Jefferson County voters have until 8 p.m. tonight — Tuesday, August 4 — to return their ballots in a special recall election that could reshape the governing board of the Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District (MACRD).

Four board members are listed individually on the recall ballot: board chair Ervey Dominguez, vice-chair Jean McCloskey, secretary/treasurer Jinnell Lewis, and board member Frank Maynard. The fifth board member, Koralynn Hollyman, is not part of the recall. Completed ballots must be returned to the Jefferson County Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. or postmarked today to be counted.

How It Got Here

The recall effort grew out of years of financial strain at the MACRD, which operates the Madras Aquatic Center. The district ran a 2024–25 budget deficit of $67,565, leading to staff reductions, elimination of land-based recreation programs, and a temporary closure of the pool facility during the summer of 2025 — the height of swim season.

The board cited a combination of factors for the closure: insufficient cash reserves to carry operations through November, a change in Jefferson County utility tax treatment, and boiler repair costs. In both 2024 and 2025, voters rejected ballot measures that would have established a permanent property tax levy to stabilize the district’s finances.

“This pool can only run so many hours a week and still be at zero,” budget committee chair Melissa Irvine said earlier this year. “Our expenses aren’t more than the tax dollars that we are bringing in.”

Petition and Community Response

Recall petitioner Nikki Carson and supporters gathered more than 1,000 verified signatures — well above the roughly 700 required — to place the recall on the ballot. Carson has been vocal that the board has failed to adequately serve the community.

“They just wanted to sign because they were just so frustrated and aggravated and felt like they weren’t being heard or listened to,” Carson said of petition signatories.

The district has also faced a formal ethics complaint against its executive director, ten public meeting grievances, and a lawsuit over whether a 2025–26 budget vote followed proper state procedures. The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission ultimately dismissed the complaint. Still, the controversy fueled momentum behind the recall effort.

Board’s Perspective

Board member Frank Maynard said budget decisions were communicated openly. “In February, we told the public that that was going to happen,” he said. “We were going to lose land base. We’re going to lose some hours. It’s simply a financial thing.”

Board chair Ervey Dominguez said serving on the board changed his perspective on the district’s finances. “I came in, I learned and that’s why people say, ‘Oh, you flipped 180,’” Dominguez said. “I did, because I came in here and I learned and I saw what was happening.”

Hollyman, the only board member not facing recall, expressed hope that whatever the outcome brings clarity. “I think this recall is a really tough point for the district and for our whole community. But I think that at the end of the day, it’s a starting point for us to move forward.”

What Happens Next

If any board members are recalled, the remaining board will appoint replacements to serve until the next election. Results are expected to be reported by the Jefferson County Clerk’s office after ballots are tallied tonight.

Voters in the MACRD district can return ballots to the Jefferson County Clerk’s office at 66 SE D Street in Madras by 8 p.m. today.