Published 7:00 am Thursday, May 14, 2026 Partisans clear in county races The county commission race is supposed to be nonpartisan, but that only means candidates don’t declare a party. The leanings are obvious. I have tried to look at each candidate through an independent lens but that has been difficult at times. I had always respected Phil Chang, even when I disagreed with him on certain topic, but his recent hit job of a guest column on Tony DeBone has changed that. Mr. Collins I feel will be too compromised by his donors to truly represent Deschutes County’s best interest. Position 3 really only has one front-running candidate that is not running as a victim of their own past struggles; that gives my support to Lauren Connally. Rick Russell concerns me. I have attended several events where he has spoken, I just cannot get comfortable. Possibly it is his salary for running the nonprofit that has to be road blocked. Do your own research on both people for Position 4.…