In a time when many Josephine County residents are struggling to make ends meet, the question begs to be asked: Why are all three current county commissioners, along with County Commissioner hopeful Chris Barnett, all millionaires? What drives these wealthy individuals to pursue public office, where the salary is approximately $98,000 a year—far less than what their businesses generate? Is their intent truly to serve the public, or is there something more sinister at play?
Take, for example, Chris Barnett, the latest candidate for County Commissioner. Barnett already wears many hats, holding an estimated 10 different positions in various business ventures. How could anyone with such a busy schedule possibly have time to effectively serve the community in a role that requires total commitment? County Commissioners make decisions that affect thousands of lives. The notion that Barnett could competently juggle his businesses while dedicating himself fully to county issues seems, at best, implausible.
And it’s not just Barnett. Current commissioners like Andreas Blech and Herman Baertschiger are also multimillionaires with significant investments in the region. Baertschiger, in particular, has long held a negative and dismissive tone toward many of his constituents, yet he continues to sit in power. Why would these individuals—who could easily retire or focus on their own business empires—choose public service? Are they really sacrificing personal gain for the greater good?
Unfortunately, many residents are waking up to a more troubling possibility: the county’s leadership is riddled with cronyism, nepotism, and backdoor deals. It seems increasingly likely that the real motivation for these individuals to seek public office is to exploit their positions for personal and financial gain. Commissioners who are themselves business owners and property developers have clear conflicts of interest when it comes to approving new developments or contracts. The latest example of this troubling pattern is County Commissioner John West’s appointment of Robert Stumbo to the Mining Commission. After appointing Stumbo, West had to immediately recuse himself due to a conflict of interest—a conflict that was known beforehand. So why appoint him in the first place?
What many are beginning to fear is that these individuals are not interested in serving the public at all. Their true agenda might be far more self-serving. The suggestion is that they are using their power as commissioners to push forward projects that benefit themselves and their wealthy friends, while ordinary residents are left to shoulder the burden of rising costs and stagnating services. Real estate, land deals, and resource extraction seem to be the common threads running through their actions.
It’s time to ask ourselves: Who are these men really working for?
Wake Up, Grants Pass!
Until the community of Grants Pass and Josephine County realizes the gravity of this situation, the damage will continue. These millionaire commissioners have vested interests that conflict with the public good. Their actions suggest they are less interested in building a sustainable and prosperous future for everyone and more interested in lining their own pockets. Their influence stretches far, and their decisions shape the very fabric of the community.
If we don’t wake up to this reality, we risk watching as our town and county are slowly stripped of its resources, wealth, and potential—all for the benefit of a few. The time for complacency is over. It’s time to demand transparency, accountability, and a government that truly serves the people, not just the wealthy elite.
