by Dan Mancuso, publisher
I ran against Chris Barnett in 2024 for the position that he currently sits. Needless to say Barnett not only won, but trounced me.
Barnett’s platform was that he believes in God, Family, Freedom and Murica. Apparently to most voters in Josephine liked the taste of Barnett’s word soup. To me it tasted more like what I would think bull s*** would taste.
But hey, sour grapes on my part, and some may say I digress.
Barnett’s first action as commisioiner was to vote yes to void the lease with the library.
I guess the unity in the community Barnett campaigned on was only the community of Barnett’s very large ego.
On April 5, Barnett made ridiculous claims about the national Hands Off protests.
Rebecca Anderson, a protest participant wrote the following.
‘False Claims by Commissioner Barnett Undermine Peaceful Protest’
by: Rebecca Anderson
As someone who attended the recent protest in Grants Pass, I feel compelled to speak up about the misinformation being spread by County Commissioner Chris Barnett. His claims about what happened during the event are not only inaccurate—they’re misleading and damaging to the public’s understanding of what was a peaceful, community-driven demonstration.
The protest centered around vital issues—Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. These are topics that matter deeply to many of us, especially to our elder population, who showed up in significant numbers that day. I saw people with walkers, canes, even wheelchairs, holding signs and quietly making their voices heard. There was no aggression, no hostility, and certainly no chaos. Just concerned citizens exercising their right to protest, standing together on the sidewalks.
Commissioner Barnett later posted to social media claiming there were altercations at the event that required police intervention. That is simply not true. I was there for the entire protest and did not witness a single act of violence or even tension. Law enforcement was not called in to manage any sort of disturbance, because there was none. It was peaceful from start to finish.
He also claimed that protestors blocked the street and prevented an ambulance from getting through. Again, not true. I saw that ambulance myself. It was delayed, yes—but not by protestors. The street was congested due to regular traffic and stoplights. When the ambulance eventually activated its lights and sirens, drivers made every effort to get out of the way and let it through. No one was in the street, and certainly no one was preventing emergency services from doing their job.
Another claim Commissioner Barnett made was that protestors had been “bussed in” from outside of town, implying that the demonstration wasn’t locally driven. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Everyone I spoke to was from Grants Pass or surrounding areas. There were no chartered buses, no coordinated groups shipped in from other cities. Just local residents who care deeply about these issues, showing up in the only way they know how.
It’s disappointing to see our elected officials push false narratives like these. It’s not just a matter of political spin—it undermines the hard work and integrity of the people who peacefully participated. The irony is that the drone photo Commissioner Barnett posted to supposedly prove his claims actually does the opposite. It clearly shows people lined up on the sidewalk, not obstructing traffic or standing in the road.
I’ve also provided multiple photos of the protest, which show traffic moving and protestors well off the street. I didn’t send every photo I took because some were blurry or unclear, but many make it obvious that the protest was orderly and non-disruptive. The ambulance delay he referenced was unfortunate but had nothing to do with the demonstrators—just a case of typical heavy traffic.
I hope the public can see this for what it is: an example of democracy in action, not disorder. People came together—respectfully and peacefully—to raise awareness and demand action on issues that affect us all. Misinformation like what Commissioner Barnett is spreading does nothing but divide us and sow distrust in our institutions.
If there’s any justice in journalism or local government, reports from the police department or ambulance company should be made public to confirm what so many of us witnessed firsthand. The facts are out there. It’s time they were acknowledged. This community deserves truth, not spin—and we’re watching.
Rebecca Anderson’s column also ran in the Grants Pass Tribune.