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Lane County sets timeline for open sheriff recruitment, schedules public interviews June 11
Summary
After weeks of public comment urging transparency, the Lane County Board of Commissioners agreed to open recruitment for the county sheriff vacancy, set application and interview dates and a board work session to explain options to the public.
The Lane County Board of County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to open an expedited, public recruitment process to fill the county sheriff vacancy and scheduled public interviews for June 11.
The board directed staff to open recruitment on May 16, begin reviewing applications May 23, close the recruitment May 27, and hold public interviews of finalists on June 11. The board also requested a public work session between now and May 27 to explain the appointment options and process to the community.
The action followed extensive public testimony calling for an open process. Emily Heilbren of the Trans Alliance of Lane County told commissioners: "All candidates for this position should be asked if they will commit to upholding the sanctuary promise act and if they will commit to updating and creating policies protecting the rights of the transgender and immigrant communities." Several other speakers echoed that demand and asked that finalists be publicly questioned about policies toward immigrants and transgender people.
County staff told the board that if no action were taken the chief deputy would immediately serve as acting sheriff under existing law; staff advised the board that appointment and election are separate legal processes. Commissioners discussed the need to balance speed with transparency, and to make the public aware of the schedule and how to observe interviews.
Commissioner Christopher Farr proposed the timeline and asked staff to begin the recruitment immediately; commissioners signaled unanimous agreement. County HR staff indicated the timeline follows prior practice and that an executive-session deliberation after public interviews is an option the board may use.
The winner of an appointment would still be required to stand in the regular sheriff election next year, commissioners and staff noted. Commissioners also asked that the process be publicly explained in advance so community members who testified about sanctuary-policies and other issues could follow and observe the candidate interviews.
The board did not make a final appointment at Tuesday’s meeting; it set dates and directed staff to publish notices and run the recruitment on the schedule agreed by the commission.
