NewsChannel 21 talks with 2 Democratic candidates for Deschutes Co. commissioner

Three are competing to advance to November election

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon's primary election is in two weeks, and among the local races being decided is who will advance among three Democrats running for Deschutes County Commissioner Position 2, currently held by Phil Henderson.

Primary election day is May 19., and ballots must be received by 8 p.m. to be counted. There are three Democratic candidates running for the Deschutes County Commissioner four year term: Ron (Rondo) Boozell, Phillip Chang, and Gregory Bryant.

NewsChannel 21 spoke Monday with two of the candidates about why they're running, and they shared some of their stances on marijuana, infrastructure, traffic and housing in Deschutes County.

Candidate Ron (Rondo) Boozell said, "We have a wonderful business opportunity in front of us, and it has to do with marijuana prosperity. It has to do with creating a unique and very detailed business plan that will lower our taxes and subsidize things, like child care and more mental health funding in this county. We have a lot of concerns, and there's no reason why we should be paying so much and getting so little."

Candidate Phillip Chang said, "Growth has brought some amazing things to our community, but it has also brought some big challenges. Housing has become less affordable, traffic congestion has gotten worse. Our infrastructure has fallen really far behind in a lot of places like streets, water, sewer. We've also lost a lot of open space and habitat in the process of growing outward. Growth is the reason I got into this race and spent months developing a platform of solutions to growth management."

NewsChannel 21 reached out to the third candidate, Greg Bryant, but was unable to get in contact with him. Some of the issues he is focusing on include transportation, affordable housing and wildfire preparedness.

The winning Democrat will go up against Republican incumbent Henderson in November.