John Heylin
Remarks to the Deschutes Democrats
September 11, 2025

I appreciate this opportunity to talk with you all tonight. Many of you know me from our years of attending these meetings together. Like you, I understand the importance of showing up. We show up because we care about making our community a better place. We show up even when it’s slow, tedious, and sometimes downright painful. We show up for each other, for our families, for our County because we understand that’s how positive change is made, and that not showing up is how things fall apart.

I’m running for Deschutes County Commission Position 1 because I have been, and continue to be, committed to showing up for ALL of you. 

I grew up in rural poverty, in an illegally constructed house, on unincorporated county land. We lived in fear that, on any given day, the County could come and tear down our home. From that, I cultivated resilience in the face of uncertainty, and I also gained a valuable perspective. I know what it’s like to struggle. I see it in the faces of my employees, my coworkers, and hundreds of others I’ve met in Deschutes County. My experiences growing up taught me that life can be brutally hard, and also that one good turn can create a positive rippling effect for so many people.

In high school, I was recruited by the University of Washington to join its rowing program, where I won a national championship and graduated with a degree in history. From there, I joined the Peace Corps and served for two years as an Agricultural Extension Agent in a small village in Niger, West Africa. Upon returning, I earned an MBA in Sustainability. That in turn led me to start several successful businesses. You want to talk about resilience? Try opening a restaurant centered on indoor social activity two months before a global pandemic.

At the heart of it all has always been public service, from serving in the Peace Corps to owning a business that focused on serving up fun and recreation, to serving on city committees that champion disability rights and economic development. I serve on the boards of several nonprofits that advocate for issues ranging from systemic racism to housing affordability.

I also serve through civic action. I led the successful effort to expand the Deschutes County Commission that kicked off this whole thing, and started non-partisan civics nights to educate people on how to be more effective citizens. Recently, I helped launch the Central Oregon Tool Library so people in Central Oregon can access the tools they need to improve their lives. I have attended city council meetings in every municipality in Deschutes, not because I have to, but because I WANT to.

Here’s the thing: Being a County Commissioner is public service, not a career.

Tony has been in office for nearly 15 years, making choices for Deschutes County that will echo for generations.  His unpopular votes regarding land and water will leave our children to bear the brunt. And all the while, he boasts that he’s the “culture of Deschutes County.” Last I checked, the People are the culture of Deschutes County.

A big part of public service is listening. As commissioner, I will advocate for holding monthly town halls in every city in Deschutes County. County Commissioners are representatives of the People, which means listening even when folks are angry. If service industry workers can take the heat, Commissioners can, too.

I have been on the frontlines of housing advocacy for years, pushing for core area development, smart growth, and cooperation among overlapping jurisdictions. Deschutes County needs to work together with cities, not against them, to ensure we all have a home here. It is time to treat the housing crisis like the emergency it is.

We need to protect our water for future generations—not sign it over to resorts. We’re seeing the consequences of inaction firsthand in South County, where residents are facing declining water tables and rising nitrate pollution. These are life-and-death situations.

We need to be prepared for fire seasons that will verge on the apocalyptic. We must work to prioritize the safety of the people of Deschutes County, including the firefighters we send into harm's way. A close friend of mine lost his brother to wildland firefighting. He himself is dying as a result of the smoke he inhaled for years as a wildland firefighter. It’s a price far too many pay for saving the lives and property of others. We need solutions that protect citizens AND the people we send out into harm's way.

It is time for new energy, a well-directed sense of urgency, and leadership that not only recognizes the challenges ahead but is willing to take them on. 

I’m running for Deschutes County Commission Seat #1 because we deserve someone who shows up, who listens, who solves problems, and who fights for all of Deschutes County.

I am that someone, and I’d be truly honored to have your support. Thank you.