C. Oregon update: Nelson, Henderson, Buehler win seats

Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson defeated challenger Eric Kozowski, 54 to 44 percent, in updated ballot returns released Wednesday, while county Commissioner Alan Unger lost his bid for a third term to challenger Phil Henderson.

More than 78 percent of Deschutes County voters returned ballots, according to Wednesday’s tally.

Nelson, appointed last year to succeed retiring sheriff Larry Blanton, faced a tough battle with Kozowski, a sheriff’s deputy who noted serious issues in the agency – ones Nelson said he was working to address.

In one of the state’s spendiest legislative races, Bend Republican Knute Buehler prevailed in keeping the House District 54 seat for a second term, topping Democrat challenger Gena Goodman-Campbell, 52 percent to 47 percent.

In another hard-fought, high-profile race, Unger lost his re-election bid to Henderson, 53 percent to 46 percent.

In the three contested Bend City Council races, Councilor Doug Knight was handily defeated by challenger Bill Moseley, 65 to 34 percent. Justin Livingston, like Moseley backed by the Bend Chamber’s PAC, easily defeated Ron Boozell, 76 to 22 percent, while Councilor Sally Russell defeated challenger Wade Fagen, 56 to 43 percent.

Bend voters easily approved a 3 percent tax on recreational marijuana, 76 to 23 percent. La Pine voters approved a recreational marijuana tax, 71 to 29 percent, and rejected a ban on recreational marijuana producers, 60 to 40 percent.

Redmond Mayor George Endicott was easily defeating his challenger, City Councilor Anne Graham, 71 to 28 percent,

In Oregon House District 53, incumbent Republican Gene Whisnant easily defeated Democrat challenger Michael Graham, 67 to 32 percent. District 55 incumbent Republican (and Independent nominee) Mike McLane trounced Democrat Brie Malarkey, 75 to 24 percent, while in the 59th district, incumbent Republican John Huffman defeated Democrat Tyler Gabriel, 70 to 29 percent.

In the Oregon Senate, Bend Republican Tim Knopp, also an Independent Party nominee, defeated Democrat (and Working Families) challenger Greg Delgado, 60 to 39 percent.

Crook County voters approved a $10 million bond measure for a new jail, 59 to 40 percent. The race for judge was close, as Seth Crawford defeated Ken Fahlgren by about 300 votes, 51 to 48 percent.. Jerry Brummer defeated Jason Carr in the race for Crook County commissioner, 55 to 44 percent, while Prineville Mayor Betty Roppe defeated challenger Don Bartlett 54 to 44 percent..

In Jefferson County, Madras approved a retail marijuana sales tax, 76 to 23 percent, and rejected a ban on recreational marijuana producers, 55 to 44 percent.

The final unofficial results also were fairly close and a mixed bag on a menu of measures proposing various bans on marijuana businesses in the unincorporated county;

A measure to ban medical marijuana processing sites was defeated, 52 to 47 percent, and one to ban medical marijuana dispensaries was defeated 51 to 48 percent. But a measure to ban medical marijuana producers was passing, 51 to 48 percent, and to ban recreational marijuana retailers was passing, 53 to 46 percent . That was the same approval margin for a measure to ban recreational marijuana wholesalers in the unincorporated county, while one to ban recreational marijuana processors was approved 52 to 47 percent.