2017-22-Minutes for Meeting October 07,1982 Recorded 2/23/20171
DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS CJ 2017.22
NANCY BLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERK 1►LL LL
COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL 02/23/2017 09:37:18 AM
I1A1uniiumiiN
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
Bend, Oregon
DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Audio Cassette Recording Titled: Emergency Press Conference regarding Union
Election Issues.
October 7, 1982, 11:20-12:00.
A meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held on October 7, 1982.
Commissioners present were Albert Young, Robert Paulsen, and Clay Shepard.
Also present were members of the press; County Counsel Rick Isham; and Sheriff
Jim France.
Commissioner Shepard said that the Board has a statement to make, through
County Counsel.
Rick Isham explained that the ballots for the OPEU election were counted today in
the office of the Employment Relations Board in Salem. Approximately 180
County employees cast votes in the election. The ballots were in the custody of
Hal L. Langford, an ERB employee. The ERB conducted the election. The ballots
were held in a locked ballot box and were transferred in the trunk of Mr.
Langford's vehicle.
Transcription of Audio Recording of an Emergency Press Conference, October 7, 1982 Page 1 of 3
The ballot box remained there while he stayed overnight in Sunriver. After
leaving Sunriver, Mr. Langford went to Eugene for a meeting, and then went on to
Salem. The ballot box remained in his possession until it was opened today.
Eighty votes were cast for the County, for no representation by the union; and
twenty-nine votes were cast for OPEU. Approximately 70 ballots are missing.
Sheriff Jim France has received a report from the ERB to make an investigation of
any wrongdoing relating to the missing ballots. Information Deschutes County
has received from ERB indicates that they will not certify the election because of
the missing ballots.
Mike Maier was in Salem today for the opening of the ballot box, and indicated
that according to ERB, they have never had this happen before in the history of
the organization. Representatives of the Union and Deschutes County were at
ERB today when the box was opened and the votes counted.
An audience member asked what happens next. Mr. Isham said that ERB has
requested that Deschutes County sign a consent to election agreement for a new
date. The County has contacted its labor lawyer, Bruce Bischoff, and asked that
he advise how they should receive at this time.
An audience member asked if they have any feeling whether there will be another
election. Mr. Isham replied that there probably will be another election, and it is
his understanding that there will be an investigation by the Sheriff's Office. The
number of ballots missing and the number counted in the ballot box prohibits
certification, because there were less than the required 90 votes for no
representation. It is impossible to know if the results of the election would have
been different with the missing ballots included.
Mr. Shepard asked who maintains where the box was at all times, the ERB or Mr.
Langford. Mr. Isham said that this was reported by Mr. Langford to the Sheriff.
Sheriff France said that he spoke with Mr. Langford this morning about his actions
and travel from the time the box was placed in his custody until he arrived in
Salem.
Transcription of Audio Recording of an Emergency Press Conference, October 7, 1982 Page 2 of 3
The box remained in the trunk of his vehicle during that time. There was no
evidence that the vehicle or the lock on the box were tampered with in any way.
So a detective has been instructed to conduct an investigation. They need to go
over the lock and a lot of things to retrace Mr. Langford's steps. It may be hard to
come to any conclusion about this. ERB supervises the election.
Mr. (sham said that during the time the election was conducted, Deschutes
County and the union were allowed to have an observer present. It was
conducted off a list of eligible employees who were able to cast their ballots at
that time.
No one wishes to speculate what might have happened.
An audience member asked whether there would be another election, and if so,
when it might be conducted. Mr. Isham said October 27 has been suggested by
the ERB. However, at this time there will be a phone conference on Monday to
discuss the matter further with the ERB and the union.
An audience member asked why this was called as an emergency meeting. Mr.
Isham said they had started receiving phone calls and the media had questions
and were contacting ERB and the union. It was felt that the facts needed to go
out as soon as possible.
Mr. Shepard asked if any of the media present have been contacted by the ERB or
the union. There was no response.
1 certify that the above is a true and accurate record of a meeting, as reproduced from a
cassette tape identified as Minutes of an Emergency Meeting of the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners, held on October 7, 1982. This record was completed subsequent to the
presiding Deschutes County Board of Commissioners' tenure.
Cj7 " -�-
Bonnie Baker
For the Board of County Commissioners
Transcription of Audio Recording of an Emergency Press Conference, October 7, 1982 Page 3 of 3