Lincoln County commissioner and Nov. 5 challenger have stark differences in philosophies, approach

 

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews

In the lone race for one of three seats on the Lincoln County board of commissioners the differences are clear – a five-term incumbent with a carefully curated list of accomplishments being challenged by a self-described “disrupter.”

The question that will be answered in the Nov. 5 general election is whether voters are satisfied with incumbent Claire Hall and the county’s direction or want to replace her with Rick Beasley, a longtime local news reporter and current Depoe Bay city council member.

“Naturally, I see things a little differently than Claire,” Beasley told an Oct. 10 candidate forum.

Hall says the contrasts between the two are stark and that Beasley “relies a lot on innuendo and leading questions and is more interested in being a disrupter” than finding solutions.

The two are squaring off in the general election because Hall did not get more than a 50 percent majority in the May primary when the votes were split between her and four challengers. Hall received 39 percent of 13,804 votes cast in May, while Beasley came in second with 20 percent.

Although the commission position is non-partisan, the race has taken on a D versus R hue.  Hall has been endorsed by the Lincoln County Democratic Party and Beasley by the Lincoln County Republican Central Committee. Monique DeSpain, the Republican candidate for the 4^th Congressional District, has contributed to Beasley’s campaign and former Democratic 5^th District congressional candidate Jamie McLeod-Skinner has contributed to Hall’s.

But the most interesting endorsement this fall is from Lincoln County Sheriff Curtis Landers, who is leaving office in January and for the first time endorsed a commission candidate — Beasley — and contributed $1,000 to his campaign.

On Oct. 4, Commissioner Kaety Jacobson matched that with $1,000 contribution to Hall’s campaign.

Hall said she is a registered Democrat; Beasley declined to give his party registration to YachatsNews.

Both candidates are running neck-and-neck in fundraising. The most recent state campaign reports released this week shows Hall receiving  $11,900 in contributions and Beasley $10,300.

Candidate campaigning

Hall, 65, came to Lincoln County in 1987 to be a reporter at the Newport News-Times, where she worked for three years, spent a year at a Toledo radio station, then was news director for Yaquina Bay Broadcasting for 13 years. She was approached about running for commissioner in 2004, won the office in what was then a partisan general election, and has been re-elected to four four-year terms since.

Beasley, 73, served three years in the Army after high school, then joined the National Guard and attended the University of Oregon before embarking on a long, colorful and sometimes controversial journalism career. Beasley and his wife came to Lincoln County in 1994 where he worked for the Lincoln City newspaper, published the tabloid-like bi-monthly Depoe Bay Beacon from 1997-2012 and then worked as a reporter for the News-Times. He was elected to the Depoe Bay city council in 2022. He and his wife own the Boiler Bay RV Park.

Beasley is campaigning on what he says is the county commission’s lack of support for law enforcement, especially when it comes to involving the sheriff’s department in helping attack drug crimes and homelessness.

“I’ve been here for 30 years,” Beasley said in an interview. “I’ve never seen this kind of activity before. We can clean this county up.”

He criticized the county-funded homeless advisory board, which has come up with a five-year plan to deal with the issue, but said it lacked input from law enforcement “who are on the front line of dealing with this problem.” He also wants an audit of what he says is the county’s spending of $62 million on housing and homeless-related programs the past four years.

But it is that work on homeless and housing that Hall says is one of her signature successes. The county has been involved in planning and helping fund 400 new low-income housing units, she said, set up the first winter shelter in Newport and is poised to open a second next month in Lincoln City, beefed up and streamlined transition services for the homeless and expanded the county’s health network.

“In many ways I think it has been my most productive term,” Hall said in an interview, noting that the Covid pandemic and 2020 Echo Mountain wildfires challenged the county government in many new ways.

The sheriff weighs in

But it was Landers’ endorsement of Beasley that has given the candidate his biggest boost.

Landers told YachatsNews that he reached out to Beasley because he’s frustrated with the county commission’s approach to funding law enforcement and its second-guessing of decisions in the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices.

“This is the first commission endorsement I’ve ever done,” he said. “But I would have done it even if I wasn’t retiring. It’s really about getting someone different in there — better communication and different thinking.”

