Mayor seeks commissioner seat

Oroville Mayor Jon Neal would like to be an Okanogan County Commissioner. 

Neal has lived in Oroville his entire life, taking over his family's auto body repair business in 1992 and working in the industry for over 40 years, he described in a Facebook page for his campaign. 

He has raised three children in Okanogan County and has six grandchildren, along with wife Traci. 

Neal has been involved in city government for 21 years, including six years as the mayor of Oroville and, along with that role, is currently chairman of the Okanogan Council of Governments, a member of the Oroville Fire Department, and on the Okanogan County Communications Advisory Board. 

"My 21 years in municipal government has given and taught me the understanding of budgets, developing policy, contracts, hiring as well as how different departments work and interact," he wrote to The Star in an email. The experiences, he said, have enhanced his ability to listen. "You may not always like the answers, but I will always take time to hear and listen to what you have to say."

If elected to the commissioner position, Neal's term as mayor of Oroville would end in December when an interim mayor would take over until their next election. 

His 15 years with the fire department taught him "to understand the mental pressure and understanding of the challenges faced every day in this position, as well as the realization of the needs (personal needs and equipment) to adequately do the job and have well performing fire departments." 

"The connections I have made within the cities and the county, as well as all the above experience has given me an abundance of knowledge and insight which I feel will be a benefit to me to smoothly transition into the job should I become commissioner," he wrote. "I understand I have not learned everything, but I feel I am well equipped to be an Okanogan County commissioner."

On his Facebook page, Neal wrote that " I realize our county is changing, and if elected it will be my goal to do what I can to keep that change from adversely affecting the people currently living here including farmers, ranchers, loggers, etc. I understand that we are all part of one county and will try to give the North end the voice it deserves, while focusing and not forgetting about the entire county."

Neal is also a founding member of Oroville CARES, which stands for Community Advocates Responding with Effective Strategies. 

He described Oroville CARES in an email as "an organized and structured group of individuals that work toward alternate education and awareness against the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco for all youth and young adults and parents." 

"Our goal is to provide alternative activities in school and in the community for making positive choices against/instead of using or beginning to use these products," he said. "Oroville CARES gives me a better understanding of the changes in youth/young adult attitudes since Washington state's legalization of the use of marijuana. Vaping has become the 'accepted' way of the use of cigarettes and marijuana. The whole legalization has created an atmosphere that alcohol and other drug use is relatively harmless, which we know not to be the case."

He is also a board member of TRANGO (Transit for Greater Okanogan), which also works with Okanogan County Transportation and Nutrition to deliver " meals to the homebound and elderly as well as taking them to medical appointments," Neal explained.

"Being part of TRANGO has given me the opportunity to gain insight and knowledge into the wants and needs of the public county wide in regard to transportation," he said. Neal also spoke about issues facing the county, and possible solutions for them.

"Property taxes are an issue," he said. "It pains me to see people get taxed out of their homes or even the area due to ever increasing property values and subsequent property taxes. I don't feel it's fair for someone else's neighboring property sale to have a major effect on your own property tax. I feel there should be a way to either cap or delay tax increases that are not a direct result of your own property. I would research the possibilities to make this happen." 

"Housing is another issue," he continued. "While I don't feel it is the counties responsibility to supply housing, it is possible for the county to assist in the application for access to state tax funding to help finance construction of lower to middle income housing." 

He also touched on the topic of public safety. 

"After helping to rebuild the City of Oroville's Police department, serving as Interim Police Chief/Person in Charge," he wrote, "this area of public safety is an issue. I completely understand the frustration over many of the new rules and regulations coming out of Olympia. I would lobby to get these repealed and returned to a level where law enforcement can do their job effectively."

He is running as a Republican candidate for Okanogan Commissioner #3 against independents Kari Alexander and Aaron Kester and fellow Republican Lloyd Caton, Jr.

The Star published articles on Alexander and Kester last week, but has been unsuccessful in reaching Caton after repeated attempts. 

The primary election for the race takes place on Aug. 2, which will narrow the race down to the top two candidates to appear on the ballot for the general election on Nov. 8.