Both incumbent Jefferson County commissioners held off their challengers in the May 20 primary election, and the county is now in the final stages of ballot tabulation ahead of state certification at the end of the month.

Commissioner Position 1: Wunsch Defeats Curtiss

Commission Chair Mark Wunsch secured reelection in the Position 1 race with approximately 58.6% of the vote, defeating challenger George Curtiss, who received around 40.5%. Wunsch, who has served on the board for several terms, campaigned on his experience guiding the county through financial challenges and infrastructure decisions.

Curtiss, a Crooked River Ranch native who ran on a platform of greater accountability and rural representation, raised concerns throughout the campaign about outsourced county services, including the closure of the local animal shelter and 911 dispatch operations.

Commissioner Position 2: Simmelink Holds Off a Crowded Field

Commissioner Kelly Simmelink, who has served since 2017, faced a three-candidate primary field and emerged with approximately 55% of the vote. Her challengers — Bill Atherton, Greg Mead, and Ara Erdekian — split the remaining votes, preventing any one of them from mounting a serious consolidation challenge.

Erdekian, who made two appearances at countywide candidate forums, drew attention for her focus on rural banking access — specifically citing the upcoming closure of the Madras Wells Fargo branch as evidence of eroding financial services in Jefferson County.

Where the Count Stands

Oregon's primary results remain unofficial until certified. According to the Oregon Secretary of State's office, the statewide certification date is June 25, 2026. Jefferson County's own ballot tally machine certification is scheduled for June 11.

Today, June 3, is the last day that information identifying voters with challenged ballots — those with missing or non-matching signatures — is available for public inspection at the Jefferson County Clerk's office. Voters whose ballots were challenged have until June 9 to resolve those issues.

Library Bond: Voters Say No, Again

The May election also decided the fate of a Jefferson County Library District bond measure. The proposal, which would have raised $15.9 million over 25 years (taxing approximately 41 cents per $1,000 of assessed value) to fund a new main library in Madras and a smaller branch in Culver, was rejected by roughly two-thirds of voters. It marks the second consecutive year voters have turned down a library expansion bond — a $22.5 million measure was defeated in 2025.

Library officials had hoped a lower cost to taxpayers would improve the measure's chances. The district has not yet announced next steps.