Jefferson County’s two incumbent commissioners came out of the May 19 primary election with commanding leads, setting the stage for what could be final victories — or closely contested November general election showdowns — depending on final certified vote tallies.
Position 1: Wunsch Leads Curtiss by Nearly 20 Points
In the race for Commissioner Position 1, incumbent Mark Wunsch led challenger George Curtiss by a substantial margin, capturing 58.57% of votes compared to Curtiss’s 40.54% in initial returns.
Wunsch has anchored his platform on public safety and transportation infrastructure. He highlighted the department’s growth at a forum held earlier this spring at the Madras Performing Arts Center.
“We’ve been able to add five officers to the sheriff’s team in the last three and a half years and I want that to improve,” Wunsch said. “We have a lot of nasty crime going on across the county — domestic violence, child sex crimes — some of the most horrific crimes. We need to be able to be proactive and have a team that can address those in a timely manner regardless of where they’re at.”
Position 2: Simmelink Tops Crowded Field
Incumbent Kelly Simmelink, who has served on the board since 2017, faced three challengers in the Position 2 race and still managed to capture more than 53% of the vote — a performance that may be decisive enough to avoid a runoff. Final certified results will determine whether she wins outright.
The field included Ara Erdekian (23.54%), Greg Mead (15.27%), and Bill Atherton (6.86%).
Simmelink campaigned on her record of economic development and public safety, emphasizing continued momentum on both fronts.
“Things are really steaming along on the economic side of things, and I want to continue that momentum,” Simmelink said.
Sheriff Race Heads to November
The county’s most closely watched race — Jefferson County Sheriff — was not on the primary ballot and will go directly to the November 3 general election between incumbent Jason Pollock and challenger Tyler Anderson. Anderson’s candidacy faces a significant legal complication: the Oregon Police Policy Committee recommended on May 21 that his law enforcement certifications be permanently revoked.
Other county positions also heading to November include county treasurer and county clerk. Lyndsay Hessel, the county’s executive administrative assistant, is the sole candidate for county clerk.
For questions about election results or certification, contact the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office or visit elections.jeffersoncountyclerk.org.