ISLAND CITY — John Coote helped lead a successful effort almost four decades ago to keep a state prison from being built in Union County.

Today, the Island City man is back on the political scene and excited about the opportunity to represent Union County as a county commissioner at the state Capitol.

“Our county commissioners are the lobbyists for the people of Union County,” he said. “The people of Union County are wonderful, and I want to do all I can to help make their lives better.”

A Union County resident for 45 years, Coote is the owner of Coote Auction Company. He describes himself as an open-minded conservative who welcomes everyone’s perspective.

“One of my best friends is a Democrat. We can have a conversation without ever having a debate, there is never a conflict,” he said.

The candidate moved to Union County in late 1978. Coote, about eight years later, helped stop a state prison from being built in Union County. He said the county was one of six finalists for the prison that was eventually built outside Ontario. Coote said the campaign to keep the prison out of Union County succeeded because it was fundamentally sound.

“It was based on facts,” he said. “Facts were the only thing we needed.”

The drug fentanyl was virtually unheard of in 1986 but today of course it is jolting the nation, including Union County. The fentanyl problem is at the heart of a local drug issue Coote said he would focus his attention on as a county commissioner.

“We have a drug problem that is huge,” he said. “Addiction is a terrible thing.”

Coote applauds the work people like Union County Sheriff Cody Bowen are doing, noting that Bowen recently restarted the Union County Drug Task Force. Coote said that as a county commissioner he would push to provide it as much support as it needs.

“I think it is a necessity,” he said of the drug task force. “I would make it a priority for Union County.”

The condition of the Union County Fairgrounds is another issue on Coote’s radar.

“We need to make the fairgrounds more of a showcase,” he said.

Coote said that the fairgrounds are special in part because the facilities are something that all people, regardless of the physical challenges they face, have access to.

Union County’s veterans are another concern of the candidate for county commissioner.

“They have made so many sacrifices for us,” he said. “If they have any issues, we should do everything we can to help them.”

Coote has mixed feelings about the Greater Idaho movement. Supporters of it are proposing that Idaho’s border be moved west into Oregon. He describes it as a protest movement caused by Eastern Oregonians not getting their voices heard by legislators in Western Oregon.

Coote said the issue is more complicated than some people may realize.

“You just can’t draw a line on a map and all of a sudden everything is wonderful,” he said, referring to the possible creation of Greater Idaho.

Coote said there would be advantages to Union County joining Idaho. For example, he said he believes inheritance taxes are significantly lower in Idaho than Oregon, in terms of the amount of estates that are taxable.

“I have heard of people moving to Idaho because of lower inheritance taxes,” he said.

A drawback for some would be the 6% sales tax Idaho has. Some Oregonians might not like it, Coote said.

Coote has conducted countless livestock auctions over the past four decades, including many at the Union County Fair in La Grande and the Eastern Livestock Show in Union, that raise money for youth.

He believes his experiences as an auctioneer would serve him well if he is elected to the Union County Board of Commissioners.

“It has helped me learn how to work with people,” Coote said.

Coote is one of nine candidates for Position 3 on the Union County Board of Commissioners. The candidates are seeking to succeed Donna Beverage who is completing her eighth year as commissioner and cannot run for reelection because of term limits Union County voters approved several years ago. 

Age: 72

Residence: Island City

Current occupation: Coote is an auctioneer for his business, Coote Auction Company

Relevant political or other experience: Coote helped lead a campaign to stop a state prison from being built in Union County in 1986.

Family: Coote and his wife, Joni Lequerica, are the parents of three children and six grandchildren.

“Our county commissioners are the lobbyists for the people of Union County.”

— John Coote, candidate for Union County commissioner

This is one of a series of stories on the nine candidates vying for Position 3 on the Union County Board of Commissioners.