Josephine County, OR

01/27/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/27/2026 12:28

Statement from the Desk of Ron Smith

A Message to the People of Josephine County

I want to take a moment to speak directly to the people of Josephine County.

Recent events and public discussion have understandably raised questions about county leadership and the path forward. I want to reassure residents that county government continues to function, essential services remain in place, and there is no disruption to daily operations.

The current situation is temporary. No new commissioners have been appointed yet, and that process will occur in the very near future. Any commissioners appointed will serve only to ensure continuity of county government and will hold office until the general election this November, when voters, not insiders, will decide who serves long-term. Once those temporary appointments are made, a fully seated Board of County Commissioners will be in place to guide the county forward.

As your County Commissioner, my responsibility is to protect the public trust, follow the law, and ensure continuity of governance during this transition. I remain committed to transparency, lawful process, and decisions made in the open, always with the best interests of the entire county in mind.

I appreciate the patience of our residents and county employees during this period. My focus remains on steady leadership today and a smooth, orderly path forward as full board governance is restored.

Respectfully,

Ron Smith

Josephine County Commissioner

Josephine County, OR published this content on January 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 27, 2026 at 18:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]