Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Temporary board sets vetting rules, names five finalists to interview for county vacancies
Summary
A temporary board in Josephine County approved standard background checks, directed Human Resources to prepare interview questions and scoring rubrics, and identified five finalist applicants (12, 13, 20, 29 and 33) for interviews Feb. 18–19, 2026.
The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officials in Josephine County met Feb. 12, 2026, and established procedures to vet applicants for two county commissioner vacancies, approving background checks, scheduling interviews and narrowing the pool to five finalists.
Chair Dustin Calvo opened the special meeting at 1:30 p.m. and the board heard a summary of conflict-of-interest rules from Leah Harper, assistant county counsel, who explained what constitutes a conflict. Board members each declared they may have potential conflicts because several applicants are known personally in the county; Peter Allen, the county surveyor, specifically noted some applicants had used his private surveying services.
The board discussed mandatory eligibility items including age, voter registration and residency. Sheriff Dave Daniel moved that applicants undergo the county’s standard human-resources background check as part of the hiring process; Peter Allen seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote, 6–0. Clerk Rhiannon Henkels confirmed staff can verify voter registration for applicants and that the five finalists are registered voters.
Human Resources Director Michelle Shaw told the board there is an existing county interview score sheet. The board authorized Human Resources to compile a standardized set of interview questions and a shared scoring rubric so all candidates are assessed under the same criteria; HR will present the finalized rubric and question list at a Feb. 17 meeting for the temporary board’s review. The board directed HR to send the final question list to all candidates simultaneously.
Calvo read state statute ORS 254.575 concerning tie procedures as a precaution; Clerk Henkels noted some counties resolve ties by lot (dice, straws or coin flip) when candidates agree. No tie-break method was adopted at the meeting.
Each temporary board member privately submitted applicant numbers they recommended for interviews; Clerk Henkels tallied the choices and reported five applicants with majority support: 12, 13, 20, 29 and 33. The board scheduled a follow-up meeting for Feb. 17 at 9:00 a.m. to finalize questions, interviews to begin Feb. 18 at 9:00 a.m., and a final selection meeting for Feb. 19 at 9:00 a.m.
Henkels moved that Human Resources handle any public-records requests related to the appointment process; Wally Hicks, county legal counsel, seconded. The motion carried 5–0 with Dave Daniel excused. The meeting adjourned at 2:37 p.m.
The temporary board’s actions were procedural steps toward filling commissioner vacancies; no final appointments were made at this meeting. The board included ORS 254.575 in the record as Exhibit 1 for guidance on tie votes.
