By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
February 6, 2008

Hood River County Commission Chair Ron Rivers made local and state election history almost two years ago — and he has never forgotten that “valuable lesson on the importance of openness and transparency in government.”

Rivers, a Parkdale orchardist and former school teacher, filed to seek another two-year term in office on Friday. In 2006, he captured almost 62 percent of the vote in the May primary as a write-in candidate.

“With a vote of confidence like that I carry myself into situations knowing that I’m representing citizens the way that they want to be represented: straight up and straight forward,” he said.

Rivers, 64, garnered public support after former Chair Rodger Schock and District 2 Commissioner Maui Meyer made a controversial campaign move. They arrived in the county elections office just 45 minutes before the filing deadline and Schock withdrew his application for a third term as chair before Meyer filed for the position.

“I was absolutely incensed because it appeared that ‘backdoor’ politics had taken place so I decided to do something about it,” said Rivers.

He has been representing the agriculture industry for the past 20 years, with service on the board of directors for the Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service, Pacific Northwest Fresh Pear Bureau, Hood River Grower-Shipper Association and the Mid-Columbia Pear Marketing Association.

But after winning his first campaign, Rivers felt an even greater call to leadership. He was acutely aware that 22,000 constituents from all socio-economic backgrounds were relying on him to make wise choices.

“I have taken decision-making in this job very seriously and I have never forgotten that real people are affected by our decisions,” said Rivers.

In late 2006, although not yet in office, Rivers was involved in commission discussions when floods washed out a section of Highway 35 and isolated Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, one of the largest local employers. Both Middle Fork and Farmers irrigation districts also incurred major infrastructure damage when heavy rains inundated glacial material on Mount Hood and sent about one million cubic yards cascading down the slopes and into area waterways. Mt. Hood Railroad had to restrict its runs to Odell after a backcountry section of track washed out and closed the route to Parkdale.

“I immersed myself in this county after being elected and I never missed a meeting. So, after awhile, the seated commission included me in their dialogue and it seemed like there was a lot on our plate to deal with after the flood,” said Rivers.

Little did he know that another “disaster” waited just around the political corner for his attention.

Shortly after Rivers took office on Jan. 1, 2007, he volunteered to serve on the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities Board of Directors. Within the next month he was contacted by the first jail employee with allegations of supervisory mismanagement. Other complaints soon followed and Rivers was provided with the opportunity to utilize the skills that he had acquired during 27 years as a referee.

Rivers insisted the NORCOR board launch an investigation into its personnel issues. He brought to the attention of officials the allegations of money mismanagement, sexual harassment, age and gender discrimination, inmate abuse and more. He also objected to the hiring of Capt. Larry Lindhorst as jail administrator because that individual had been named as a perpetrator in unresolved complaints.

“I’ll admit that it’s been pretty uncomfortable at times but it’s nothing that I can’t handle,” said Rivers.

“There was a huge problem there that somebody needed to address and I happened to be that catalyst.”

He is confident that any outstanding issues at NORCOR will be settled by the end of 2008. A new administrator search is underway and all of the employees have been questioned, with action now pending to address their respective concerns. Rivers believes the jail, which is located in The Dalles and shared by four Mid-Columbia counties, has served a vital purpose by keeping more than 4,500 criminals off the streets each year.

“I predict that we’ll have some stability at NORCOR within the next nine months,” he said.

During his tenure, Rivers has occasionally found himself on the hot seat with local citizens. He said the tough call to hook up some Windmaster Corner residents to a sewer system was met with strong opposition.

He believes the county board had no choice but to vote unanimously to move forward with the sewer since the state has identified the area with failing septic systems as a health hazard. He remains insistent that officials scout out every available financial option to alleviate as much of the economic burden for the affected households as possible.

“The situation at Windmaster should have been taken care of a long time ago and we’ve got to get the job done. We just need to do it in a way that mitigates the impact on the residents as much as possible,” said Rivers.

On his “to-do” list if elected to a second term is the provision of workforce housing for firefighters, teachers and other professionals. Although a proposed project in the county’s State Street parking lot didn’t pencil out during 2007, Rivers said officials are exploring an alternative location that shows promise.

“It’s been a very serious year but it’s helped me grow as person as well as an elected official and I’ve enjoyed it,” said Rivers.