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Vacancy

Position 2 – Status & Overview

Last Updated: 6.15.26

Read LANDERS: Restoring Representation While Preserving Election Neutrality.

For over six months, Lincoln County has operated with a vacant seat on the Board of Commissioners following the passing of Commissioner Claire Hall in January 2026.

While two commissioners can legally conduct county business, the public deserves full representation and a fully functioning three-member Board. The purpose of filling a vacancy is not simply to occupy an empty seat. The purpose is to restore representation, strengthen governance, and ensure the county has the capacity necessary to address the issues facing our communities.

At the June 17 Board of Commissioners meeting, I will once again advocate for the appointment of Commissioner-elect Curtis Landers to fill the Position 2 vacancy through the end of the year.

How We Got Here

Since January, I have consistently advocated for a transparent and publicly understood appointment process. Review Miller’s attempts to create a framework early on.

On January 7, I submitted a memorandum requesting a public work session and staff report to review the commissioner appointment process before candidate selection began. I requested discussion of eligibility criteria, interview procedures, public participation opportunities, evaluation methods, timeline development, and workflow responsibilities.

Later in January, I submitted a proposed framework that included:

  • Public review of the appointment process
  • Development of interview questions in public meetings
  • Community feedback opportunities
  • Public deliberation regarding finalists
  • Public interviews
  • Formal appointment deliberations
  • Commissioner onboarding discussions

My goal was simple: establish the process publicly before selecting a candidate.

Unfortunately, many of these process discussions never occurred in the manner I had hoped. The vacancy remained unresolved through the spring.

As the process continued, I publicly stated that if the vacancy remained unresolved after the May Primary Election, I would consider the election results as part of my appointment decision.

That is where we find ourselves today.

Changed Circumstances

The circumstances today are different than they were in February, March, or April.

We now know who the Commissioner-elect is.

Curtis Landers won Position 3 outright and will take office in January 2027. Position 3 will not appear on the November ballot.

At the same time, Position 2 remains an active election between Cristen Don and Joe Steere.

These facts matter.

I do not believe the Board should provide either November candidate with the advantages that can accompany incumbency before voters make their final decision. Appointing either candidate would place the Board in the position of influencing an ongoing election.

Commissioner-elect Landers allows us to restore full representation while avoiding that concern.

Why Landers

Landers is uniquely positioned to contribute immediately.

During 37 years of service to Lincoln County, he served as Patrol Deputy, Administrative Lieutenant, Emergency Management leader, and ultimately Lincoln County Sheriff.

Few individuals possess such extensive experience as both a county employee and elected official. He understands county government from multiple perspectives and has firsthand experience managing personnel, budgets, emergency preparedness, public safety operations, and intergovernmental relationships.

Because of his experience, Landers requires very little onboarding and can begin contributing immediately. Rather than spending months learning county operations, he is prepared to address county issues from day one.

Those issues are substantial.

Lincoln County continues to face important work involving housing, budgeting, workforce development, organizational management, economic development, public safety, natural resources, health care, and long-term strategic planning. These are not future challenges. They are current responsibilities that deserve the attention of a full Board.

What I Am Hearing From The Community

Following recent media coverage, many residents have expressed a concern that resonates with me:

The public deserves a full three-member Board, but the Board should avoid giving either November candidate the advantage of incumbency.

Whether residents support or oppose my recommendation, many recognize that the vacancy should be resolved in a manner that restores representation while preserving public confidence in the ongoing election.

I believe appointing Commissioner-elect Landers accomplishes both objectives.


READ (6.4.25) – Lincoln Chronicle – Two Lincoln County commissioners again stalemate over how or who to appoint to fill vacancy

Looking Forward

This appointment is about more than one individual. It is about restoring full representation. It is about ensuring county government has the capacity to address important community priorities. It is about maintaining neutrality in an active election.

And it is about moving Lincoln County forward after nearly six months of operating with a vacant seat.

I also continue to believe Lincoln County should work toward restoring full-service meetings, meaningful public participation, in-person meeting opportunities, and broad public access to local government. Public trust is strengthened when government remains accessible, transparent, and responsive to the people it serves.

