THE OCEANSIDER – SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION: Voters’ Pamphlet Supplement – Local election of Note to Oceansiders

By Jerry Keene, Editor, The Oceansider

Oceansiders who are registered to vote in Tillamook County should receive their ballots in the mail this week. While the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet covers most elections and measures, it will not include information on the race below, which is of significant local interest. To fill the gap, The Oceansider offers this supplement:

Oceanside-Netarts Fire District Board of Directors, Position No. 5

Travis Ballard v. Bruce Lovelin (incumbent)

Oceansiders and Netartians look to the Netarts-Oceanside Rural Fire Protection District (“NORFPD“)”for their fire and emergency medical services, including 911 response. Its $1.4 million budget is primarily funded by property tax assessments. While the Fire Chief supervises district operations, a 5-member elected Board of Directors sets district policy and oversees its finances. In this election, for the first time in years, a Board position has attracted more than one candidate, pitting current Board member Bruce Lovelin against former fire district employee Travis Ballard. The rare contested race has drawn such interest that even former Fire Chief Tim Carpenter has weighed in on it (click here). Both candidates were kind enough to respond to a brief questionnaire submitted by your friendly editor. Below are their unedited responses, which The Oceansider has not fact-checked:

1. Please list your experience on this or other civic bodies in the past – or any occupational experience or other activities that you feel help qualify you for this position:

Travis Ballard: “I am currently a firefighter for Tillamook District. I am also a wildland firefighter. I volunteer for netarts/oceanside fire district for 14 years and was paid staff from 202 threw 2024 and was the captain of the fire department. I was also the water rescue captain and rope captain with many experience under my belt.”

Bruce Lovelin: “I have served on the NORFPD Board for 5 years and was a volunteer firefighter and water rescue team member.  In 2007, I was the Department’s Fire Fighter of the year. I served 10 years on the Netarts Oceanside Sanitary District and 10 years on the Tillamook County Planning Commission. Past president of the Netarts Community Club and Chair of the Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum. I have lived and worked in Netarts for 25 years.”

2. What do you feel is the most important issue that will face NORFPD and its Board during the next few years?

Travis Ballard: [Response was combined with answer to Question No. 3 below.]

Bruce Lovelin: “The NORFPD is in great shape – a new Chief, dedicated volunteers and staff, sound financial position, the appropriate level of infrastructure and community support. The two most important issues are maintaining a trained Corps of volunteers and staff and ensuring adequate water supply from our two water districts.”

3. Please offer a brief statement about your candidacy and why you are running that you would like to share with The Oceansider’s readers. Please limit it to 150 words.

Travis Ballard: “The reason im applying for this position is i feel the fire chief that the board hired last year was a bad fit for this community and he has a bad history and lacks the knowledge and experience. also the board of directors allowed there chief to hire his friend that has no certification in the oregon dpsst* fire service. I feel the district needs to go into a different direction and to protect the community of netarts/oceanside. Thank you for reaching out to us in regards of why i am running for the board position.”” [*Editor’s note: “dpsst” refers to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.]

Bruce Lovelin: “I am privileged to be part of the NORFPD team. My goal is to support fellow Board members. Chief McBrayer, officers and volunteers to attain the highest standards for public safety, emergency response and community stewardship. My focus is to ensure the safety of our staff and volunteers along with fire protection, health and safety to the Oceanside and Netarts Communities. My goal is to be the best fire department in Tillamook County.“

Balloting closes on May 20, 2025, at 8 p.m.

Ballots must be mailed with a postmark on this date or received in an Official Drop Site before 8 pm

---

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

---