Voters in Jefferson and Union counties just passed measures that will force local officials to consider moving the borders of their counties — and many others — into Idaho. The measure was the work of Move Oregon’s Border, a petition group seeking to move wide swaths of rural Oregon into Idaho, citing similar values and politics. Jefferson County Commissioner Kelly Simmelink acknowledges that moving the Oregon-Idaho border is a long-shot. Mike McCarter, a LaPine resident, is the president and chief petitioner of the Move Oregon’s Border movement. We hear from McCarter about the petition and Simmelink about how he’s thinking about the measure and its possible effects on his county.
If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show, or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter, send an email to thinkoutloud@opb.org, or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983. The call-in phone number during the noon hour is 888-665-5865.
Copyright 2020 Oregon Public Broadcasting