NEWPORT — Citing the need for “stability, transparency and commonsense leadership,” former sheriff Curtis Landers said this week he is a candidate for county commission in the May 19 primary.

In running for the remainder of Claire Hall’s term, Landers blasted the “dysfunction” of the Lincoln Co. board of commissioners in moving to appoint a replacement in the 90-day interim until the election. Hall, who had two years left at Pos. 2, died Jan. 4, five days before a special recall vote.

“The decision should be made by voters at the upcoming May election,” asserted Landers, 59, who retired in 2024 from a celebrated career at the sheriff’s office. “There’s hardly a person I’ve spoken to in Lincoln County who doesn’t think we’re in complete dysfunction and wants a change.”

Landers was convinced to run after observing the Jan. 14 commission workshop meeting where a dubious appointment process was shoved through by Walter Chuck and chief lawyer Kristen Yuillie over the objections of Casey Miller.

“Having watched all the meetings, the last one tipped the scales,” reflected Landers. “For another commissioner not to even let a fellow commissioner to discuss ideas in a work session is just nonsense. This whole fight is draining resources. The citizens and employees I worked with for 37 years deserve better than this.”

Landers said he wants to restore transparency and participation by “reopening” meetings, some which have been recently cancelled under fishy circumstances. He stated the county’s heavy-handed rules on public comment “have made people afraid to talk.”

“I want to encourage the public to watch the meetings and come and provide input,” he said, recalling how he used to form citizen groups to advise and improve the sheriff’s department.

Landers spoke of “a practical, collaborative approach” to board business with “a focus on solutions that move the county forward.” He acknowledged it won’t be an easy task to walk into an escalating power struggle that left one commissioner locked out of his offices and another dead, allegedly from all the stress.

“There will be resistance and it will be rocky at first,” predicted Landers. “It will take time to fix, but I’m willing to accept that. I’ve worked inside county government long enough to know what actually works and what doesn’t. This is a non-partisan position, and my focus is on effective governance, not politics.”

Landers confirmed that if elected he would do his work from commission offices in the courthouse, from which Miller has been banned and are otherwise closed to the public reportedly due to staff shortages and in order to store Hall’s effects.

“I think you have to be in an office that’s open and accessible to citizens and employees,” he said in the belief he would need to be at the center of government to make it run efficiently. “If I earn the trust of voters, I will be ready to step in immediately and get to work with common-sense governance, responsible use of taxpayer dollars and good budgeting.”

The last day for candidates to file for office is March 10. For more information, contact Curtis Landers 541-961-8443 or [email protected].