In another troubling example of political hostility spilling into personal territory, Josephine County Commissioner Chris Barnett has once again found himself at the center of controversy. This time, the commissioner has targeted a respected community member, Dr. Jennifer Roberts, co-chair of the Friends of the Library, in a social media post many are calling both defamatory and cruel.
The post, published on Facebook under Barnett’s known pseudonymous pages — including Real Live News Southern Oregon and Josephine County News — accused Roberts of spreading misinformation and fabricating claims about the County and Library District’s lease dispute earlier this year. Accompanying the post was a photograph of Roberts that she says was taken from her personal Facebook page, a photo that held deep emotional meaning. It was taken the week she began chemotherapy, captured by her husband as a cherished family memory before her cancer treatments began.
The post, now shared across multiple local discussion groups, frames Roberts as part of an organized political movement to recall Barnett, despite her statement that she is not an active recall organizer. What she is, however, is a visible and respected community figure known for her advocacy on behalf of the public library system. The accusation that she is spreading lies and disinformation has drawn sharp criticism from residents who view the commissioner’s words as yet another example of his pattern of bullying, retaliation, and reckless online behavior.
Barnett’s social media activity has long been a point of concern within Josephine County. His posts frequently cross the line from political discourse into personal attacks, targeting local citizens, journalists, and even volunteers who challenge his actions or question his leadership. His repeated use of anonymous or misleading Facebook pages to launch these verbal assaults has fueled community outrage and raised legitimate concerns about ethics, professionalism, and liability.
In this latest case, Barnett’s decision to publicly share a private photograph and associate it with accusations of deceit and misinformation may prove to be more than a moral failing — it could open the county itself to litigation. Local civic observers warn that by publicly defaming a private citizen while holding elected office, Barnett exposes not only himself but also the taxpayers of Josephine County to potential lawsuits. Such actions, they say, demonstrate a troubling lack of restraint and an absence of respect for the position he was elected to uphold.
Beyond the legal risks, the emotional toll of such behavior cannot be understated. Roberts, who has dedicated her time and energy to improving local library services, now finds herself the target of a public smear campaign orchestrated by a sitting county commissioner. For residents, it is a shocking reminder of how low political discourse in Josephine County has sunk. What should be an environment of collaboration, transparency, and service has devolved into a toxic culture of intimidation and insult.
Barnett’s post sought to frame recall organizers as deceitful, accusing them of spreading fear and falsehoods to divide the community. Yet the irony is clear to many citizens: the division does not stem from those demanding accountability but from the elected official who continues to provoke, demean, and inflame tensions across social media.
This is the second time in recent weeks that Barnett has targeted a long-term, faithful local library volunteer with a negative social media post. Just as concerning, a few weeks ago Barnett was caught red-handed anonymously posting a “Wanted” poster in a local Facebook group featuring one of the Library District’s board members, implying that this board member had done something wrong. In reality, the board member had done nothing wrong and was merely exercising her First Amendment right to criticize an elected official’s harmful and costly behavior.
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has faced growing criticism for Barnett’s repeated outbursts, and many are calling for immediate accountability. Several residents and legal observers have noted that the longer the board allows such conduct to continue unchecked, the greater the financial and reputational damage to the county as a whole. Should litigation arise, it will be taxpayers — and Barnett personally — who foot the bill for defending his actions.
Barnett’s online tirades have already sparked multiple ethics complaints, and some residents are now openly discussing legal recourse, including potential defamation suits. In the court of public opinion, however, the verdict is already forming: Josephine County deserves leadership that uplifts rather than attacks, that unites rather than divides.
Commissioner Barnett, as the registered owner of these pages, is ultimately responsible for their content and holds the full legal burden for any actions or posts made under them. In short, the buck stops with Barnett. His behavior, many say, resembles that of a frustrated child rather than an elected leader — lashing out, deflecting blame, and doubling down on personal grudges. His inability to separate personal feelings from professional responsibility has eroded public confidence and diminished the dignity of the office he holds.
At a time when the community is struggling with pressing challenges — from homelessness to economic recovery to strained public trust — the last thing citizens need is an official who uses his platform to bully those he disagrees with. Calls for his resignation are growing louder, with residents insisting that Barnett step down before further damage is done.
Commissioner Chris Barnett may believe he is defending himself from political opponents, but his actions tell a different story — one of a public servant consumed by ego, unable to rise above personal vendettas, and willing to sacrifice the county’s integrity in the process. The people of Josephine County deserve better. Leadership demands maturity, empathy, and accountability — qualities that, once again, appear to be missing from Barnett’s playbook.
Until that changes, Josephine County remains caught in the shadow of a commissioner whose biggest adversary may not be his critics, but himself.
