Barbara Cannady

for Burns Times-Herald

Primary ballots will be mailed to registered voters on May 1, 2024. Local residents’ mail in returns must be postmarked no later than May 21, 2024. Those registered with non-Oregon addresses must be postmarked no later than May 22, 2024.  The County Clerk is then given seven days to document and report the results.

Competition in this years primary election is limited to Harney County Commissioner position No. 1. Candidates filing include: 

County Commissioner Position No. 1

• Current Commissioner Kristen Shelman did not file for re-election.

• Rob Frank currently serves as Chairman on the Harney County School District No. 3 School Board. He has also served on the Harney ESD Budget Board, Harney District Hospital Board, Harney County Planning Commission and Natural Resources Advisory Committee.

Originally from Lakeview, Rob studied Ag and Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada, Reno, before going on to get a Master of Science degree in Agriculture Education from OSU.

Rob has worked as a cowboy, Ag. teacher and carpenter. He is currently self-employed as a saddle maker. Rob and his wife, Kellie, have three children.

• Don Slone has spent his entire life in Harney County.  Currently retired, Don spent thirty years as a Soil Conservation Technician with the Natural Resource Conservation Service/USDA. He also spent thirty-one years as a Fair Manager, many of the early years uncompensated. 

Active in sports as player, coach, referee and umpire, Don was elected to the Park and Recreation Board in the 1990’s. Besides serving on multiple boards, he has volunteered as a member of the Burns-Hines “PRIDE” member, Fridays Club, and Elks Club. Because of such community service, Don has received many awards, including Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year, SCS “Oregon Employee of the Year” and the Portland Trail Blazer “Community Service Award.”

Don and his wife, Laurie, reside in Burns.

Assessor

• Karen Zabala did not file for re-election.  

• Corey Hill, our current Deputy Assessor/Tax Collector, will appear on the ballot as the sole candidate. She has been with the Assessor/Tax Office for seven years.

Corey has over twenty years of management experience.  Previous employment included Manager of Tumalum Lumber in Redmond as well as Assistant Sales Manager and Inventory Specialist for Building Solutions in Bend.

Corey and husband, Jody, enjoy the outdoors and family in Harney County.                .

Justice of the Peace

• Vicky Clemens did not file for re-election.

• Riley Richardson, currently Court Administrator/Clerk, will appear on the ballot as the sole candidate. She has been with the Justice Court for over a year.  Riley’s previous experience also included four years working for Child Protective Services with the Oregon Department of Human Services. Riley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family Science from OSU.

Riley and husband, Ty, graduated from Burns High School before moving for college and work. They returned to Harney County to raise their two girls.

Ballot Measure 

The Harney County Court has held regular meetings to allow the public to “discuss” moving our Oregon-Idaho Border. These meetings were mandated by a public vote on Ordinance 2021-05. The Court was recently informed by the originators of movement that the current stage of the process no longer needed the mandate of these meetings. Thus, a Measure will appear on the ballot to address this mandate requirement.

• Amending Ordinance 2021-05 requiring meetings to discuss moving Oregon-Idaho border.

Precinct 

Committee-person Candidates

Harney County has three Voting Precincts.  Precincts which include Burns, Hines and Rural Harney.

• Candidates for the Democratic Party include: Lynn M. McClintock, Isabelle Fleuraud, Joan Suther and Laurie K. O’Connor.

• Candidates for the Republican Party include: Gretchen Bates, Carrie Danchok, Rhonda R. Herrera, Melodi R. Molt, Mindy S. Sheley, Cheryl D. Smith and Louis S. Smith.

Moving forward

County Sheriff, County Clerk, State and Federal races will automatically move forward to the General Election, and will not appear on the Primary Election Ballot.

County Clerk

• Incumbent Darrin Robinson will be running unopposed.

Sheriff 

• Incumbent Daniel Jenkins will face Mark Creighton. 

Chamber’s Candidate Night

• A Chamber of Commerce Candidates Night is tentatively scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2024, from 6-7:30 p.m., at the Chamber’s Community Room.