Landers said he’s not bothered “too much” by Beasley’s combative style. “I feel comfortable that he’s able to turn that off when he needs to,” the sheriff said. “That’s just his style.”

Beasley said he wants to help make sure the sheriff’s department is fully staffed – it has vacancies for deputies and corrections officers – because “we have to have a department that can respond to people and issues.”

Hall said the sheriff did not alert her to his endorsement of Beasley and said she “was surprised and disappointed” when she heard of it.

“I always thought I had a good relationship with the sheriff’s department and am disappointed he would throw his support to a man with the reputation and character of Rick Beasley.”

Questions & Answers

YachatsNews asked each candidate five questions. Here are their responses.

Question: Why are you running for re-election (or election)?

Claire Hall: I’m running for this job for a multitude of reasons, including my deep love for the people of Lincoln County and this land. I first set foot here, with my parents, 60 years ago. In 1987, I fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved here as a full-time resident. Now, a lot has changed about me in 60 years (I’m taller, for one thing), but so many important things haven’t changed. I still believe in the worth and dignity of every person, and that we are a more vibrant and successful community when everyone has a place at the table. Yet, my love for this county isn’t enough to propel me toward running for re-election. I thought long and hard about my life’s purpose and concluded that my job is not done.  I’m running because I’m a relentless optimist, especially when it comes to the future of Lincoln County. We have challenges, yes; but we are already meeting many of them, and I have no doubt we will continue to do so, with energy, imagination and courage. I’m running because so many of you have told me I have unfinished business ahead. I’m running because I learned from a very early age that my great passion in life is helping others to live happier, more successful lives. I’m running because this was my most successful and productive term yet, and I want to keep that momentum going on your behalf. I’m running to once more to offer you the best of me — my mind, heart and soul — in building a better Lincoln County, every day.

Rick Beasley: During the three decades I’ve lived in Lincoln County, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles we face — inadequate housing, a wounded economy, mounting homelessness and dangerous trends in crime. At an August debate in Depoe Bay my opponent dismissed these realities and claimed, “We’re thriving.” Yet studies tell us that by many key metrics we are in the bottom ranks of all 36 Oregon counties. I’ve had enough of watching our county stall. We can do better. My focus is on bringing practical, no-nonsense solutions that make sure our families feel safe, supported, and ready for the future

Question: Give readers several reasons why your experience, background and personal attributes makes you the better commission candidate.

Beasley: I’m not just a candidate – I’m a force for change. Because I have years of local experience in business and government, I know what Lincoln County needs and I won’t stop until we get there. Running a newspaper put me at the front of the biggest battles we face – from homelessness to public safety to the economy. I’ve exposed the cracks, called out the failures, and demanded action. As a Depoe Bay city councilor, I’ve argued against wasteful spending and insisted on transparency. Now, I’m ready for the county commission, with a clear vision for a future where Lincoln County isn’t just treading water but succeeding. I’m committed to blowing open the doors of bureaucracy, creating a government that’s open, effective and respected. I’m here to push for real change, and I won’t settle for anything less.

Hall: I have been doing this job and doing it effectively for 20 years. I’ve built relationships all over this county and throughout Oregon that have helped me bring well over $100 million to tackle some of our biggest challenges, like substance abuse disorder and mental illness within the community.  I’ve been appointed to positions of responsibility and trust by the last four Oregon governors, and I am on or have been on various boards and committees including the Association of Oregon Counties, Cascades West Council of Governments, Community Services Consortium, Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Programs, Lincoln County Homeless Advisory Board, Oregon Housing Stability Council and the Oregon Homelessness Advisory Council. I am a true nonpartisan leader.  Achieving the things I have achieved has meant working with a lot of people with different values and beliefs. This has included teaming up with people from both of the major political parties. I was honored when my colleagues in county government around the state chose me as president of the Association of Oregon Counties in 2017. I had to win the support of Portland liberals and conservative Harney County ranchers to accomplish this.

Question: Are you satisfied with the direction of Lincoln County and its many programs and/or efforts? Cite some that you think are working well and others that need improvement or more work.

