The Board of Josephine County Commissioners, for the first time, started their Wednesday, Jan. 29 weekly business session with not just the Pledge of Allegiance, but a convocation recited by Commissioner Ron Smith.
“We thank you Heavenly Father for this day,” Smith remarked. “We thank you, that you are the Creator, that you are all that is good and wholesome. We beseech you for your guidance, for your Divine Providence, and for your wisdom in making our decisions to make Josephine County a better place to live. Amen.”
The board’s decision to introduce a prayer into their weekly proceedings was controversial in that some community members believe government officials should remain religiously neutral when conducting taxpayer-funded proceedings. On the other hand, the move was a boon to local Christian activists who have pushed for their government to pursue a Christian path.
Board Chair Andreas Blech brought the Anne G. Basker Auditorium-set meeting to order and immediately engaged in a special recognition for JoCo Sheriff Dave Daniel, who was featured in the winter edition of the publication Oregon Sheriff.
“We have a pretty special sheriff here,” Blech commented before reading from the magazine’s profile of Daniel:
“With over 28 years of law enforcement experience, the sheriff has held various roles including traffic officer, major crimes detective, SWAT team instructor and patrol officer throughout his tenure. He has earned a reputation for leadership and dedication to public safety particularly during his county’s significant financial challenges, at one point facing a major budget crisis impacting law enforcement services. Recognizing the need for stable funding, the sheriff committed to securing long-term financial solutions for the department.
“The sheriff’s ability to rebrand the office and demonstrate its professionalism to the public resulted in overwhelming voter support for the new service district. This remarkable progress was achieved by Sheriff Daniel whose leadership and dedication to securing sustainable funding have transformed the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office into a respected and efficient law enforcement agency.”
Before bestowed Daniel with a certificate of appreciation, Blech noted the commissioners’ gratitude for the sheriff’s service.
“I am humbled and I am honored to serve this community and this county,” Daniel remarked. “I’m just the face of this organization, and maybe law enforcement in Josephine County. It takes many dedicated, hardworking people within our organization and our community. To be recognized like this, Ihave to stand up and say thank you to the deputies, thank you to our office staff, thank you to everybody from the sheriff’s office that have worked so hard.
“It truly takes a village, so thank you to our office and thank you to the citizens of Josephine County for putting Josephine County back on the map.”
During requests and comments from citizens, one frequent meeting attendee, Victor Zaitsev, had some harsh words for the board over their inclusion of a prayer at the start of the meeting.
“The First Amendment guarantees me the freedom of religion, the freedom to believe in and practice any religion I choose, even if that is no belief in religion at all,” Zaitsev said. “It also guarantees me the right to redress grievances with my government. What I am angered and grieved by is the actions of the members of this government body forcing their personal religious beliefs upon me – their promotion of Christian dogma and the forced march towards Christian nationalism. This would be a misuse and abuse of the public trust. These proceedings are for conducting the business of government operations and not the establishment and promotion of a theocracy of your own design. This is America, not Iran. Let’s keep it that way.”
More negative feedback came from Keith Gibson, president of AFSCME Chapter 3694, who lamented the board’s decision to reject the union contract the week prior, which had been negotiated for months. “Your decision fails to recognize the dedication and sacrifices of the public employees who are the backbone of this community, delaying justice for those who tirelessly provide essential services to our residents,” Gibson testified.
“This decision to deny the contract is not a blow to the union – we will persevere. Instead, it is a message to every hardworking citizen in this county that these men do not value other people’s labor. It is a message to the public that this board does not prioritize the stability in its workforce which directly impacts the quality of services provided to this community. Practically this means hardship for employees providing essential services, delays for businesses in processing permits and inspections and setbacks for public safety contributing to crime and unrest.
“This decision is not only anti-worker, but anti-American. It undermines the principles of fair labor and economic growth. When workers endure stagnant wages and insufficient benefits the broader economy suffers. Strife, delays and reduced morale ultimately hurt everyone in this county from families building a future to businesses striving to succeed. Let me be clear: This decision does not end our fight; it strengthens our resolve.”
Under Matters from Commissioners, the board spoke about their opposition to Senate Bill 762, the revised wildfire hazard map that would have major implications for property rights and cost of living in areas deemed by the state of Oregon to be at high risk for wildfires, which includes Southern Oregon.
Smith reiterated that he has been advocating against the legislation for years. “I understand this is very dreadful for our county, Jackson County and many other counties. We’re working really hard at the county level to figure out a path forward for our citizens.”
“This is big,” added Blech. “This is huge if you own property in Josephine County. This will affect you if it hasn’t already impacted you in a negative way. This is a taking by the state of our private property rights… We need people to participate. This is the time where we need to get out. We need to show the legislature that this is a serious concern of ours. Fortunately, we have Representative Yunker and Senator Robinson working on this to hopefully repeal this legislation.”