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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026

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State Ethics Review Advances Case Involving Former Josephine County Commissioner Andreas Blech By John Oliver A routine state agenda released this week is now drawing focused attention in Josephine County after identifying a developing ethics case tied to former County Commissioner Andreas Blech, placing the matter on a path toward further review by Oregon’s Government Ethics Commission. Buried among dozens of enforcement entries, advisory listings, and procedural updates, the item stands out for one reason: it is not being dismissed. Instead, state investigators have recommended that the commission move forward with preliminary findings involving potential violations of Oregon ethics law, specifically under ORS 244.060(4), which governs the use of public office for financial gain or to avoid financial detriment. The listing appears within the commission’s “Reports of Investigation” section, a portion of the agenda reserved for cases that have progressed beyond initial complaint review and into formal staff evaluation. According to records, the matter involving Blech has already undergone investigative review, with a state-appointed investigator assigned and findings developed at the staff level. At this stage, the recommendation does not represent a final ruling. Preliminary findings signal that investigators believe there is enough evidence to support continued proceedings, but the commission itself must still

evaluate the case before any formal determination is made. That process can include additional documentation, legal review, and potential hearings depending on how the case advances. That level of detail is typically reserved for expanded staff reports or future commission proceedings if the case continues forward. For now, the entry serves as a formal indication that the investigation has cleared an initial threshold and is advancing through the state’s ethics enforcement process. The timing of May 1, 2026, aligns with the commission’s regular review cycle, during which a wide range of ethics matters are evaluated. These agendas often pass with limited

public notice unless they involve high-profile individuals or jurisdictions with heightened public interest. In Josephine County, where recent years have brought ongoing scrutiny of public decision-making, contract awards, and administrative oversight, the appearance of a former commissioner in a state ethics report adds to an already active conversation surrounding accountability in local government. While the current listing stops short of any formal finding of wrongdoing, it establishes that the matter has progressed beyond a preliminary complaint and remains under active consideration. Under Oregon law, individuals named in ethics investigations retain full due process rights throughout the proceedings. The commission must review the staff recommendation before determining whether to adopt the findings, pursue penalties, or take alternative action. Until that process is complete, no violation has been formally established. What comes next will depend on how the commission responds to the recommendation in the coming review cycle. If the case advances, additional records and findings are expected to be released, offering a clearer picture of the facts under examination. For now, the state’s own documentation confirms only one point with certainty: the case involving former Commissioner Andreas Blech is not closed, and the review is moving forward.

Ballots in Hand, Clock Ticking Oregon’s Primary Enters Its Most Decisive Phase By John Oliver Across Oregon, from the neighborhoods of southern Oregon to the population centers of the Willamette Valley, the 2026 primary election has entered the phase that ultimately determines outcomes. Ballots are no longer a future event. They are already in homes, on countertops, and in the hands of voters who now carry the responsibility of returning them on time. Unlike many states, Oregon’s election system does not revolve around long lines at polling stations. The state conducts elections entirely by mail under the direction of the Oregon Secretary of State, a system that shifts the burden of participation from a single day to a multi-week window. That window is now narrowing. Ballots must be received by county election offices or official drop sites no later than 8 p.m. on May 19. Postmarks do not count. This distinction has become one of the most important factual realities shaping the final days of the primary. Voters who delay mailing their ballots risk missing the deadline, making secure drop boxes an increasingly critical part of the process as Election Day approaches. The structure of Oregon’s vote-by-mail system has created a different kind of election

timeline. Campaign activity does not build toward a single day but instead follows the pace of ballot returns. Early in the cycle, campaigns focus on visibility and identification. As ballots arrive, messaging shifts toward urgency and completion. In the final stretch, the emphasis is no longer persuasion alone, but participation. Throughout the Willamette Valley, including cities such as Salem, Eugene, and Portland, local races are drawing heightened attention. Municipal contests, county positions, and judicial seats often take shape during the primary rather than the general election. In many nonpartisan races, the outcome is effectively decided in May if a candidate secures a majority of the vote. This dynamic has intensified political activ-

ity at the local level. Campaign signs have multiplied along roadways and residential streets. Candidate forums and community events have increased in frequency. Digital outreach has expanded across social media platforms, where campaigns attempt to reach voters directly as ballots are being filled out. Turnout patterns continue to play a defining role. Historical data from Oregon primaries shows participation typically falls below general election levels. Early returns often come from older voters, while younger and less frequent voters tend to submit ballots closer to the deadline. These patterns influence how campaigns allocate time and resources, particularly in the final days.

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see OREGON’S, page 3

Oregon Launches Statewide Boating Safety Push By Ellen Ward As Oregon’s rivers begin to swell with spring runoff and early summer traffic, state officials are moving quickly to get ahead of a pattern that repeats itself every year: more people on the water, followed by preventable emergencies that strain local responders and end lives that did not need to be lost. The Oregon State Marine Board has rolled out its “Fit to Float” campaign statewide, aligning the effort with National Safe Boating Week in mid-May. The timing is deliberate. Warmer weather is already drawing residents back onto rivers, lakes, and reservoirs from Southern Oregon to the Portland metro area, and agencies know the first weeks of the season are often the most dangerous. This campaign is not built around slogans. It is built around a problem the data has made impossible to ignore. Federal boating safety statistics consistently show that drowning remains the leading cause of death in recreational boating incidents. In the vast majority of those cases, the victim was not wearing a life jacket. Oregon’s waterways add another layer of risk, with cold water temperatures, unpredictable currents, and snowmelt conditions that can change a calm stretch of river into something far less forgiving within hours. State officials are focusing on a simple correction to that pattern: getting people into properly fitted life jackets before they ever push off from shore. Across Oregon, the Marine Board is coordinating in-person “Fit to Float” events designed to do more than hand out advice. The events are being staged in locations where boaters actually launch, including river access points and community gathering areas in regions such as Southern Oregon, the Willamette Valley, and along the Interstate 5

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see BOATING, page 13