Rasmussen

The stage is being set for Union County’s first contested race for sheriff since 2004.

Union County Sheriff Boyd Rasmussen and Bill Miller, who works for Union County Community Corrections, have both filed for the 2020 election for Union County Sheriff.

Rasmussen was elected in a contested race in 2004 and is competing his 15th year as sheriff. He was reelected to four-year terms in 2008, 2012 and 2016 in uncontested races.

“It has been an honor to serve as your Union County Sheriff the last 14 years. I am proud of our Sheriff’s Office and the work we do in keeping Union County safe and livable. It has been gratifying to work with the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Office as well as with our local partners in law enforcement,” Rasmussen said in a letter to the community announcing that he is running for reelection.

He first began working for the Union County Sheriff’s Office in 1994 as a reserve deputy. He was promoted to a full-time patrol position in 1996.

“I look forward to visiting with you in the coming months as we stand together in continuing to protect our communities, citizens and our rights,” he said.

Rasmussen, who grew up in Union County and graduated from Imbler High School, has a bachelor of science degree in business and economics from Eastern Oregon University.

Miller is a lifetime resident of Northeast Oregon and graduated from Elgin High School in 1984. He has a bachelor of science degree in liberal studies from EOU and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 to 1990.

Miller joined the Union County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy in 2005 and was promoted to the rank of detective sergeant in 2013. He left the UCSO in late 2018 to begin a career with Union County Community Corrections and is now a certified parole and probation officer.

Prior to joining the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Miller was employed by the Elgin Police Department as a reserve and certified patrol officer.

“The knowledge and experience I have gained in corrections, police and now parole and probation have made me a well-rounded law enforcement officer. The citizens of Union County need someone who serves them first and who has the fortitude to stand up for them while leading the employees at the Sheriff’s Office from the front,” Miller said in a press release.

The sheriff’s election is non-partisan. Under non-partisan rules, an election will be conducted in conjunction with the primary election in May of 2020. Should one candidate receive more than 50% of the votes, the individual will be the lone candidate on the November 2020 ballot. If no candidate tops 50%, the two with the most votes will be on the ballot in the November 2020 election.

Two others, both incumbents, have also filed as candidates for Union County positions. Robin Church has filed for reelection as Union County Clerk, and Donna Marshall has filed to run for reelection as Union County Treasurer.

Church was appointed Union County Clerk in 2007 and was elected to the first of three four-year terms in 2008. She has worked in the county clerk’s office since 1991.

Marshall has served as Union County Treasurer for a total of 15 years.

The Union County clerk and treasurer positions are non-partisan and follow the same election process as that for the Union County Sheriff’s position.