Letter to the Editor:
The time is right for me to share my story.
In early August 2024, during the early evening, I pulled over and picked up a Chris Barnett campaign sign that had been illegally placed in a city right of way. My intent was simple, to return it to him. The sign was located at the northwest corner of the Redwood Avenue and Darnielle Lane intersection and had been there for several days. Mr. Barnett lives approximately 0.2 miles, or six driveways, west of that intersection and passed the sign multiple times each day. I also knew that the phone number listed to report the sign was vacant.
There was no high-speed chase or prolonged pursuit. I am a senior citizen and I drive accordingly. As I crossed the Sand Creek Bridge, a vehicle came speeding up behind me and tailgated me at an unsafe distance, so close that I could not see its headlights even though my Tacoma’s tailgate was down. Defensive driving teaches that someone driving that erratically is likely to pass. Rather than risk a collision by turning left into his driveway, I turned right into the driveway across from his house.
He was pulling a trailer, and I pulled forward far enough so he could clear the roadway. Although he was trespassing on my friend’s private property, he jumped out of his vehicle, ran toward me, shoved his phone in my face, and began yelling. I tried to calmly explain what I was doing and why, but he continued to shout. He repeatedly accused me of stealing multiple signs, which I denied because I have never stolen a single sign.
Eventually, recognizing he was unhinged, I asked him to move so I could return the sign and planned to call the police directly the next day during normal business hours. What happened next is widely known. Mr. Barnett spun a false narrative, edited video footage, and maliciously shared it across numerous social media platforms in an attempt to destroy my reputation. That effort failed, but the volume of false and defamatory comments he and others posted was staggering.
He went further, repeating those false accusations on a radio show and during a television interview, even claiming I stole signs in Jackson County. At that point, I retained an attorney. I have grounds for a defamation lawsuit, with a longer-than-normal statute of limitations due to his trespassing on private property. Lawsuits are stressful and messy, so on my attorney’s advice, I was careful about what I said and when, as I was not eager to pursue that path.
Here is why I am speaking now. From August through November, Mr. Barnett attempted to persuade the Grants Pass Police Department, the District Attorney, and the Sheriff’s Office to arrest me. Each told him the same thing, an illegally placed political yard sign left in a public right of way is considered abandoned property.
Despite this, on January 6, 2026, Mr. Barnett again went on the Bill Meyer radio show, named me, and once more called me a sign thief. At that point, he knowingly and willfully committed defamation of character as a sitting county commissioner. Ironically, during the same interview, he stated that he is not responsible for any of his signs placed illegally in public rights of way.
I am not saying whether I will or will not pursue my defamation lawsuit, but his continued behavior has given me that option, including potential action involving Josephine County once his recall certification is completed.
Finally, I want to note that this week, at county meetings and in front of security, both Mike Pelfrey and Eric Fitch publicly apologized to me for the things they said and did after being misled by Mr. Barnett’s actions. I appreciate those apologies, and I share this account so the public can understand what actually happened.
Sincerely,
Deb Berg, Josphine County Resident