Hall: The Board of Commissioners has made significant headway on a lot of issues, including getting unhoused people off the streets and into shelters and then into one of hundreds of new housing units. We’ve launched and maintained a network of clinics that offer affordable health care to all and are building a new animal shelter. We’re rebuilding the County Commons (fairgrounds) and protecting key natural assets. We’ve expanded our county bus system while keeping fares unchanged for 20 years. We’ve championed small business development, senior services and early childhood education programs. We’ve tripled the number of staff in our Veterans Center, which has brought millions in ongoing benefits to local service members. We’re working with community partners to develop new treatment options for those battling the scourge of substance use disorder.

My fellow commissioners and I navigated our collective way through the worst pandemic in a century and the Echo Mountain fire, the worst natural disaster in the county’s history.

We’ve also maintained essential county services in good times and bad, something that too often gets overlooked in the heat of campaign season. For 20 years, we’ve delivered a balanced budget — a requirement by the state – and we’ve done it without some of the tricks some jurisdictions use. Public safety, roads, bridges, as well as health and human services are our core functions and always will be.
Regarding efforts that need improvement, I will say that one situation in Lincoln County that causes me to lose sleep is that of the food scarcity and child poverty rates. While we have seen a decrease in these numbers since 2022, the fact that we have individuals, families, and children still suffering from lack of food, income, and housing troubles me.  While I realize that the board of commissioners is not the cause of this, I do feel a sense of responsibility to continue my efforts toward helping people who are struggling get services, resources, food, and housing that will lend themselves to employment, family stability, regular school attendance, and enhanced skills. I am encouraged by the downward trend in the numbers (per the 2024 edition of Oregon by the Numbers by The Ford Family Foundation). I am optimistic about the near future of Lincoln County, and I am basing that on the current trends.  Food scarcity is down. Child poverty is down. Violent crime is down. The economy is growing.

Beasley: Satisfied? Absolutely not. For example, Lincoln County is on track to build a new and costly bureaucracy to address the homeless crisis. But more programs that don’t solve the problem aren’t the answer – real, hard-hitting solutions are. It takes law enforcement, mental health services, and addiction treatment working in perfect sync. We can’t keep pretending that more paperwork is going to fix things. It’s time to attack the root causes, balance enforcement with support, and give people a real shot at recovery and a better future.

Question: In your years of government and/or professional work, cite 2-3 things that you are proud to have accomplished.

Beasley: I don’t wear my service on my sleeve or brag about my accomplishments, which are never achieved without the collaboration of other people. But I will say this — as a journalist, I’ve fought tooth and nail to bring the biggest issues in our community to the front page, no matter who didn’t want them there. Whether it’s shining a light on public safety failures or ripping the veil off flawed homelessness policies, I’ve made sure that the truth couldn’t be ignored. As a veteran, husband, father and elected official, I feel I am here to stand in the breach for the people who depend on me. If there is anything I am proud of, it’s that.

Hall: I’m not one who easily boasts about my accomplishments, three accomplishments that most bring me a sense of pride are:

Encouraging a broad group of community partners to address one of the most fundamental needs of every human being — safe, stable shelter.  Last winter we opened warming shelters. In addition, through my efforts in negotiating funding from Oregon Legislature, Northwest Coastal Housing acquired two motels under the Project Turnkey program, which they then developed into high caliber transitional housing programs. The work I’ve done on this front has also enabled non-profit and for-profit developers to complete almost 400 new affordable apartment homes in the last few years. This has enabled our workforce, seniors, and people with disabilities to live comfortably and safely.

Lincoln County endured twin crises in 2020, the Covid pandemic and the Echo Mountain Fire. Leading the county through this was challenging, to put it mildly, but I am proud of all our team accomplished. Oregon had one of the lowest death rates in the nation from Covid and our rate in Lincoln County was one of the lowest in the state. Still, we lost 83 precious lives. Commissioner Kaety Jacobsen was in the lead spot for fire recovery, but I was able to contribute in several ways, including securing FEMA trailers for some fire survivors. I consistently hear around the state that of the eight counties that endured fires in 2020, our recovery is considered to be one of the farthest along.  Again, we’ve established momentum and my goal is to keep it going.

