Deschutes County commission race gets late, fourth candidate, just minutes before Tuesday’s primary filing deadline

(Update: Late commission race entry)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – There’s not always late surprises when the 5 p.m. deadline approaches on the deadline day for candidates to file to run in an upcoming election. But there was a late entry into the Deschutes County commissioner race late Tuesday afternoon.

Bend resident Brian Huntamer became the third challenger to incumbent Commissioner Phil Chang in papers filed at 4:30 p.m. (There actually was a fourth challenger, a La Pine resident who withdrew from running Feb. 27.)

Huntamer said in the form for the newly nonpartisan race that he is not currently employed, but an Army veteran who has worked in real estate, construction and as a drug and alcohol counselor.

Candidates had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file to file for the ballot, and many did so weeks or months ago. Ballot measures, meanwhile, reached their first deadline, to file the ballot title text for a challenge period, on March 1.

Three candidates earlier were in the running for Deschutes County commissioner: former House District 54 candidate Judy Trego and business owner Rob Imhoff, along with current Commissioner Phil Chang.

The May 21st primary will narrow the field to two for the fall campaign.

Chang said Tuesday, "I've done a lot in my first term. particularly in the areas of housing, conservation, health services, child care and more. And basically, I want to continue to work on all of those things."

 The two candidates for Deschutes County sheriff are Captain William Bailey, who was endorsed by previous sheriff Shane Nelson, and the current detective sergeant of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, Kent Vander Kamp.

Vander Kamp told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday, "My sheriff's office is going to be an innovative, trusted and collaborative agency."

With only two candidates running to succeed Sheriff Shane Nelson, it won't be on the ballot until the November general election.

Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison says soon ballots will be ready. Most hit the mail on May 1st.

"Once we get all that information, we can take everything together, put it together, and start creating our ballots," he said. "And from there, you know, of course, creating our ballots, proofing the ballots, testing our systems, and make sure that everything's tabulating the way we expect it to."

Three measures have also been filed in Deschutes County. Two are capital and operating levies for the La Pine Rural Fire District, and the third a five-year tax renewal for Newberry Estates, a manufactured home park in La Pine.

Statewide, more than 300 candidates have filed, with positions for all six U.S. representatives, 60 members of the Oregon House, and 15 seats in the state Senate all up for grabs.

If you want to track who's running, what's on the ballot, and any late surprises, here are the pages to visit:

Oregon Secretary of State's Office candidate filing search: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/CFSearchPage.do

Deschutes County Primary Election page:
https://www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/may-21-2024-primary-election

Crook County Primary Election page:
https://co.crook.or.us/county-clerk/page/may-21-2024-primary-election

Jefferson County Primary Election page:
https://www.jeffco.net/cc/page/currentupcoming-elections