Deschutes County Commission Candidate Morgan Schmidt Endorsed

The Source Editorial Board recommends Schmidt for Position 5 seat

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:35am

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A serene, nostalgic painting of a county government office or building, with warm lighting and deep shadows creating a contemplative mood around the political process.The endorsement of a county commission candidate signals an opportunity for thoughtful, community-focused leadership on local issues.Bend Today

The Source editorial board has endorsed Morgan Schmidt in the crowded race for the Deschutes County Commission Position 5 seat. The board cited Schmidt's concrete ideas on county issues like homelessness and internal investigations as key factors in their endorsement, over other candidates like Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz and local business owner Rob Imhoff.

Why it matters

The Deschutes County Commission race for Position 5 is one of several crowded contests this May, as the county has expanded the commission from three to five seats. The endorsement of Morgan Schmidt by The Source's editorial board could sway voters in this competitive primary election.

The details

The Source editorial board interviewed the four candidates vying for the Position 5 seat - Morgan Schmidt, Rob Imhoff, Jennifer Letz, and one other unnamed candidate. They were impressed by Schmidt's detailed proposals, including creating an in-house ombudsman's office to handle internal investigations and her nuanced approach to addressing homelessness in the county. In contrast, they felt Letz was less prepared during the interview process, while Imhoff's ideas, like building a sports complex at the county fairgrounds, were also being proposed by other candidates.

  • The Deschutes County Commission primary election will be held in May 2026.

The players

Morgan Schmidt

A pastor, activist, and nonprofit executive director who has spent the last 20 years working in the Deschutes County community.

Rob Imhoff

A local business owner who has proposed ideas like building a sports complex at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center.

Jennifer Letz

The current mayor of Sisters, Oregon, who entered the race for the Deschutes County Commission Position 5 seat later than the other candidates.

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What they’re saying

“We liked Schmidt's idea to create an in-house ombudsman's office to handle internal investigations — like the ones that happened often during the tenures of recent sheriffs. These were both examples of creative thinking that could help the County work through some of its current issues.”

— The Source Editorial Board

“Schmidt has a more realistic view of the issue: safe camping and safe parking programs are not what anyone wants, in the most idealistic view of the world — one where no one is experiencing homelessness — but in the real version, people need safe places to be, to avoid the nightmares of illegal dumping, unsanitary conditions and the threat of fires for the entire community.”

— The Source Editorial Board

What’s next

The Deschutes County Commission Position 5 primary election will be held in May 2026, with the top vote-getter securing the seat if they receive over 50% of the vote.

The takeaway

The endorsement of Morgan Schmidt by The Source's editorial board highlights her detailed policy proposals and nuanced approach to issues like homelessness, which could give her an advantage in the crowded Deschutes County Commission Position 5 race.