A special recall election is set for August 4 in the Madras Aquatic Recreation Center District (MACRD), putting four of the five sitting board members on the ballot. Voters will decide whether to remove board chair Ervey Dominguez, vice-chair Jean McCloskey, secretary/treasurer Jinnell Lewis, and board member Frank Maynard. The fifth board member, Kora Hollyman, is not subject to the recall.

What the Petitioners Are Alleging

The recall effort was spearheaded by a community group called Waves of Change, which filed petitions earlier this year citing multiple concerns about how the district has been managed. According to the petition language, the board members:

  • Adopted a 2025 budget that the Oregon Department of Revenue found noncompliant due to a lack of a majority committee vote
  • Authorized more than $100,000 in taxpayer-funded wages during a period when the facility was closed to the public
  • Oversaw the elimination of all land-based recreation programs and a 35% reduction in operating hours
  • Prioritized executive compensation over public access to the facility

The petitions argue this pattern of decisions has "fundamentally broken the public trust" and that new leadership is needed to restore accountability.

Context: Years of Financial Strain

The MACRD has faced mounting financial pressure in recent years. Voters rejected levy measures in both 2024 and 2025 that would have created a new taxing district. The aquatic center was subsequently closed during the summer of 2025 and currently operates on limited days and hours.

Last month, the board approved a one-year extension for acting executive director Courtney Snead at a salary of approximately $97,000 — roughly $10,000 less than Snead had requested, but still a figure that some community members say is hard to justify given the facility's constrained service levels.

How to Vote

The Jefferson County Clerk's Office has laid out a clear timeline for voters in the MACRD district:

  • July 14: Last day to register or update voter registration
  • July 15: Ballots begin mailing
  • August 4, 8:00 p.m.: Voting deadline (ballots postmarked by Aug. 4 will be counted if received within seven days)

Residents can check or update their registration at oregonvotes.oregon.gov. The MACRD district encompasses Madras and surrounding areas of Jefferson County.

Each of the four board members facing recall has filed a statement defending their record, which will accompany ballots when they are mailed next week.