Appointed Crook County commissioner files to run

Incumbent Crook County Commissioner Brian Barney has filed for election to fill the seat he currently holds, after being appointed in February, to fill the two year term of the seat vacated by Seth Crawford after his election to County Judge.

“Working with Judge Crawford and Commissioner Brummer has been a great experience, we work well together, and I want keep doing good work for the people of Crook County.”

Crawford says that Barney made an immediate impact, on the County Court, by taking a leadership role related to the new corrections facility, “Brian has done a lot of project development in the private sector, and he hit the ground running when it came to our corrections facility. He’s a business man who knows what to look for and how to get things done,” Crawford added “Jerry and I have both really appreciated his willingness to serve.”

Barney is a Prineville farmer, rancher and businessman who was born and raised in Prineville on the Upper Crooked River. He is a fourth generation member of the Stearns family, and attended public schools in Prineville. He believes that there is no better place in Oregon to raise a family than Crook County. “Being part of this community has meant a lot to Laura and me, and I’m grateful to have a chance to give back, by serving as a county commissioner. I want to work with others to make sure we have responsible growth, and jobs that can support a family.”

After high school, Barney attended Central Oregon Community College and began working for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department. He earned a “BPST” certification from the Oregon Police Academy in Monmouth. He worked as a Deputy Sheriff in Deschutes County for several years and also served as a reserve Deputy in Crook County.

For 35 years, Barney has been a farmer, rancher and owned excavation and construction businesses. He has also served the community as a past volunteer firefighter and EMT on the Prineville Fire Department for approximately 11 years. For the past 21 years, he has served on the Pioneer Memorial Hospital Board as a board member, Vice Chairman and Chairman. Since 2014 he has also served on the Strategic Planning Committee for St. Charles Health Systems. In addition to those community commitments, Barney has served on the Ochoco Irrigation District Board for the past 16 years, working collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies, conservation groups and others on a Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Project, and on the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security and Jobs Act of 2014. Barney has also served on the USDA Farm Service Agency committee and the Farmers’ Home Administration board administering federal USDA programs; Crook County 4H/FFA Livestock Sale Committee, Crook-Wheeler County Farm Bureau; and the Central Oregon Agriculture Research Center Advisory Council.

Brian and his wife, Laura have two children, and four grandchildren.