Jefferson County voters delivered clear results in the May 20 primary election for two County Commissioner seats, with both incumbents advancing to the November general election — one of them with enough support to potentially secure a win outright.
Position 1: Wunsch vs. Curtiss
In the race for Commissioner Position 1, incumbent Mark Wunsch — the current commission chair — topped the field over challenger George Curtiss. A third candidate, Tony Chard, was also in the primary but did not advance.
Curtiss, who grew up in Crooked River Ranch, had positioned himself as a fresh voice for the southern part of the county. He and Wunsch will face each other in the November general election.
Position 2: Simmelink Dominates a Four-Way Race
The Position 2 race was more dramatic — a four-candidate field that saw incumbent Kelly Simmelink, who has served since 2017, pull approximately 55% of the vote, potentially enough to win the race outright without a general election runoff under Oregon's majority rules.
Her challengers fell well short:
- Ara Erdekian — approximately 23.65%
- Greg Mead — approximately 13.85%
- Bill Atherton — remainder of votes
Atherton, a former Lake Oswego City Councilor, had been one of the more prominent challengers. Final certified results will determine whether Simmelink's majority is sufficient to end the race at the primary stage or whether a general election contest proceeds.
What This Means for Jefferson County Government
Jefferson County's three-member Board of Commissioners handles everything from road maintenance and public health to land use and budget decisions affecting all residents — from Madras and Metolius to Culver, Warm Springs, and Crooked River Ranch.
The November elections will determine the makeup of that board heading into 2027. Voters across the county will have the opportunity to weigh in on both races in the fall.
The Madras Bulletin will publish voter guides and candidate profiles ahead of the November election. Candidates' official statements are available at jeffersoncountyor.gov.