Josephine County’s interim Commissioner Andreas Blech ignited controversy at the July 23, 2025, WBS meeting after referencing the term “deep state” in an offhand but revealing remark—prompting a wave of public concern over transparency, accountability, and the unchecked authority of an unelected official.
During the meeting, Blech stated, “a deep state is a type of governance made up of potentially secret and unauthorized networks of power, operating independently of an organization’s political leadership, in pursuit of their own agenda and goals.” While this interpretation loosely aligns with common usage, it notably departs from the more widely accepted definition found in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, which describes the “deep state” as “an alleged secret network of especially nonelected government officials and sometimes private entities… operating extralegally to influence and enact government policy.”
The irony has not been lost on residents. Many are now asking whether Blech—an appointed, not elected, figure currently wielding significant influence—has inadvertently exposed his own governing style. Since being installed as interim commissioner and subsequently appointed board chair, Blech has taken an aggressive and largely unilateral approach to county governance, raising questions about his motives and methods.
In the past 90 days, Blech has assumed sweeping authority over all county personnel changes while elected Commissioners Chris Barnett and Ron Smith have largely taken a back seat. These developments have been made with little to no public discussion or transparency, leaving residents to wonder whether important decisions are being made behind closed doors or simply without their elected officials’ meaningful input.
Perhaps most troubling is Blech’s role in gutting department leadership and allegedly attempting to install Emergency Management Officer Mike Sellers—another controversial figure—as the de facto head of multiple departments. The proposal reportedly came with a substantial salary increase, even as the county pleads poverty in other areas. Critics argue Sellars has already struggled to manage his existing duties and question how entrusting him with more responsibility would serve the county’s interests.
Additionally, Blech dismantled all existing county advisory boards, rebuilding them with individuals personally selected by him. This move, coupled with a pattern of opaque personnel changes and policy decisions, has deepened public concerns about favoritism and cronyism.
Residents are demanding answers. Why does an unelected official hold more sway than the elected commissioners? Why are key departmental and policy changes happening without public input or even basic disclosure? And why invoke the language of conspiracy to describe a style of governance many feel he has embodied since day one?
Some speculate that Blech’s public musings about the “deep state” may be a deflection tactic—an attempt to redirect attention away from growing scrutiny over his conduct and toward a more abstract political narrative. If so, it appears to have backfired. His remarks have only amplified the community’s focus on what many view as an increasingly autocratic, insider-driven administration.
With public trust eroding and questions mounting, one thing is clear: Josephine County residents are watching. And they want accountability from all officials—appointed or elected.