After reviewing the election results, the remaining term, the need for full representation, and the importance of election neutrality, I believe appointing Commissioner-elect Curtis Landers is the most practical, fair, and effective path forward for Lincoln County.

The county has work to do. Six months is long enough. It is time to restore full representation..

* Details regarding county commissioner meetings, agendas, videos and minutes can be found online. At the County’s – Agenda and Minutes Portal:
https://lincolncoor.portal.civicclerk.com/

* Miller is trying to resolve the current uncertainty about how to provide agenda topic only – virtual public comment. In absence of clear online details – Miller encourages the community to provide written public comments in absence of these links on the county’s website.
https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/559/Attending-a-Meeting

6.3.26 Update:

Today I reaffirmed the position I first expressed when the Board last discussed the Position 2 vacancy at the BOC meeting on April 30, 2026.

At that meeting, I stated that the appointment process initiated following Commissioner Claire Hall’s passing had ultimately intersected with the 2026 election cycle. I emphasized that if voters provided clear direction through the ballot box, I would strongly consider that outcome when making an appointment decision.

Curtis Landers received a majority of the vote and is now the Commissioner-elect for Position 3. I believe appointing Landers to fill the remainder of the vacant Position 2 term is the most logical and efficient path forward. Landers brings extensive county government experience, and provides the strongest path for continuity, stability, and effective governance.

5.8.26 Update:

Currently, the Board has paused consideration for the position 2 vacancy until after the May primary election. Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest in this important decision. Thank you to the applicants for your willingness and courage! Your patience is appreciated.

5.5.26 Update:

Following the passing of Commissioner Claire Hall in January 2026, the Board began an appointment process to select an interim commissioner to serve in position 2 through the end of the year. On April 20, four candidates were scheduled to be interviewed. However, two withdrew the Friday prior, leaving only Marci Baker and Cristen Don. The Board proceeded with those two interviews. You can watch the meeting.

At this point, I believe we wait for the results of the May primary to provide the BOC community direction for Position 2 and consider how results across all commission races (Positions 1, 2, and 3) may inform the appointment decision. From my perspective, allowing voters to weigh in will provide the Board with clear public direction. At the end of the day, this decision belongs to the community. Please be sure to vote! Details at https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/208/Elections

Position 1:
Cheri Brubaker, Casey Miller, Nicholle Moody, Carter McEntee, Cathie Rigby
Position 2:
Marci Baker, Cristen Don, Joe D. Steere, Eddie Townsend
Position 3:
Walter Chuck, Curtis Landers

Reflecting on Transparency – The 2025 Appointment

Historically, it is rare for the Commission to appoint a cohort. Like many decisions made by the Board of Commissioners, this appointment is ultimately a community decision carried out on the public’s behalf. Waiting until after the May primary respects that principle and allows voters to help shape the direction of the process.

In 2025, I asked that the Board publicly review and design the appointment process. I also requested collaboration on the application materials, interview questions, selection criteria, and overall structure. Those requests were resisted, delayed, or ignored. At the time, I was reluctant to discuss these experiences publicly. I largely processed them in silence. In hindsight, I recognize that by accepting uncertainty and opacity in a process that should have neither, I became complicit in allowing it to continue.

I submitted my candidate rankings — from 1 to 26 — to staff. Commissioner Hall submitted her final selections as well. We trusted staff to compare those rankings and identify finalists for interviews. Yet I never saw Hall’s rankings or how the comparisons were conducted. On the day Commissioner Chuck was appointed, I publicly stated that I wanted to personally thank the applicants for their willingness to serve. I emailed county staff requesting contact information for those applicants. Like many other emails I have sent the last 17 months, I never received a response.

Sadly, experiences like this have occurred far too often. I could not allow the same pattern to repeat itself in 2026. I decided I needed to have the courage to insist on transparency — for myself, for the applicants, and most importantly, for the public.

As a result, I committed to creating a more transparent and accountable appointment process in 2026. I reflected on the shortcomings of the previous year, conducted additional research, and ultimately decided to trust my own judgment and responsibility as an elected official. Part of that responsibility is recognizing and speaking openly about systemic behaviors that marginalize the community’s right to know and meaningfully participate in local government.

