Although this article was written yesterday, new developments have already altered the circumstances surrounding the race. Since the article was completed, Simon Hare has withdrawn his candidacy for Josephine County Commissioner, Position No. 2, and has instead filed to run for Josephine County Treasurer. The sudden change does little to resolve the questions already surrounding his candidacy and, in many respects, raises additional concerns.
The office of county treasurer carries the critical responsibility of safeguarding and managing public funds in strict accordance with Oregon law, yet Hare has no known professional background in finance, treasury management, or governmental accounting. Compounding these concerns is a statement he made just last week suggesting that county funds could be invested in a manner that would fall outside the legal framework governing public money. Such a proposal reflects a troubling misunderstanding of the strict rules that regulate how taxpayer dollars must be protected and invested. While shifting to a different race may have been intended to reposition his candidacy, seeking control over the county’s treasury without the necessary experience or a clear understanding of the legal limits surrounding public funds raises deeper questions about judgment and qualifications, and may ultimately prove more concerning than his earlier bid for a seat on the county commission.
Josephine County politics has a long memory, and one of the names tied to some of its most turbulent chapters has now returned to the ballot. Former county commissioner Simon Hare is once again seeking public office, filing as a candidate for Josephine County Commissioner Position No. 2. His return to the political stage is already stirring debate across the county, not simply because of his prior time in office, but because of the network of unresolved controversies and unanswered questions that continue to follow him.
Hare previously served as a Josephine County commissioner and later remained connected to county affairs through various contractual roles. During different periods he has also described himself as a whistleblower regarding county operations, placing himself both inside and outside the political establishment depending on the issue at hand. That history alone would place him in the public spotlight as he campaigns for a return to county government. Yet the circumstances surrounding this new campaign reach beyond his earlier time in office.
Repeated attempts were made by the Grants Pass Tribune to contact Hare directly regarding his candidacy and the matters now circulating in public discussion. Several emails requesting comment were sent in recent weeks. As of publication, those inquiries have gone unanswered.
Among the issues drawing attention is an ongoing Department of Justice investigation involving individuals connected to former Josephine County Commissioner Chris Barnett. According to information referenced in reporting inquiries, Hare’s partner, Kristina Stickler, has been identified in connection with aspects of the federal investigation related to allegations of coercion. Federal authorities have not yet released full details of the inquiry, and at this stage the scope of potential findings remains under investigation. However, because Hare is now seeking elected office, questions surrounding the situation have inevitably reached the campaign trail.
Hare was asked directly whether he had any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the investigation and whether he wished to address his partner’s alleged involvement. He was also asked whether he had any involvement in the matter or prior awareness of the investigation. Those questions remain unanswered.
Beyond the federal investigation, Hare’s campaign is unfolding alongside questions tied to Josephine County’s troubled broadband grant effort, an initiative that has continued to raise concerns long after the initial funding discussions took place. The broadband project involved several figures who have remained prominent in county political disputes, including former commissioner John West and Michael Sellers, who has also been referenced in connection with federal investigative interest. The project itself became widely criticized after confusion surrounding its structure, oversight, and public accountability left lingering doubts about how the proposal was developed and who ultimately stood to benefit.
Critics argue that Hare’s proximity to individuals involved in that process deserves closer scrutiny as voters evaluate his return to county politics. Some supporters, on the other hand, maintain that Hare’s experience in county governance provides him with insight that newer candidates may lack.
Another layer of controversy involves Hare’s business relationship with fellow commissioner candidate Chad Hansen. Both men are currently running for the same Position No. 2 seat while also maintaining business ties through Patriot Solutions LLC. That relationship came under public scrutiny last year when Hansen appeared before the Board of County Commissioners seeking grant funding tied to a project. During the application process, the business partnership with Hare was not disclosed. After the omission became known, the grant connected to the application was ultimately rescinded.
The situation has left some voters asking why two business partners are now competing for the same elected office and whether the arrangement reflects coincidence or strategic political positioning. While the answer remains open to interpretation, the optics of the situation have become a frequent topic of discussion within the community.
Further questions surfaced recently after Hare discussed the idea of investing county funds in precious metals during a radio appearance. Oregon law and county financial regulations impose strict limitations on how public funds can be invested, and the suggestion has prompted debate over whether such an approach would be legally permissible or financially responsible for a county government.
Josephine County residents are no strangers to political controversy. The past several years have included lawsuits, allegations of misconduct, disputes between commissioners, and investigations involving local officials. As a result, voters across the county have become increasingly attentive to the backgrounds and relationships of candidates seeking office.
