series of informational interviews with the candidates and review of letters of interest and resumes, the board individually ranked their top candidates to proceed to the public forum and panel interview. The following six candidates are attending the forum and interview: Paul Fournier, Ken Henson, Jerry Keene, Paul Levesque, Doug Olson, and Matt Williams.
The county recognizes there has been some interest in the names of all the applicants. However, out of respect for the privacy and confidentiality of those applicants who are not moving forward in the selection process, those names will not be released.
The candidate forum will occur on Thursday, October 12th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the PRI Building, Rooms 105/107, located at 4506 Third Street, Tillamook. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will moderate the forum as they customarily do during candidate elections.
The candidate panel interview with the Board of Commissioners will occur on Monday, October 16th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Tillamook Bay Community College, Rooms 214/215, located at 4301 Third Street, Tillamook.
Virtual attendance is available by calling Teleconference 971-254-3149, ID: 589 644 589# or by accessing the Microsoft Teams Meeting live video link: https://www.co.tillamook.or.us/. Virtual attendance is listen only.
If you have a question you’d like asked of the candidates, please email the question to publiccomments@co.tillamook.or.us by Friday, October 6th.
Following the panel interview, Chair Erin Skaar and Vice-Chair Mary Faith Bell may begin deliberations.
The authority for the Board of Commissioners to appoint is set forth in Oregon Revised Statute 236.210(2) which states, “when a vacancy occurs in the nonpartisan office of…county commissioner, the remaining members of the county court or board of county commissioners shall appoint a person to
perform the duties of the office until the vacancy is filled by election.”
Although the public is not voting during this process, the Board believes it is imperative the appointment process be transparent and one where the public can learn about the potential candidates, one of whom will be appointed as their new Commissioner.
