NEWPORT — With the original pool of 23 applicants drained to just two, rival county commissioners this week questioned the interviewees in an unlikely effort to fill Claire Hall’s empty chair through 2026.

On April 20, hopefuls Marci Baker, a businesswoman and city councilor, and Cristen Don, a retired marine program administrator, delivered earnest, thoughtful answers to 13 questions in the next-to-last step of a disputed appointment process that began in January following the unexpected death of Hall.

But whether one will be selected for the $8,700 per month job is uncertain amid ongoing gridlock between surviving board members Casey Miller and Walter Chuck, who both chose two applicants for final interviews but saw one of their choices drop out.

A tie vote on the appointment risks leaving the position vacant until Jan. 2027, when the winner for Pos. 2 in the May 19 primary election will assume the vacant seat and serve out the last 2 years of Hall’s term. Baker and Don, along with rancher Joe Steere and ex-teacher Eddie Townsend, are all running for the position.

The chilly impasse between Miller, duly elected but embroiled in a bureaucratic coup, and Chuck, a 2025 appointee who is firmly aligned with county staff, has immobilized the board of commissioners and raised tensions with residents. For example, a decision by staff to conduct public meetings via sometimes unreliable internet connections and block citizen comments has become a heated issue in the 2026 election cycle. Miller wants the meetings reopened while Chuck backs administrative shot-callers, including the chief county lawyer and the head of HR.

The meeting, delayed by technical slip-ups, got off to a contentious start as Miller objected to staff rules barring “unvetted questions.” Head counsel Kristen Yuille defended the staff-written questions while Chuck backed Yuille, saying, “I did not submit topics, did not ask for the questions and did not want to see them.”

Miller also questioned Chuck’s impartiality, accusing him of “endorsing” his hand-picked candidate, Cristen Don, on the campaign trail. Chuck, running for Pos. 3, has been stumping under a “progressive” banner with Don (Pos. 2) and Cathie Rigby (Pos. 1). “How does Marci Baker feel about that situation?” Miller wondered to which Chuck replied, “I have not endorsed anybody.”

With the power struggle at a standstill, Don and Baker answered 13 questions designed to show their knowledge of county services and experience with thorny issues. Their interests and backgrounds emerged: Don though retired is a busy housing volunteer who is on the county budget committee and an ocean science trust; Baker fosters nascent entrepreneurs, fights human trafficking and serves on the Lincoln City council.

When asked to describe their knowledge of county services, Baker went on a sweeping tour of departments and responsibilities that Don opted not to challenge, riffing instead about problem-solving and thinking “outside the box.” Both recalled handling tough issues and finding middle ground, though Baker said one hill she would die on is public meetings law, another hot-button issue.

“I see it as a keystone to all the work I’ve done and very much see it as our duty to uphold the values behind those statutes,” Baker declared, a veiled critique of sloppy board work that has fostered confusion and complaints to the state ethics board.

The two candidates left no doubt they were once the smartest ladies in class, though Baker strived to illustrate their differences. For example, Baker was broadminded about short-term rentals, allowing for government to exploit the nuances of tourist demand, while Don cited all the complaints about vacation rentals the county has failed to adequately regulate.

Both were opposed to an ICE facility in Lincoln County. Whereas Baker would draw the line at “symbolic” gestures and “astronomically-expensive” federal lawsuits, Don would take a more active role “to keep track of civil rights violations and prevent ICE detentions.”

Both acknowledged the daunting issues facing Lincoln County. Baker was frank about economic challenges, describing a workforce of two or three-job wage earners living at the financial brink. Don described a county lacking the advantages of adequate child care or a strong public school system, factors that impair recruitment.

With Don leaning into her experience as a government project overseer, Baker informed her answers from a business angle.

“We bring two different perspectives, because there is a difference between operating as a CEO as I have and being part of a board,” Baker said.

Monday’s four-hour, audio-only Zoom meeting was attended by 49 people who registered to watch online. Whether decided or deadlocked, the appointment is expected to come up next Wednesday during a regular 10:30 a.m. board session.