Jefferson County voters delivered a clear message on May 19: keep the incumbents, but don't ask them to open their wallets for a new library. The primary election saw both sitting commissioners retain their seats comfortably while a library bond measure went down by a wide margin.
Commissioner Position 1: Wunsch Holds On
Incumbent Commissioner Mark Wunsch defeated challenger George Curtiss in the nonpartisan primary for Position 1, winning approximately 58-59% of the vote to Curtiss's 40%. The margin was decisive enough that Wunsch's re-election is effectively secured — in a two-candidate nonpartisan primary, the top vote-getter advances to the general, and with Curtiss as the only opponent, Wunsch has won the seat outright.
Tony Chard, who had also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the seat, was not on the final ballot.
Commissioner Position 2: Simmelink Survives a Crowded Field
The race for Position 2 was more complicated, with four candidates competing. Incumbent Kelly Simmelink, who has served as commissioner since 2017, pulled through with approximately 54-55% of the vote — a majority strong enough to avoid a general election runoff.
Challenger Ara Erdekian finished second with roughly 24% of the vote. Greg Mead and Bill Atherton split the remaining ballots.
Simmelink's ability to capture a majority in a four-way field is notable: it reflects sustained voter confidence in his leadership, though challengers argued the county needs fresh direction on housing, infrastructure, and economic development.
Library Bond: 63-67% "No" Vote
The most striking result of the evening was the rejection of the Jefferson County Library District's bond measure, which would have funded a new full-sized library in Madras and a smaller branch facility in Culver. Between 63% and 67% of voters cast "no" ballots, soundly defeating the measure.
The bond had been positioned as a solution to the district's aging and undersized facilities. The Madras library, housed in a building critics say is too small and in poor condition, serves a growing population across the county.
This was not the first time Jefferson County voters have rejected library funding. A similar bond measure failed in 2025. For library district officials, the back-to-back defeats raise hard questions about what scale and scope of project — if any — voters might support.
According to earlier reporting, the Library District had been considering a reduced $15.5 million proposal as an alternative to the failed $20 million plan. Whether that smaller-scale measure returns to voters in 2026 or 2027 remains to be seen.
Turnout
County election officials reported moderate primary turnout of approximately 38% of eligible voters returning ballots — typical for an off-year primary in a rural Oregon county.
The general election is scheduled for November 2026. The sheriff's race between Jason Pollock and Tyler Anderson will be the marquee local contest on the fall ballot.