In the view of some observers, the number of controversies connected to the same circle of political figures is too substantial to dismiss as coincidence.
What remains clear is that Simon Hare’s return to the ballot guarantees that those unresolved questions will again be part of the county’s political conversation. Whether voters view his candidacy as a return of experience or a continuation of controversy will likely define one of the most closely watched commissioner races Josephine County has seen in years.
Email sent from Grants Pass Tribune to candidate Hare, 3/7/2026, No response received.
Dear Mr. Hare,
At this time, certain details related to an ongoing investigation are not yet available for publication. However, once the U.S. Department of Justice authorizes the release of information connected to my reporting, those findings will be made public. In advance of that potential disclosure, I would like to offer you the opportunity to provide a statement regarding a matter that has been referenced in connection with the investigation.
Specifically, it has been indicated that your partner, Kristina Stickler, is involved in aspects of the Department of Justice inquiry relating to allegations of coercion involving former Josephine County Commissioner Chris Barnett. Given your candidacy for Josephine County Commissioner and the public interest in transparency and ethical conduct among candidates for public office, I would like to ask whether you wish to comment on this situation.
Do you have any statement regarding Ms. Stickler’s alleged involvement in this matter, and can you clarify whether you had prior knowledge of any actions connected to these allegations? Additionally, how are you addressing this situation personally and professionally, particularly as it relates to your campaign and the public trust associated with seeking elected office?
Your response will help ensure that any future reporting accurately reflects your position and provides readers with the opportunity to hear directly from you on this issue.
Please feel free to include any additional context you believe is relevant.
Sincerely,
John Oliver Riccio
Editor and Publisher
Grants Pass Tribune
Email sent by Grants Pass Tribune, 3/3/2026, No response from either party received.
Dear Mr. Hare and Mr. Hansen,
On behalf of the Grants Pass Tribune, I am reaching out to both of you jointly as declared candidates for Josephine County Commissioner, Position No. 2. As the election cycle begins to take shape, our readers have expressed significant interest in understanding not only your individual qualifications, but also the broader circumstances surrounding two candidates pursuing the same seat while maintaining active private business interests connected to matters of public concern.
In the interest of fairness, transparency, and equal treatment, the Grants Pass Tribune is providing each of you the same opportunity to respond to the following questions for publication in an upcoming candidate profile and community-focused election coverage.
First, voters are seeking clarity regarding your decision to run for Position No. 2 specifically. What motivated each of you (business partners) to pursue this particular same seat, and do you believe having multiple candidates with overlapping backgrounds competing for the same position benefits the county?
Second, questions have arisen regarding Ox Bow Ranch. For the benefit of the public record, please explain where Ox Bow Ranch operates, what activities or products it is involved in, what it produces or sells, and whether any current or anticipated county policies or contracts could intersect with its operations.
Third, the public has asked for clarification regarding Patriot Solutions. Please describe the nature of this company, its scope of work, and whether it conducts or seeks to conduct business connected to local or regional government operations. If either of you were elected County Commissioner, would Patriot Solutions continue to operate in its current form, be restructured, placed under independent management, or dissolved entirely to avoid potential conflicts of interest?
Fourth, Josephine County residents remain highly sensitive to issues of transparency following recent controversies involving former commissioners. What specific steps would each of you take to ensure clear ethical boundaries between public office and private enterprise? How would you proactively prevent even the appearance of conflicts of interest, and what transparency measures would you commit to implementing if elected?
Additionally, voters want to understand your respective campaigns beyond procedural questions. Please outline the central ideas driving your candidacy, including:
• Your core platform and policy priorities
• Your campaign message to Josephine County residents
• Any campaign slogan or guiding philosophy
• The primary problems you believe the county faces today and how you intend to address them
Finally, please address how you would handle ownership or operational involvement in your existing businesses should you assume public office. Would you divest, transfer management, establish blind trusts, or take other steps to ensure independence between personal financial interests and county governance?
Our goal is to provide voters with substantive, side-by-side information so residents can make informed decisions grounded in transparency, accountability, and public trust.
Please submit your written responses by March 5th, 2026, along with a current campaign photograph and any additional materials you would like considered for publication.
We appreciate your willingness to engage directly with the community and look forward to sharing your perspectives with Josephine County voters.
We will send further communications individually as the midterms approach.
Respectfully,
John Oliver Riccio
Editor-in-Chief
Grants Pass Tribune