Jake Seavert speaks at a candidate forum at the Catherine Creek Community Center in Union on March 21, 2024. Seavert is running against Mark Simmons for a seat on the Union County Board of Commissioners. 

LA GRANDE — Like many auctioneers, Jake Seavert sometimes taps a gravel during sales to end bidding for an item.

The La Grande man is among nine candidates running for Position 3 on the Union County Board of Commissioners. Seavert, one of two auctioneers in the field in addition to John Coote, has served as an auctioneer for more than 20 years.

“It is a skill that I have which I can use to help the community,” said Seavert, who conducts auctions to raise money for community organizations and if elected as a commissioner would have a gavel available to him for opening and closing some meetings.

The candidate credits his family and Todd Nash, a member of the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners, with inspiring him to run for office. He also filed because of a strongly held belief.

“I have always felt that if you want to make a difference, you need to get involved,” he said.

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.

Top prioirties

Protecting and boosting agriculture and natural resources in Union County would be one of Seavert’s top priorities. The candidate believes both are critical to this region’s economic health.

“The backbone and foundation of any economy is agriculture and natural resources, especially in rural Oregon,” he said.

Those in agriculture he wants to help include ranchers losing livestock to wolves, Seavert wants to push for having the hunting of wolves predator allowed in Oregon. Presently the killing of wolves is not allowed in Oregon except in defense of human life, or in certain circumstances when a wolf is attacking livestock.

Seavert, who is president of the Union County Cattlemen’s Association, said allowing wolves to be hunted would help not only ranchers but also would boost mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk populations in Northeast Oregon.

The candidate also said that he is very concerned about Union County’s drug problem. Seavert said he would strive to make sure support for first responders remains strong as part of his effort to address the drug issue.

“First responders are on the front lines,” he said. “They need more training and funding.”

Seavert said a significant amount of illegal drugs flow into Union County because Interstate 84 runs through it. Seavert said people should not let Union County’s isolated setting give them a false sense of security when it comes to drug traffic.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize the drug problem is as big as it is because we live in a rural community,” he said.

Seavert is also concerned about the lack of housing in Union County.

“The demand for homes in this county is obviously higher than the supply,” he said.

Seavert, who was born in Baker City and grew up in La Grande, said that when addressing the issue it will be important for parties to first agree on a key point.

“We need to define what affordable housing is,” he said.

Seavert also said that the cities and the state have a greater ability to address the housing shortage than the Union County Board of Commissioners because they have more power in terms of addressing zoning and land use issues.

Greater Idaho

Seavert has an open mind about the Greater Idaho movement, which aims to push a portion of Idaho’s west border into Eastern Oregon. The movement is being sparked by a feeling among many in Eastern Oregon that it is being ignored by state legislatures and other leaders in Western Oregon.

Seavert said Greater Idaho is a long way from becoming a reality.

“It is not going to happen overnight,” he said.

He believes that Measure 31-101, which voters passed in 2020 and requires the Union County Board of Commissioners to meet three times a year to discuss the Greater Idaho to take public input on the Greater Idaho movement, serves a constructive purpose.

“It is important to have public discussions about issues like this,” he said.

Age: 44

Residence: La Grande

Occupation: Division manager of Oregon Trail Livestock Supply.

Relevant political or other experience: Seavert has been the president of the Union County Cattlemen’s Association since January of  2024 and has been a member of organization for three years. Seavert earlier served on the advisory board for Oregon State University’s agriculture program at Eastern Oregon University.

Family: Seavert and his wife Kimberly Seavert are the parents of two sons.

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