Contributor: Joseph Rice
The West recall group continues to perpetuate a false, misleading narrative, leaving out critical information. They credit West with making “decisions” that require a vote of all three commissioners. For example, they claim he cost Josephine County $6 million on Pipe Fork. However, how is that possible when the County still owns Pipe Fork?
I was deeply involved in the 4-H issue. It was West who requested accountability on how OSU was spending taxpayer money. OSU had been using JoCo taxpayer dollars to fund 13.5 4-H positions, but only 1.5 of those positions actually worked in Josephine County. The rest were based up north and did not directly benefit JoCo 4-H. Additionally, JoCo 4-H spent over $100,000 on travel but refused to provide a breakdown of what the travel was for, who went, and where they went.
As a taxpayer, I want accountability. West and the other commissioners questioned the necessity of a 4-H tax when the program had over $900,000 in reserves. OSU claimed the tax was needed to avoid funding shortfalls for the positions outside JoCo. My wife has been a 4-H leader for the Happy Hoppers since my daughter joined, and every year, that group had to hold fundraisers before the fair to support their activities—meanwhile, JoCo OSU-administered 4-H sat on a $900,000 war chest. West dug into this issue, and I fully support the commissioners’ actions after uncovering OSU’s mismanagement and corruption in the program.
Another issue brought up by “Joe’s Place” was the cross on the 4-H T-shirts. The 4-H logo is a Congressional Registered Trademark and Copyright, meaning any alteration requires Congressional approval. Imposing a cross on the logo was a violation of federal copyright law. The group that made this into an “anti-Christian” issue failed to do their research and ended up promoting an illegal act to children. Laws exist for a reason, and compliance ensures a civil society.
Regarding county department managers, some are making $200,000 or more per year, as published in the annual JoCo Financial Report. West has disrupted the entrenched bureaucratic “status quo” in the courthouse by enforcing adherence to written policies that are designed to benefit taxpayers. That’s exactly why I voted for West—accountability.
The courthouse bureaucracy has fought back with multiple ethics complaints against all commissioners, with West bearing the brunt. Every single complaint has been dismissed with no findings of wrongdoing. JoCo employees have also weaponized the Oregon State Ethics Complaint system to target West and the other commissioners. This behavior is unacceptable, especially when done on taxpayer time.
West is the first commissioner in years to hold department managers accountable and demand adherence to policy. One commissioner confirmed to me that West doesn’t act impulsively—he reviews department policies and financials thoroughly before asking questions. This level of scrutiny has likely made some managers and employees uncomfortable, as they were previously unaccustomed to such oversight. However, it’s necessary to ensure efficiency and professionalism in serving JoCo taxpayers.
Not all JoCo employees fall into this category—many are dedicated and excellent at their jobs. But by researching where BOLI complaints are coming from, you’ll find where the problems lie. The recall committee has been disingenuous and dishonest in their communications to JoCo residents.
Know the facts. The recall effort is based on misinformation and doesn’t represent the truth about West’s actions or intentions. Vote NO on the recall and stand for transparency and accountability.