CANYON CITY — Eric Julsrud, Grant County’s watermaster, has thrown his hat into the ring in the race for county judge.

He will be facing Grant County Commissioner Jim Hamsher for the job. Hamsher currently sits on the Grant County Court as a county commissioner.

Julsrud, whose office is in the Grant County Courthouse in Canyon City, is a state employee who works for the Oregon Water Resources Department. He has been the watermaster for District 4, which encompasses the upper John Day Basin, since November 2005.

Julsrud started work at the courthouse as a county employee in July of 2000 as assistant watermaster for District 4. Julsrud is also a veteran who served as an electronic technician for the U.S. Navy.

“I’ve been in this building for 23 years,” Julsrud said from his office at the courthouse. “I believe people need a choice. I believe in fiscal responsibility, and I believe in transparency, honesty and an elected official that will work hard for the people.”

Julsrud said he’d been mulling over running for county judge for “quite a while.” Julsrud said he hopes to foster more community involvement in local government.

“As an individual that’s worked in this building, I’ve seen good decisions be made and bad decisions be made, and it frustrates me when I see the general public has no idea,” Julsrud said. “They just don’t understand what goes on here. And as a (watermaster) department head in this building, especially during the COVID era, it bothered me there wasn’t a lot of community involvement.”

Hamsher, who was elected to the position of commissioner No. 2 in 2016, is currently in the third year of his second four-year term. Hamsher served for over a decade as a city councilor, mayor and city administrator of Prairie City, and he previously ran for county judge in 2018.

Hamsher said support for the local timber and agriculture industries was paramount. He hopes to bring job opportunities for young people to be able to stay and work in Grant County.

“I was able to stay here and raise my family here, and I want to provide the same opportunities for our youth.”

A primary election will be held on May 21, with a general election to be held on Nov. 5.

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 county judge spot is currently held by Judge Scott Myers, who is stepping down after he finishes his term at the end of next year. The county judge serves a six-year term.

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