Residents urge more sheriff staffing, defend county child-support office and press election-integrity concerns at Washington County meeting

Members of the public used the board's public-comment periods Tuesday to press three recurring themes: support for sheriff's staffing funded in part by the Enhanced Sheriff Patrol District (ESPD), opposition to a possible dissolution of the Washington County Child Support Department, and allegations of election irregularities and requests for election-system changes.

Terry Wagner, speaking as a resident, urged the board to "fully support the Sheriff's Office during this budget cycle, ensuring our residents receive the level of public safety they deserve." Wagner said ESPD and the public-safety local option levy have provided policing to unincorporated Washington County since 1987 and described a gap of roughly 14 general-fund-funded positions that he said reduces deputy-per-thousand residents ratios. "When law enforcement is needed, people do not care which uniform they are wearing, only that they are safe," Wagner said.

Dawn Wright, who identified herself as a 21-year employee of the Washington County Child Support Department, asked the board to "please reconsider this proposal of dissolving the Washington County Child Support Department." Wright said the county unit repeatedly ranks first in collections in the state, that federal reimbursement covers two-thirds of collection costs, and that closing the office would shift costs and jobs rather than produce net savings.

Several speakers urged the board to take action on election administration. Mary Halkiopoulos reviewed an internal review of early ballots received on Sept. 23, 2024, saying 5,871 ballots were received that day and the group provided the board a list of 442 individuals whose ballots were received on Sept. 23 but who did not appear on August or October voter rolls. She said 41 of those individuals were added to voter rolls after the Oct. 15, 2024 registration deadline and characterized that as violations of Oregon law; she urged the board to act to "fix our election system."

Douglas (Dr.) Frank and Janet Bailey presented broader allegations about voter-roll quality, voting machines and election integrity. Frank, who said he has been advising groups around the country, warned the county may face litigation and urged the board to form a citizen election commission to investigate registration rolls and voting systems. Bailey told the board she and other citizens have presented records and called for in-person precinct voting and stronger chain-of-custody procedures.

Other speakers included Dale Feek (public-comment remarks on international aid and an opinion piece), and a group representative, Ayla Hoffler, who raised procedural questions about the board's public-comment guidelines and attempted to yield time to another presenter; the chair and county counsel clarified the board's guidelines were advisory and the meeting proceeded under the board's rules.

What the board said

Chair Harrington and staff acknowledged receipt of written materials provided by speakers and noted that the county administrator is preparing a balanced proposed budget for presentation April 28. The chair said there was no formal budget proposal yet to dissolve the Child Support Department; any such proposal would come as part of the administrator's budget package. The board did not take formal action on the election or staffing issues during the meeting; comments were accepted for the record.

Ending

Speakers used the board's two public-comment periods to press the commissioners on a range of concerns. The board received the comments but deferred any formal decisions to future budget or agenda processes.