County considers Commissioner’s district boundary changes
For Immediate Release
January 6, 2022
Contact: Brian Beebe, County Clerk
brian.beebe@hoodrivercounty.gov , (541) 386-1442
Hood River County Board of Commissioners has been studying potential changes to commissioner’s district boundaries and will conduct a first reading of the preferred amended ordinance at the Board of Commissioners’ January 18th meeting. A public hearing and second reading will follow at the board’s February special meeting.
The intent of modifying district boundaries is to distribute the one person one vote concept more evenly amongst the County’s four commissioner districts. The action follows receipt of the 2020 decennial census and Oregon Elections Division Directives for fixing electoral district boundaries, issued by the Oregon Secretary of State. The Secretary of State’s authority to issue directives are set forth in ORS 246.410.
Commissioners have reviewed four revised electoral district boundary options in public meetings in recent months. Hood River County Clerk Brian Beebe prepared and reviewed redistricting options with the Board of Commissioners at its November 6 and December 2 meetings. At its December 20 meeting, the Board of Commissioners took no action, but provided direction to staff to draft an amended ordinance using Option 4 as a guide. Consensus was that option best addressed the one person one vote goal.
A second reading of the proposed amended ordinance and public hearing may be scheduled for February 1 at the earliest. Public input can be made at the public hearing or submitted in writing by email to administration@hoodrivercounty.gov or by mail to Hood River County Board of Commissioners, 601 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031.
Meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Registration and participation information for the public hearing is available by visiting the Hood River County Board of Commissioners webpage at www.hoodrivercounty.gov. Questions relating to the hearing can be addressed by contacting the Administration office at 541-386-3970 or e-mailing heidi.dehart@hoodrivercounty.gov.
Action on the electoral district boundary revisions will be subject to repealing and amending the Hood River County Code related to designation of commissioner districts. Hood River County’s Commissioner district boundaries were last adopted by the Board of Commissioners on May 2, 2005, by Ordinance No. 264. For more information, visit hoodrivercounty.gov.