Questions & Answers

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To be prepared to serve as your Umatilla County Commissioner on Day 1, I am spending these months before the November election listening to the views and opinions of as many residents as I can and answering any questions you may have. Below are the questions I've answered in virtual town hall meetings.

If you have a question you'd like me to answer, e-mail me at dandorran@ddorran.com.

A Umatilla County Commissioner is an elected, non-partisan official who works with two other commissioners to enact and administer county policy, oversee the nearly 20 county departments, maintain a balanced budget, and act as a liaison with state and federal government.  

County Commissioners have several tools to help direct state and federal funds to residents in need. By designating a flood disaster and petitioning the state government to do the same, residents gain access to funding. The commissioners also act as advocates for individual citizens through regular conversations with elected officials and agencies. I have been endorsed by both Rep. Greg Smith and Sen. Bill Hansell and believe that understanding the process and making a case for our citizens is the best tool for getting results.

The first step to making progress is understanding the issue – not just the rhetoric. I have been actively seeking out the views and opinions of leaders and residents in search of specific places where our current systems have resulted in unjust outcomes. It’s an ongoing process and by working collaboratively we can address these issues.

One of the best ways to ensure Umatilla County residents can pursue equitable lifestyles is by enticing family-wage jobs through economic development and making sure there are clear pathways to attainment through education and fair hiring practices.

I am a lifelong conservative Republican because I believe in local control of taxpayer dollars and decisions that govern our lives. The government is only working correctly when it is working for all of its citizens and providing opportunity, not just oversight.

Because a Umatilla County Commissioner is a non-partisan position, I believe it is even more important for those who are elected to represent the interests of all residents, regardless of political party.

As a resident of Eastern Oregon I understand that a growing wolf population is dangerous to our livestock and way of life. I am in full support of restricting the wolf population in Oregon and making sure ranchers are compensated when poorly managed wolves kill livestock.

 I fully support our Constitution and the Second Amendment. 

A county shows its values by where is spends its money. Our Sheriff’s office regularly deals with instances of mental health and drug addiction that require additional training and personnel. This is on top of providing rural on-call patrols, search and rescue, and ongoing criminal investigations. Cutting funding for law enforcement would also mean cutting funding for our dispatch center that includes fire, ambulance, and other crisis-response teams. I am a huge advocate for increasing access to education, mental health, and drug-rehabilitation centers and increasing training to de-stigmatize mental illness.