CANYON CITY — Candidates for Grant County elected offices have filed for upcoming elections in the race for sheriff, county judge, commissioner, assessor, clerk, surveyor and treasurer, but so far only one of those races is contested.

The position of justice of the peace will also be up for election next year, though a candidate for that race has yet to file.

A primary election will be held on May 21, though candidates for clerk, treasurer and sheriff will only appear on the May ballot if there are three or more candidates for each spot, with the top two vote earners moving on to the Nov. 5 general election.

The filing period for prospective candidates began on Sept. 14 and will run until March 12. A filing form, called the SEL101, is available from the Grant County Clerk’s Office at 201 S. Humbolt St. in Canyon City or online at www.oregonvotes.gov.

The assessor, clerk, sheriff, treasurer, commissioner and surveyor serve a four-year term. The county judge and justice of the peace serve a six-year term.

Prairie City resident Frances Preston, a regular fixture in the audience at county court meetings and a former longtime employee of the U.S. Forest Service, has filed to run for the seat of county commissioner No. 2. Jim Hamsher, who currently holds that position, is running to fill the county judge spot being vacated by Scott Myers, who is stepping down after he finished his current term at the end of next year.

“I believe I have a lot of knowledge,” said Preston, who retired as a budget analyst in 2015 from the U.S. Forest Service but keeps active providing public input on national forest planning meetings and with issues related to seniors, Grant County, Prairie City and the Prairie City School District. “I have a lot of passion. I have the ability to listen. I’m a people person and I ask hard questions.”

Election signs for Hamsher, of Prairie City, have already been posted throughout the county. Hamsher, who was elected to the seat of commissioner No. 2 in 2016, is currently serving the third year of his second four-year term. Hamsher, who has served over a decade as a councilman, mayor and city administrator of Prairie City, previously ran for county judge in 2018.

“I hope to bring some of the job opportunities that I had when I was young (for young people) to be able to stay here and work and not have to leave our county,” said Hamsher, who added support for the local timber and agriculture industries was paramount. “I was able to stay here and raise my family here, and I want to provide the same opportunities for our youth.”

Sheriff Todd McKinley, who is running for a second four-year term, will face Scott Moore, a former John Day Police Department sergeant and former Grant County sheriff’s deputy who is currently a public works foreman for the city of John Day.

“My interest in running is I was an officer for 15 years and I’m deeply involved in law enforcement,” Moore said. “It’s in my blood. I want to continue doing it. I want to continue to serve my community.”

McKinley said his first three years as sheriff have been about bringing stability to the department, with the city of John Day dissolving its police department in 2021 and the challenge of filling positions within the department to help overcome high case volume.

“The first three years so far have been very busy trying to get some things in line, and I feel we are making headway,” McKinley said. “I would like to finish what I’ve got started. I’m excited about that.”

Grant County Treasurer Julie Ellison, Grant County Surveyor Mike Springer and Grant County Assessor David Thunell are all seeking reelection next year. All are currently running unopposed.

“Grant County is where I want to live,” Thunell said. “I enjoy working with county staff, and I’ve had the privilege to meet so many wonderful people while serving as county assessor.”

The Grant County Court appointed the county’s human resources manager, Laurie Cates, as interim Grant County clerk on Nov. 13 to fill the role next year with the retirement of Grant County Clerk Brenda Percy at the end of this year. Percy said she may stay on a bit longer, until sometime in January, to oversee a proposed John Day mayoral recall election if it qualifies for the ballot. Cates has filed to be a candidate for county clerk in next year’s election.

“It’s such an important position and such an important department,” Cates said. “I mean, being the keeper of the records, running the department and all those things that go into that department, it’s a very big deal for our county.”

For more information about the election, or filing to run, call 541-575-1675.