While the news has been focused on the shenanigans (to put it kindly) of Lane County Commissioner David Loveall, Commissioner Heather Buch has been busy working for the people of her district. Whether it’s getting the new South Lane Clinic started, increasing rural sheriff patrols or finding money for wildfire recovery, she’s stayed on point getting things done.

But all that could change this year. Jake Pelroy, the conservative political consultant, lobbyist and Loveall protégé, wants to unseat Buch. Pelroy has done attack ads for right-wing fringe candidates for some time, and given this track record, he’s sure to bring more partisan culture wars to Lane County’s government. Our country is already dealing with enough partisanship and dysfunction, and we don’t need more of that in Lane County. 

Back in 2024, Pelroy was one of the brains behind the Republican attempt to gerrymander the county to favor conservatives. The voters said no. Most lately Pelroy has been lobbying in opposition to the CleanLane recycling project – a position that happens to benefit his family’s business. Whatever you think of the project, you’d probably agree that we don’t need our elected representatives pushing policies that benefit their family businesses. 

What we do need is representatives who concentrate on the nuts and bolts of governance. We need them focused on issues like public safety, health care, growing businesses and jobs, and protecting our citizens’ rights. I believe Buch is a model for that kind of representation.

If you want more of Loveall’s brand of partisan politics/performance art in Lane County government, then Pelroy is probably your guy. The rest of us should vote for Buch.

Bill Taliaferro
Eugene