Jefferson County's incumbent commissioners dominated the May 20 primary election, while a long-sought library bond measure went down in defeat for the second time in two years.
Commissioner Position 1: Wunsch Holds Comfortable Lead
Commissioner Mark Wunsch, the current chair of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, defeated challenger George Curtiss by a margin of roughly 58% to 40%.
Curtiss, who grew up in Crooked River Ranch and positioned himself as a fresh voice for the county's rural communities, made accountability and representation outside Madras city central to his campaign. Wunsch, an incumbent with broad name recognition, outpaced him in nearly every precinct.
The two will not face a general election rematch — in a two-candidate race, the primary winner advances directly. Wunsch will serve another term.
Commissioner Position 2: Simmelink Survives Crowded Field
The Position 2 race was more complicated. Incumbent Kelly Simmelink, who has served since 2017, faced three challengers: Ara Erdekian, Greg Mead, and Bill Atherton.
Simmelink won decisively with approximately 55% of the vote. Erdekian finished second with around 24%, while Mead and Atherton each received smaller shares.
Because this was a four-way primary, the top two vote-getters — Simmelink and Erdekian — will advance to the November general election.
Library Bond Defeated Again
The Jefferson County Library District had hoped the May election would be the turning point for its long-running push to replace the cramped Madras library with a modern facility. It was not.
Voters rejected a bond measure that would have funded construction of a new 14,000-square-foot library in Madras and a smaller satellite branch in Culver. The margin of defeat was substantial. It marked the second consecutive year Jefferson County voters have turned down a library expansion proposal — a nearly identical $22.5 million measure failed in 2025.
Library officials had scaled back ambitions for the 2026 ballot, presenting a leaner $15.5 million proposal after the prior defeat. Even so, voters said no.
The Jefferson County Library District has not announced next steps, but major service cuts are expected as the district operates in its existing building with limited space and aging infrastructure.
Other Measures
Two of the three ballot measures before Jefferson County voters did pass, though the library bond was not among them. Full certified results are available through the Jefferson County Clerk's office at jeffco.net.
The November general election will include the Commission Position 2 rematch between Simmelink and Erdekian, as well as the Pollock-Anderson sheriff's race.