Gilliam County recall election scheduled

Gilliam County Clerk Ellen Wagenaar has scheduled a special election for April 30, 2024. Voters will decide whether Judge Elizabeth Farrar Campbell and Commissioner Pat Shannon should be recalled, or if they will be allowed to finish their terms in office.

Ballots are set to be mailed out on Wednesday, April 10 and will be due back on Tuesday, April 30.

Recall petition signatures were submitted to the Gilliam County Clerk's Office last week. After being verified, both Judge Farrar Campbell and Commissioner Shannon opted to contest the allegations against them and to ask for a recall.

Judge Farrar Campbell is facing her second recall election, the first was held in 2021 and was rejected by voters. As this is the second recall against Judge Farrar Campbell, the recall committee had to pay for the special election.

The Judge is not running for a second term and is set to leave office in January of 2025. That has not influenced the push to recall Judge Farrar Campbell by a vocal group of citizens that seethed over the court's decision to remove judicial functions from the Gilliam County Court, amid talks of restructuring the court to a board of commissioners.

Judge Farrar campaigned on restructuring the Gilliam County Court when she ran for the position in 2018.

Despite the court's decision to rescind the order and to return judicial function to the court, the recall campaign has pushed on. Other opinions and judgements of Judge Farrar's performance were added by chief petitioner Denny Newell.

The recall petition against Judge Farrar Campbell claims that Judge Farrar Campbell:

"Failed as Chief Elected Official to show leadership in resolving the Court's declared "mess, crisis, emergency".

Deceived the public by failing to divulge the nature and extent of changes to our County government structure that she forged in transferring Probate Jurisdiction.

Interfered in the current election process by changing the Elected Officials' Job title, description, hours, pay, etc. after the opening date for filing and after at least one candidate had filed for that position.

Illegally distorted Oregon Law by first Grafting an Order transferring Probate and then presenting that distortion as state law.

Engaged in questionable public procurement practices by developing and presenting a $1,000,000+ Services Contract as a "Sole Source" without soliciting alternative bids from vendors.

Attacking and belittling our Elected Officials and Dept. Heads."

In her response, Judge Farrar Campbell pushed back on the allegations and opinions of the petitioner, saying:

"I'm proud of the progress we've made over the last five years; bringing accountability to grant programs, investing more than $1 million to support small businesses, jumpstarting housing development, funding a permanent endowment to provide childcare access for all families, laying the groundwork to bring affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to every home in Gilliam County, and so much more. The choice before you is to continue this progress or to plunge Gilliam County into crisis. Oregon Law requires the County Court to have a budget in place by July 1 , 2024. It takes 3-4 months to write and pass our budget. If Commissioner Shannon and I are recalled, the County Court can no longer perform its functions and will not be able to pass a budget by the deadline. What will this mean? By law, it will mean a layoff of all Gilliam County employees. It will mean a shuttered transportation system, senior mealsite, and public library. It will mean no law enforcement to respond to your call, no roads paved or weeds sprayed, and no summer work experience for our youth. All to remove me from office 8 months early. Please vote "no" on this divisive and reckless recall."

Commissioner Pat Shannon was elected in 2020 and has filed for reelection as Gilliam County Commissioner #2.

The recall petition against Commissioner Shannon is also rooted in the court's decision to transfer judicial jurisdiction of juvenile and probate court to the Gilliam County Circuit Court.

In addition, chief petitioner Dawn Parm alleges that:

"Commissioner Shannon voted in favor of an illegal County Court Order removing Probate Jurisdiction. This action also removed the Judicial responsibility of the County Court Judge and opened the door to end our County Court government and then establish a Board of Commissioners, which Commissioner Shannon has repeatedly stated he wants. All without a vote of the Gilliam County constituents. Commissioner Shannon has micro-managed the Departments under his supervision rather than offer support and guidance. This has led to employee unrest, disgruntlement, and migration to new employment. A "Crisis" in Commissioner Shannon's own words. Commissioner Shannon has posted on social media his proclamation that he wants the voice of the people to be heard. He has consistently voted however for orders and structural changes to County Court that in fact exclude and deprive the people of Gilliam County their First Amendment right to voice their wishes and vote."

In his rebuttal, Commissioner Shannon said that:

"Since I joined the County Court in 2021, we have made tremendous progress on a number of community priorities, including housing development, childcare access, broadband deployment, supporting our small businesses, and other economic development priorities. I have also had an I opportunity to successfully advocate for reforms to the failed Measure 110 in Salem. We've come a long way, but there is still a lot of work left to do. The Chief Petitioner states this recall is about the voters of Gilliam County having a right to "voice their wishes and vote" in matters regarding their local government. I agree. Despite my personal support for a Board of County Commissioners structure, I have stated many times in public meetings, on social media, and in conversations with members of the community- that I believe this decision should be left to the voters through the Charter process. Ironically, if Judge Farrar Campbell and I are recalled, it will be Governor Kotek- not Gilliam County voters- who will choose the next County Court. There is a way to ensure Gilliam County voters have a say: Vote "no" on this divisive recall election and allow our regular election process, already underway, to play out."