Residents, advocates urge open recruitment, public interviews for Lane County sheriff appointment

Dozens of residents and community advocates told the Lane County Board of Commissioners on May 6 in Harris Hall that the county should conduct an open recruitment and public interviews to fill the vacancy left by Sheriff Cliff Harold’s resignation, and that finalists should be asked to commit to upholding the Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act and policies protecting transgender people.

Supporters said an open process would improve transparency and public safety. "Please conduct an open recruitment for this position, including public interviews of the finalists," Cassandra Myron told the board during public comment. "All candidates for this position must 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."

The calls for an open process came from multiple speakers. Marley Miller, a University of Oregon instructor, said she wanted candidates who "support the Oregon sanctuary law." Steve Deer, who described himself as a resident near Noti, urged the board to "involve the public in every step of the way in the hiring process, particularly with a forum involving interviews by members of the public of the finalists." Robin Rusque asked the board to "use diligence and transparency" and to expect the chosen candidate to "protect the rights of the immigrant and transgender communities." Anna Lardner and JP Lemke made similar requests during public comment.

County Administration clarified the board’s legal options during the meeting. County Administrator Mokroyski noted Oregon Revised Statute 236.220(1) and said that, under that statute, the chief deputy serves as acting sheriff "if and until the board makes an appointment or there's an election." Mokroyski also explained the election timing: because the current sheriff resigned before the midpoint of the term, the next sheriff election will be held in May 2026 with a possible runoff in November 2026. "If the board chooses to make an appointment, you can do that sometime in advance of the election process," he said. Otherwise, the chief deputy becomes acting sheriff per the statute.

Speakers urged specific policy commitments in any appointment. Emily Heilbren, a member of the Trans Alliance of Lane County and United for Immigrant Justice, said the interim sheriff must commit to following the sanctuary promise act "to the letter" when contacted by federal immigration authorities and to develop and follow policies to make sure transgender people held at the jail are treated appropriately.

Board members did not vote on an appointment during the meeting. The public comments and staff briefing set out the legal options available to the board: proceed with an appointment before the 2026 election, allow the chief deputy to serve as acting sheriff until the election, or pursue an open recruitment process that would include public interviews of finalists. County staff did not report a final board direction at the meeting.

Community advocates noted public-safety stakes. Several commenters framed the hiring process as a matter of life and death for immigrant and transgender residents and asked that finalists be asked publicly and on the record whether they will uphold the county’s previously stated commitments.

The board recessed after the meeting; any formal direction or motion to begin a recruitment process or to appoint an interim sheriff was not recorded at the May 6 session.