Contributor: Chair Republican Party, Holli Morton
Truth matters! The reasons cited for the recall have been proven false. John West was not a commissioner when the sports park was sold, nor was he a commissioner when the Pipe Fork project was initiated. Additionally, he has been subjected to over a dozen ethics violation complaints, but none have been upheld—he was found not guilty of every single one.
West voted against allocating nearly half a million dollars in taxpayer money to 4-H because most kids had left the program in favor of another agricultural group that better met their needs. He has broken no laws. These are straightforward matters to verify, but many people don’t have the time to dig into the truth.
There are three commissioners, and any decision requires at least two votes. Yet, we are being asked to believe that West alone made every decision, whether good or bad. This is pure political manipulation. Josephine County has faced immense challenges since the timber industry was brought to a halt. Commissioner West and his team have had to make tough decisions to balance the budget and prevent the county from going broke. The livelihood of all county citizens depends on his success, and he is doing exactly what he campaigned to do.
Petitioner Lily Morgan and John West have had disagreements on various matters over the years. This recall is a political hit job orchestrated by Morgan, and many uninformed individuals went along with it. In the Republican Party office, many people have shared that they were lied to about West to get their signatures on the petition. They were told that signing merely allowed the issue to go to a vote, not that they agreed with or understood the issues.
When the signatures were turned in, only a fraction—less than 10%—were verified, and the results were extrapolated. Oregon law requires 100% of the signatures to be verified. This discrepancy has created significant concerns. Predictably, those seeking to shift the balance of power in Josephine County now claim that West is trying to avoid being recalled.
It is essential that ballots be counted so the citizens can decide. By now, most people understand that this recall was based on misinformation. Truth matters.
Josephine County has three commissioners, all highly successful businessmen who don’t need these jobs but are committed to keeping the county afloat. Vote NO on the recall.
If you have questions, visit the Republican Party office across from the courthouse or schedule a meeting with John West directly. He is perhaps the most accessible commissioner in the county’s history.