Scott Myers

Editor’s note: County Judge Scott Myers is running for re-election against County Commissioner Jim Hamsher. If either candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the May primary, as is likely, that person will win the election outright, and the position will not appear on the ballot in November.

Scott Myers, 63, Canyon City, is running for a second term as Grant County judge. Prior to that, he served three 4-year terms as a county commissioner.

After graduating from high school, Myers worked for 10 years in construction before landing a job at the Malheur Lumber Co. mill in John Day, where he worked from 1983-1998. He’s been a self-employed building contractor since then.

The biggest issues facing Grant County are jobs, housing and public safety, he said.

“In any order,” he added.

Myers has supported John Day’s proposal to bring broadband internet service to Grant County, including the county’s participation in the Grant County Digital Network Coalition with John Day and Seneca.

“I think we need it,” he said. “We need competition. The small communities at the will of the internet providers need help.”

Myers has been at the table reviewing options to replace the existing 911 dispatch center now operated by the city of John Day — including outsourcing the service to Frontier Regional 911 in Condon. Myers said he would support the decision of the 911 User Board.

“If it’s not Frontier, then I’d like to see the hybrid cost-sharing formula used to pay for a local dispatch,” he said. “It would be nice to retain payroll in Grant County.”

Myers has concerns about establishing a new natural resource adviser position for the county — including its role and funding.

“We have a lot of eyes looking at natural resources for us already,” he said, citing the Eastern Oregon Counties Association and the Association of Oregon Counties.

He said the new position was not sustainable for more than a year, and if the county turned to federal Secure Rural Schools or payment-in-lieu of taxes funding, that might not be available two years from now.

Myers has a straightforward vision for the area’s economy.

“We need to sustain jobs that we have while attempting to attract new ones,” he said. “Tourism does not bring family-wage jobs — industry does.”

Bringing broadband access to the county could help by encouraging home businesses that the area doesn’t have now, he noted.

In addition to common sense and patience, Myers said he’s bringing legacy knowledge to the job.

“I have experience — there’s no substitute for institutional experience,” he said. “I’ve been here a long time.”