Here’s who’s running so far for Deschutes County Commisioner
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The May 2026 Deschutes County Commissioner race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with the board expanding from three to five seats following voter approval of Measure 9-173 last year. This election will feature six candidates vying for four available positions.
For Position 1, incumbent Tony DeBone faces challengers Jamie Collins, a climate scientist and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, and John Heylin, a local businessman who spearheaded the campaign to expand the commission and created the Central Oregon Tool Library.
Position 3 is contested by Amanda Page, a flight paramedic and Redmond School Board director, and Amy Sabbadini, an instructor at OSU-Cascades with a background in education.
Position 4 will see former Redmond pastor Rick Russell competing against Samuel Facey, who previously ran for La Pine City Council, and Kathryn Osborne, a current Redmond City Council member.
The most crowded race is for Position 5, featuring Charles Baer, known for his controversial "de-populationist" views, community activist Ron "Rondo" Boozell, local business owner Rob Imhoff, and Morgan Schmidt, executive director of the Red Cross for Central and Eastern Oregon and a past county commissioner candidate.
These races come at a pivotal moment for Deschutes County governance as officials prepare for the possible shift to district-based elections by 2028, aiming to improve representation across the region.
