LA GRANDE — Jake Seavert has a buoyant vision for Union County — he hopes that the flow of rivers and streams in the Upper Grande Ronde Basin, which includes Catherine Creek, can be improved.

This would protect water and increase its availability to farmers, Seavert said, and would boost agricultural production.

“It would have an amazing impact,’’ said Seavert, who was born in Baker City and grew up in La Grande. He’s running now for a seat on the Union County Board of Commissioners.

“Agriculture is the backbone of any county’s economy, especially ones in rural Oregon,’’ Seavert said.

The La Grande resident is chair of the Union County Cattlemen’s Association and a supporter of the Upper Grande Ronde Watershed Partnership Place-Based Integrated Water Resources Plan. The plan calls for studying a number of proposals for boosting water availability.

One proposal Seavert endorses is a proposal to build dams on Mill Creek, Catherine Creek and the Upper Grande Ronde River. Seavert said construction of dams at these sites would allow for water from rain and snowmelt to be saved in the winter and spring and then released in the summer and fall when stream levels are low.

Seavert also said the dams could also be used to prevent flooding in the early spring when rivers and creeks sometimes jump their banks.

Discussions about protecting and boosting the availability of water in Union County have taken place for years but to date no real steps to address the issue have been taken. Seavert said the time has come to move forward.

“We’ve been talking about this for a long time; we need to start taking action,’’ he said, adding that if he’s elected, he will have a chance to serve as a leader of the Grande Watershed Partnership project.

Seavert also hopes to help ranchers who are losing livestock to wolves. He wants to push for having the hunting of predator wolves 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 raises cattle, 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.

Mental health and housing

Seavert said he strongly supports a local drive to get a center built for people suffering from substance abuse and mental health crises in Union County. He said that now, people dealing with such issues are taken to health care facilities or the Union County Jail when their problems escalate to a crisis stage. Unfortunately, none of those facilities is equipped to give them the specialized help they need, Seavert said.

Seavert also is concerned with land-use regulations and how they relate to Union County’s housing shortages. He said cities and the state have a greater ability to address the housing shortage than the Union County Board of Commissioners because they have the power to address zoning and land use issues in their communities.

He does not want to see zoning restrictions for large parcels of agricultural land changed to allow housing developments to be built. Seavert said that once agricultural land is lost it can not easily be replaced.

“You can’t grow crops on the face of Mount Harris or Mount Emily,’’ Seavert said.

The candidate did say that he would support the expansion of urban growth boundaries for housing or business developments, but only if the steps are taken prudently by city councils.

“I think this should be done only on a case-by-case basis,’’ said Seavert, who has a degree in agriculture business management from Oregon State University’s agriculture program at Eastern Oregon University.

Greater Idaho

Seavert has a neutral stance on the Greater Idaho movement, which he said he is asked about almost more than any other issue. The movement aims to push a portion of Idaho’s west border into Eastern Oregon. It is being sparked by a feeling among many in Eastern Oregon that the region it is being ignored by state legislators and other leaders in Western Oregon.

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

“It is a huge undertaking,’’ the candidate said.

But he said he understands why the Greater Idaho movement is gaining traction among some in the region.

“Our thoughts and opinions are often dismissed on the other side of the state,’’ he said.

He believes that a county ballot measure approved by voters in 2020 requiring the Union County Board of Commissioners to meet three times a year to discuss the Greater Idaho movement and take public input on it serves a constructive purpose. He said it gives people a chance to address an issue of considerable public interest.

Seavert believes that meetings required by the measure would be more constructive if members of the Union County Board of Commissioners answered more questions from those attending and shared how they feel about the Greater Idaho movement. He said many in the community want to know where members of the Union County Board of Commissioners stand on the issue.

Seavert is new to electoral politics, but he has experience before large audiences: He has served as an auctioneer for about 20 years. He conducts auctions to raise money for community organizations, including youth-oriented ones such as FFA and 4-H. He plans to continue serving as auctioneer regardless of the outcome of the election.

“It is a skill that I have which I can use to help the community,” Seavert said.

Age: 45

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 2024 and has been a member of the 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, are the parents of two sons.

Hobbies: Seavert enjoys outdoor activities, including camping trips with his family.