Decision 2024: Measure 9-173 holds strong lead, will expand Deschutes County Commission from 3 to 5 members

(Update: Adding video, comments from Tony DeBone, Phil Chang, John Heylin)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- A Bend business owner's idea to expand the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners from three to five members first cleared the petition signature-gathering hurdle - then, on Tuesday night, a majority of voters agreed it was a good idea.

Measure 9-173 garnered a strong yes vote, with about 65% in favor.

John Heylin, who headed the citizen initiative to expand the commission, says he's excited about the future. His Unofficial Logging Co. hosted Tuesday night's Deschutes County Democrats watch party - and he said he was washing dishes when he heard the crowd cheer as the initial vote count arrived.

"I mean, it comes down to the fact that I'm just some random guy who is like, 'Hey, here's an easy fix that could potentially be positive for our community'," he said Tuesday night. "And just going for it, just being naïve, stubborn, having strong willpower, and not taking no for an answer."

Heylin noted the financial responsibility commissioners have as a main argument supporters had for the measure.

"The real hope is that we have better fiscal oversight," he said. "The county budget is about $728 million a year, and we have two people in charge of it. And it's just really financially irresponsible. "

The controversial measure has received pushback from current county commissioners Tony DeBone and Patti Adair, who fear it will bring more costs.

DeBone said, "Having two more commissioners means having salaries and benefits and office space and travel expenses, whatever, which is and say it was estimated about $250,000, all in per person."

Commissioner Phil Chang has been in support of the idea since it was first proposed.

"I think the message we should be taking from these votes is that people want their county commission to do a better job," he said.

Chang says county departments will see a cost increase to pay for the extra two seats, but points to the recent increase in the county commissioners' salary for a higher price tag.

The two spots will be filled in 2026, for two years, and then under the proposal, all five commission positions would be elected in presidential election years; voters previously decided to make them non-partisan positions.

All commissioners also have expressed support for the idea of setting up districts or zones for county commission seats, including DeBone.

"The next step is let's have a ballot measure that defines five districts or four districts and a full-time chair or part-time commissioners, you know, so there are different ways to do it," he said Wednesday.

But Commissioner Chang says timing before the 2026 election will make it difficult.

"We're in this terrible position where, if we want to do districts, we're going to have to try to thread some kind of timing needle to do that," he said.

Candidates for the two new seats will be able to file in a year, in November of 2025, leaving a very tight window for county commissioners to send a districting proposal to voters.