Decision 2024: Controversial Deschutes County Commission expansion measure has voters and commissioners split

(Update: Adding video, comments from petition organizer, voters)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Many Oregonians have already received their ballots in the mail, and some have already cast their votes. But for those still needing explanations on the statewide election measures, this week will be for you, as NewsChannel 21 is breaking down this year's ballot measures as we approach November 5th.

Measure 9-173, the citizen initiative that would expand the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners from three to five commissioners, has been in the making for nearly a year. The petition's creator, John Heylin, gathered about 8,000 signatures from county residents to place the initiative on the ballot.

Voters in Bend are also divided.

"I don't think there's a need to have five, it would add more expense. So three's fine," one voter told NewsChannel 21.

Another voter disagreed: "I've been a Deschutes County, Central Oregon-Bend resident since 1975, and I've watched the growth and expansion of our county and our community, and I believe we would all be better served if we had five commissioners."

The proposal was first presented to county commissioners in September of 2023 and turned into a citizen initiative, almost a year in the making. Heylin says the need for the expansion is evident.

"If you only have three people, all it takes is one person to change their mind to just torpedo an idea," he said. "And so hopefully, by having five people, it'll just mean that it'll be easier to make decisions, because they'll have to build more consensus."

The controversial measure has left the already divided county commission more divided. Commissioner Phil Chang, who won reelection in the May primary, has been in support of the initiative since it was first presented to commissioners, highlighting budgeting issues caused by the small commission.

"We would have saved a lot more money. We would have incurred much less debt. Now that we are saddling future taxpayers with paying the service for decades to come," Chang said in July.

But fellow commissioners Tony DeBone and Patti Adair have voiced opposition to the expansion, saying it's a costly and unnecessary move, for the current size of the county.

DeBone told NewsChannel 21 in September of 2023, "I mean, I don't understand that concept. Some people just want, you know, 'let's have more.' Well, that's more government. It's probably going to cost a little bit more, a little bit more overhead, a little bit more political."

Adair said in August there will need to be a rework of the commission: "What I think is important, if it does pass, is that the commissioners need to be appropriated per region, as they do in Lane County. That would only be fair. Otherwise, we could come up with five commissioners from Bend. "

If passed, the two spots would be filled in 2026, for two years, and then under the proposal, all five commission positions would be elected in presidential election years.

John Heylin said, "My argument has always been that having more people in the room will have better financial oversight and hopefully better leadership, so we're not paying millions in lawsuits every year. "