It’s time to turn up the heat

Written By John Heylin

I took on the challenge of expanding the Deschutes County Commission because it was clear it was time for real change, not just talk. It is also the reason why I decided to run for Position #1 against Tony DeBone. 

Two-thirds of Deschutes County voters approved the expansion measure. If you look around at the grocery store, the coffee shop, or at work, two out of every three fellow voters around you voted YES. I sat down with Tony recently, and guess what: Tony thinks two-thirds of you were wrong. Even after the voters made it clear what they wanted, he still doesn’t want to listen.

When you spend a lot of time out in the community, as I have, you hear from folks about what is important to them, the problems they’re facing, and solutions you may never have thought of yourself. I’ve been doing community outreach for years all over the County, almost like it was my job. Why? Because I love it. Maybe it’s the bartender in me, but I love hearing from people from all walks of life, whether tragedy or triumph or anywhere in between.

After all, if you don’t listen, how can you possibly help?

You’ve probably gathered by now that I am not your standard-issue candidate. I’m not afraid to speak hard truths about the future we face as a community. I know what hardships are coming down the road, and I am not afraid to meet them. We don’t have the time anymore to get sidetracked by petty grievances: We have an opportunity to act, and Tony is only holding us back.

My priorities are policies that involve hard choices but they are necessary to help us negotiate the hard road ahead. I will work with the people in Deschutes County because appealing to only a select few will do us no favors.

My priorities are:

  • Transparency: Publish all documents and communications, after redacting sensitive information, at 30 days. With local media struggling, we can no longer rely on under-paid and over-worked reporters to keep us informed. Let’s get the data in the hands of the people.

  • Property Tax Reform: 14% of all homes in Deschutes County are second homes or vacation homes. It is time to push for reforming the system so that primary households and landlords who rent long-term get property tax deductions, while raising taxes on vacant vacation homes.

  • The Post-Insurance Future: We are well past the point where the solution to the insurance crisis is to sit down and plead with insurance companies that are leaving the area in droves. We need to face the fact that large areas of Central Oregon will become insurance dead zones in the next 5-15 years, and we should prepare for that future now.

  • Monthly Town Halls: With five commissioners, we have the unique ability to change the culture of County government. It’s high time we did away with the expectation that the people have to come to the Commission, and instead, have the Commission come to the people. Holding one town hall a month in each region of the County to really listen to constituents’ stories, complaints, or praises is how we can effectively address the concerns of all Deschutes County residents. 

  • Work With Municipalities: At one event,Tony boasted that he didn’t “have a working relationship” with local municipalities. The problems facing Deschutes, from water to fire to housing, will require an all-hands-on-deck approach that currently does not exist. It’s time to change that dynamic and start addressing the big emergencies together.

I’m working to build a Commission Coalition with and for people from every corner of Deschutes County to address these issues, as they affect each of us in one way or another. It’s time for people, not politicians, to shape the policies and plans that will guide the future of Deschutes County.

Please join me in doing this important work… for Deschutes, for you, and for our children’s future.

Here’s how you can help:

Many thanks,

John

John Heylin
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