The 2026 primary race for an expanded Deschutes County Commission from three to five seats continues growing. Four of the five seats are up for election. Two of those are held by incumbents Tony DeBone and Patti Adair. The two new seats are at-large. Commissioner Phil Chang’s seat in Position 2 is not up for re-election until 2028. The role of Deschutes County Commissioner became nonpartisan when voters approved the change in 2022.
The Source reported on two candidates who announced their candidacy this month, but several others have also begun their campaigns. In total, six candidates have filed with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office as of this writing.
For Position 1, Jamie Collins has filed. Collins is a 22-year U.S. Coast Guard veteran, climate scientist and small business owner. On his campaign website, he says he feels his leadership skills will help the community navigate urgent challenges and drive the change needed to make the area prosperous. John Heylin, a Bend businessman, announced he’s also running for Seat 1. As of July 31, his filing was not listed on the Secretary of State’s website.
Amanda Page and Amy Sabbadini have filed with the state to run for Position 3. Sabbadini has a background as an educator. On her campaign website, she outlines her platform on sensible land use, healthy communities, public safety, transit and wise water use. Page is a flight paramedic for Life Flight Network and is a Director of the Redmond School Board.
Rick Russell is the only candidate so far to file with the state for Seat 4. He states his priorities are affordable housing, homelessness solutions and wildfire resiliency.
Two candidates have filed their intent for Seat 5: Morgan Schmidt and John Nielsen. Schmidt, who ran for Deschutes County Commissioner in 2022, is a pastor and executive director of the Red Cross of Central & Eastern Oregon. Nielsen is a current Redmond City Councilor. He says he’s running for Deschutes County Commissioner because he believes in a balanced approach to leadership that respects diverse perspectives and values fiscal responsibility.
Candidates can begin officially filing with the Deschutes County Clerk on September 11.
This month the current Deschutes County Commissioners announced their picks for the County’s District Mapping Advisory Committee which will draft a commissioner district map. That will also be put before voters in 2026. The newly approved districts would then be in place for the 2028 election.
Correction: An earlier version inadvertently included Oliver Tatom as a candidate. That is not the case. We regret the error.
This article appears in Source Weekly July 24, 2025.
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If commissioner districts have not yet been established, where are the Position seats located? It would appear the people interested in running are from either Bend or Redmond. This concentration will leave the outlying areas like Sisters, LaPine, Terrebonne, and Tumalo without representation and a voice in county governance. Although the commissioner elections are “supposedly” non-partisan, both Republican and Democratic parties will be heavily involved. We need people that listen to and represent all parties and ideologies.
An All-Star cast with absolutely no business running a County. Especially a County that has out of control growth and a ton of other issues that need serious attention and focus from people with EXPERIENCE, not people looking to fill out their Facebook profiles and fill in the free time on their calendars.
Not one of these people has a clue how to handle a position like this. Folks, this area is in critical need of people that know what they are doing. Slow down growth. Resolve transportation issues. Wake up to the fact people are waiting months for medical appointments. Traveling outside the county for treatments. It’s an embarrassment.
Tell us how you really feel, David.
You make such a hard unforgiving general statement
about people you know little about.
Which is why we have the opportunity to
listen to candidates for the next eight months
who believe that they have something to offer us.
Let’s listen.
Let me forgive your frustration, however.
We are surrounded by lies, and liars.
Then every two years, we decide which
Party Member we should give our vote.
Let’s cut to the end of the conversation,
where we agree on some things.
The hate and anger that isn’t working at
the national level, also won’t work here
in our county.
Let’s understand something together.
A GOOD MANAGER does not have to be
an expert at anything except managing,
and listening.
If we keep picking representatives the way
that we have been picking them, they will
do nothing but continue to represent
their Party.
Why? Because they hate their
political enemy, which gives them
permission to do anything,
except represent us.
Let me ask you to consider doing something this May 2026.
Withhold your vote from every Red-candidate,
and from every Blue-candidate.
VOTE ONLY FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
Leave your corrupt Party today!
Join me in the Best Partisan Rebellion Ever.
Let’s see what our commission looks like representing locals,
instead of representing national parties and their Interests.
Please.