2.23.26 Update:

Appointing an interim county commissioner should be a transparent, well-documented, and publicly understandable process. Community trust depends on openness at every stage. I have reached out to the Governor’s Office and as of 2.23.26 we have not received any indication that they will intervene. It is my perspective that the commission simply needs to collaborate and move forward to identify candidates for interview. We can do it!

Why I Am Sharing This Information Directly?

During the January 14, 2026 work session, I was not able to present my proposed framework for the vacancy process. The January 21, 2026 regularly scheduled Board meeting was later cancelled. Special meetings were requested by me for January 28 and February 11 were not scheduled. Materials I have submitted have not appeared in the public meeting agenda packet: Vacancy MEMO -1.7.26, Vacancy MEMO #1 and Vacancy MEMO #2 and current Special Meeting Request (2.11.26) have not been included in the public facing record or meeting packet(s).

Because this information has not been made available through the usual channels, I am providing it here on this website to ensure the community has access to the same information I am requesting commissioners and staff.

Please see the Clackamas County Commissioner Appointment Process for reference. I am modeling our process similarly.
https://www.clackamas.us/bcc/appointment (via archive.org).

A Commitment to Transparency

Choosing an interim county commissioner should not be a selective or behind-the-scenes process.

Oregon’s Public Meetings Law requires that deliberation toward a decision occur in a noticed public meeting. Having commissioners privately rank candidates and submit those rankings to staff—who then compare or aggregate preferences—would constitute deliberation toward a decision outside public view. See the OGEC Handout. This is known as a “serial meeting” and is violation of public records and meeting law.

Guidance from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) makes clear that using staff as intermediaries to collect or relay commissioner preferences can amount to an unlawful serial meeting. The public has a legal right to observe not only the final vote, but also how deliberation occurs.

My practice has been to copy our media when I submit agenda requests to: Elected Officials, County Counsel & Staff. Here is my current notice and direction (2.11.26) to Commissioner Chuck, staff, community and media. PDF Version. & Posted on this website. Over the past year—and again during this vacancy process—multiple agenda requests submitted by me – have not appeared on the public agenda.

See my previous “historical” agenda requests not allowed in public meetings here.

Community Input Matters

Most importantly, I encourage you to review the commissioner applications and share your feedback. Email – clmiller@co.lincoln.or.us – about who you believe would best serve as county commissioner. Your input matters. Please email me directly and realize that your input will be shared publicly. Take your time. Be deliberate and intentional: what do you desire of an interim county commissioner?

A commissioner’s role is to serve the community—not personal interests. That principle is foundational to public service.

The individuals who stepped forward to apply have shown courage and willingness to serve, and that alone is worthy of respect! I am looking for someone prepared to roll up their sleeves and engage fully in the challenging work facing county government. A county commissioner is a full time paid position. Here is the job description (link) Here is the job description – PDF.

2026 Vacancy Applicants

Click a name below to view that candidate’s vacancy application.

My Requested Public Meeting Timeline

  • February 4, 2026 – Commissioner Vacancy Framework
    (Agenda: Discussion)
  • February 11, 2026 – Develop Interview Questions & Community Engagement
    (BOC Special Meeting)
  • February 18, 2026 – Board Deliberation to Select Four (or Six) Finalists
    (Agenda: Discussion)
  • February 25, 2026 – In-Person Candidate Interviews
    (BOC Special Meeting)
  • March 4, 2026 – Review Community Feedback & Candidate Meet-and-Greet with MTEAM
    (Agenda: Discussion)
  • March 18, 2026 – Board Deliberation & Appointment
    (Agenda: Action)
  • TBD – New Commissioner Onboarding
    (BOC Special Meeting)

Identified Areas for Process Improvement

As this process continues, several areas merit review and improvement:

  • Inclusion of applicant resumes consistently across candidates
  • Disclosure and management of potential conflicts with department leadership
  • Clear liability or participation disclosures
  • Improved clarity and consistency on the first page of applications
  • Avoiding deletion of county web pages, which creates broken links and removes public records
  • Clarification regarding redaction of applicant information

Your voice matters.
Please review the applications and share your thoughts. Email – clmiller@co.lincoln.or.us – about who you believe would best represent Lincoln County during this interim period.