Prineville, Ore. — Election night results indicate the race for Crook County Commissioner Position 2 is likely headed toward a November runoff after no candidate appears likely to secure more than 50% of the vote in the three-way contest.
Preliminary returns show Rick Steber leading with 42.36% of the vote, followed by Julie Thompson at 38.33%, while Zach Berger received 18.88%. Under Oregon election rules, because no candidate crossed the majority threshold, Steber and Thompson are projected to advance to the general election in November as the top two candidates.
The race drew three candidates seeking to replace outgoing Commissioner Brian Barney, who chose not to seek reelection. Barney has not publicly issued any formal statement explaining his decision not to run again. The contest had heightened local attention because it guarantees new representation on the Crook County Board of Commissioners regardless of who ultimately prevails in November.
The race also reflected differing backgrounds and approaches to county leadership.
Steber, a longtime Oregon author and historian with significant name recognition across rural Oregon, framed his campaign around preserving Crook County’s rural identity, strengthening public safety and maintaining local control over land-use and resource issues. Campaign messaging emphasized wildfire preparedness, natural resources, infrastructure and concerns over the future direction of growth in Crook County.
Thompson positioned her campaign around accountability and communication in county government. Public campaign materials and statements emphasized transparency, responsiveness, and stronger engagement between the county government and residents. Thompson has previously indicated that her deeper involvement in local government issues grew after concerns affecting her area prompted greater participation in county affairs and public meetings.
Berger entered the race as the third candidate and offered a younger perspective in the contest, presenting himself as an alternative voice in county leadership discussions.
With Barney stepping aside, voters were assured a significant leadership change regardless of the outcome.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
