The nine candidates running for Union County Commissioner Position 3 in the primary election took to the stage at La Grande High School on May 7, 2024, for a candidate forum hosted by the Union County Chamber of Commerce. From left to right are John Coote, Merle Comfort, Brent Clapp, Robin Church, Kathleen Cathey, Caleb Sampson, Brian Sather, Mark Simmons and Jake Seavert.

LA GRANDE — John Coote, a candidate for Position 3 on the Union County Board of Commissioners, believes that what may be viewed as a shortcoming on his resume is actually a strength.

Coote expressed his sentiment at a candidates forum at La Grande High School on Tuesday, May 7, while fielding a two-in-one question: What distinguishes you from your fellow candidates? Why should people vote for you?

The candidate answered by saying a void on his resume is what sets him apart from the other candidates running for the Union County Board of Commissioners position. Coote said he lacks any experience in government.

“But that might not be all bad,” he said.

Coote said he thinks this will allow him to see things through a clearer perspective.

“A fresh look usually is a pretty good look because you do not have any preconceived ideas or any ideas about what is supposed to happen, but you just jump in and make things happen,” Coote said.

Mark Simmons, by contrast, is among the many candidates who said he could put his government experience to good use as a county commissioner. Simmons was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the director of Oregon’s USDA Rural Development program in 2004. Simmons helped rural Oregon communities get funding for infrastructure projects, including the building of water and sewer systems during his four-year tenure in the position.

Simmons said when he started in the position it was bringing in an average of $110 million a year to the state to pay for things like infrastructure projects — and four years later he had boosted the total to an average of $330 million a year. He said his experience in this role would help him as county commissioner.

“I love Union County and the people that are here, and I know how to get things done on behalf of its local citizens,” he said at the forum.

Kathleen Cathey also said her experience in government would benefit Union County. Cathey has worked as a field representative for Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden for 18 years. She said the relationships she has established while working to help people in Eastern Oregon would serve her well.

“When there is a problem, I know who to call to get people started on working toward a solution,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I know everything, but I do know how to get people to come together and work on a problem.”

Cathey, Simmons and Coote are among nine candidates running to succeed Position 3 incumbent Donna Beverage on the Union County Board of Commissioners. Beverage is completing her eighth year on the board and could not run for reelection because of term limits.

Jake Seavert credits Beverage with being an excellent voice for agriculture and natural resources on the board. Seavert, president of the Union County Cattlemen’s Association, said he would strive to continue Beverage’s work.

“I feel that I would step into Donna’s position well,” he said.

Beverage and other members of the board of commissioners have closely followed the development of the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed Blue Mountain Forest Plan for years. It is a plan that has candidate Brian Sather concerned.

Sather said the plan could impact recreational opportunities in Union County on Forest Service land.

Sather said that he has put together a database of roads and trails on Union County’s forestland that he believes would be a great resource when working to keep the land open for recreational purposes.

Caleb Sampson said his ability to listen to others and his diverse background of work and volunteer experience in Union County would serve him well as a commissioner.

“What distinguishes me from the rest of the candidates is that I’m your utility player,” he said.

Sampson said he has enjoyed the many jobs he has had, including those in sales, and he said he welcomes talking to the public and even fielding complaints.

Brent Clapp, the owner of Eastern Oregon Alive TV, said his extensive knowledge and connections would be a boon if elected county commissioner.

“I’m really connected and aware,” he said. “I have had the opportunity to interview people from all over the spectrum.”

Clapp said he would draw on these connections and his ability to get people to work together to address issues.

“I have the ability to be a consensus builder,” he said.

Candidates Robin Church and Merle Comfort also said their unique experiences in local government makes them ideal candidates.

Church was the Union County Clerk from 2007-2022, and Comfort has served as a member of the La Grande School for a total 25 years and as member of the InterMountain Education Service District Board for 12 years.

The May 7 forum was sponsored by The Observer and the Union County Chamber of Commerce and attended by more than 100 people.

Candidates also answered questions about the drug crisis, affordable housing and how they would manage the county’s budget and employees.

The nine candidates running for Position 3 on the Union County Board of Commissioners have a diverse range of backgrounds.

• Kathleen Cathey, 63, of La Grande, is a field representative for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. Cathey covers 11 counties: Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler.

• Robin Church, 69, of La Grande, is a retired and award-winning Union County Clerk. She served as the county clerk from 2007-2022.

• Brent Clapp, 62, of Island City, is the co-owner, with his wife, Tonya Clapp, of Brent Clapp Productions and Eastern Oregon Alive TV.

• Merle Comfort, 64, of La Grande, is a truck driver for R.D. Mac Inc. and has served on the La Grande School Board for a total of almost 25 years and on the InterMountain Education Service District Board since 2010.

• John Coote, 72, of Island City, is an auctioneer for his business, Coote Auction Company.

• Caleb Sampson, 44, of La Grande, works at Barreto Manufacturing and is a member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors.

• Brian Sather, 51, of Summerville, is a professor of physical education and sport at Eastern Oregon University.

• Jake Seavert, 44, of La Grande, is a division manager at Oregon Trail Livestock Supply. He is the current president of the Union County Cattlemen’s Association.

• Mark Simmons, 67, of Elgin, is owner of Simmons and Company, a firm that negotiates sales between seed dealers and farmers. Simmons served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1997-2002 and was its speaker the last two of those years.