In 2006, I chaired the work group that submitted a successful proposal to create our Drug Court, the first of several specialty courts that followed. These courts give people facing certain drug charges the opportunity to go into court-supervised treatment, and if they complete treatment, their criminal charges are dropped. In the past 18 years, this has brought millions in added treatment dollars to the community. Since the beginning of the program, 127 clients succeeded in Drug Court, and more in the other courts that have spun off from it.

 

 

Question: There has been some public discord and disagreements among commissioners, staff and other elected officials lately, especially related to administration and work of the Lincoln County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council and/or its work group on getting a drug offender deflection program up and running. In hindsight, could this have been avoided – or should it have been? Thinking back on it, what would you have done or done differently?

Hall: First, I want to share that I am hopeful and expect that the deflection program will be a success, despite these rocky beginnings. I have been involved in addictions policy for many years and I am glad to see we will have another option to guide people into lifesaving treatment and away from the criminal justice system.

In regard to the public discord, I have said this was a manufactured crisis from the start. When law enforcement packed our room for our Sept. 18 meeting, I honestly didn’t know why they were there. We had no report, briefing document, or anything else in writing. It wasn’t until the meeting was under way that we were wrongly informed that a decision had to be made by the end of the week about where the deflection coordinator position would be housed or we would forfeit the state’s $345,000 grant. However, a few hours later, our organization received an email from Sheriff Landers indicating that information was incorrect and that all the commissioners had to do by the end of that week was accept a revised funding agreement. This led me to further wonder what all the noise was about.

My role in this process was to simply do my due diligence as a commissioner, which meant to evaluate the program design that was being proposed, the reasoning behind the choices, and offer my input to the administrator who would make the final decision. Yet, this process was flawed from the beginning since the group of people who formed the subcommittee to develop the deflection program did so without involving the entire board of commissioners, which always establishes and appoints all of its advisory committees and subcommittees. They met without notice or minutes of their meetings being kept, which interfered with my ability to fully evaluate their proposal.

On Sept. 18, during the BOC meeting, we were treated to a parade of elected county officials telling us that people would die unless we followed their recommendations to the letter. That did not feel at all like a collaborative governance process. This seemed like a manufactured crisis created for public consumption. In fact, my opponent was in the room taking photos and notes which he used to write a sensationalized piece about the event, then published it on his campaign Facebook page and sharing it to several local Facebook groups.
We’ve managed to move forward.  After fully absorbing the subcommittee’s report, commissioners provided feedback to the county administrator, who made the call to follow the subcommittee’s recommendation and place the position in the District Attorney’s Office. And now we move forward.

Would I have, personally, done anything different?  No. My actions were based on the best information available to me at the time. If I had been properly informed, things may have turned out differently, and we could have moved ahead without needless rancor and confusion.

Many people have asked me about the situation concerning Commissioner Casey Miller, who made a series of accusations against me and several others at the Sept. 18 meeting. Because the commissioner is under investigation due to employee complaints, I can say very little at this point. When the report is completed, I expect that we will make it public, and people will be able to reach their own conclusions.  For now, I will say that in my time in office, I’ve never seen a situation remotely like the one involving Commissioner Miller. However, it’s my expectation that we will continue to work through this and move forward.  There are a lot of intelligent, capable, and caring people in leadership positions within this organization who will guarantee it.

Beasley: Absolutely. The embarrassing disintegration of the county commission as an operational board working for the citizens of Lincoln County was apparent to anybody who attended recent meetings.

The dysfunction, which has been building for years, was finally revealed in what appeared to me as a brazen demonstration of power politics. It was fitting when two commissioners and other key figures abruptly departed a public meeting in unison and disappeared behind closed doors, which is where much of the county’s business seems to be conducted.

As commissioner, I’ll be the one making sure that transparency isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a way of life. I’ll push for open conversations, real collaboration with all elected officials, and an end to these petty games. We need leadership that respects the rules, listens to all voices, and makes decisions that benefit the people, not the politics.

• Quinton Smith is the editor of YachatsNews.com and can be reached at YachatsNews@gmail.com