Prineville Mayor leaves Republican Party, cites core values concerns and two-party system
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Prineville Mayor Jason Beebe has officially left the Republican Party to join the Libertarian Party, citing frustration with the traditional two-party system. The 52-year-old official announced the change in an interview with KTVZ News, after decades of voting as a Republican.
Beebe, a lifelong Prineville resident and military veteran who served in Baghdad, previously ran a primary campaign against U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz. He stated that while he remains a conservative, he believes the Republican Party has failed to stand up for core values despite holding a majority in various branches of government.
Beebe described the current state of national politics as "theatrics" between the two major parties. He officially registered as a Libertarian this week, marking a shift from his lifelong alignment with the Republican Party. "I'm just fed up with the two-party system," Beebe said. "It's a giant uniform and they use theatrics to get up there and yell back and forth at each other."
One of Beebe's primary grievances involves the handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. He expressed a desire for the full prosecution of individuals implicated in those documents, regardless of the potential impact on the government. "If we prosecute all those people who are implicated in the Epstein files, the system will collapse," Beebe said. "Oh, god damn it, let it collapse. If those evil, sick people are really doing what's in those files and what's coming out every day. I want it to collapse."
The mayor also raised concerns about financial transparency and ethics in Washington. He suggested that many federal officials might be tied to illicit activities or money laundering through non-governmental organizations. "A lot of members of Congress in the Senate are implicated in making this at the Epstein files. Or is it this money laundering through NGOs?" Beebe said. He compared the situation to allegations of fraud recently brought to light in Minnesota.
Beyond national politics, Beebe cited local issues like forest management and the timber industry. Coming from a logging family, he expressed frustration that 1.9 million acres burned in Oregon in 2024. He argued that the timber industry could help reduce emissions from forest fires by harvesting dead trees. He noted that he began working at Les Schwab at age 16 because there were no timber jobs available when he finished high school.
Beebe remains a supporter of Donald Trump and identifies as an "American first" politician. "I'm an American first candidate, politician, American first person," Beebe said. While he still backs the former president, he said he believes Trump is facing resistance from global interests. "I don't think he's gone away from it, but i think he's getting pushback from the elite people in the world," Beebe said.
In Prineville, Beebe has supported the development of data centers, including those operated by Meta. He emphasized that his Libertarian leanings favor business growth and the jobs they bring to the community. He noted that while he might disagree with the personal politics of executives like Mark Zuckerberg, he values the tax revenue and employment opportunities their companies provide. "The way he runs a business is outstanding," Beebe said. "And it's provided a lot of jobs."
The mayor also shared his personal involvement in the immigration system through his former Iraqi interpreter. Beebe has spent over a decade working with the Department of Homeland Security to secure a visa for the man, whom he nicknamed "Carlos." "I've been working with the Department of Homeland Security since 2010 to get him... to get him in the U.S.," Beebe said. He noted that while he supports legal enforcement, he advised the interpreter that it might be easier to cross the southern border than to navigate the legal process.
Beebe said he will continue to assist his former interpreter with visa hearings, noting that the man updates him every few months. The mayor also indicated that he would advocate for those who served in the military if he decides to run for a seat in Congress in the future.
Beebe said he will continue to assist his former interpreter with visa hearings, noting that the man updates him every few months. The mayor also indicated that he would advocate for those who served in the military if he decides to run for a seat in Congress in the future.
