This is going to be a quick update for the Malheur-watchers out there. According to Les Zaitz, The Oregonian’s investigative reporter in Harney County, The Blue Mountain Eagle is reporting that former Undersheriff Todd McKinley filed today to run for Sheriff of Grant County. Mr. McKinley is currently the Director of Community Corrections for Grant County.
Earlier, Malheur-watchers learned that Glenn Palmer, the current Sheriff of Grant County, actually supports the illegal occupation of Malheur Wildlife Refuge by the friends of and spawn of scofflaw Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy. Unlike the Sheriff and residents of Harney County (where the Refuge is located) Palmer has welcomed these dangerous nuts into his county and actually invited them to speak to equally dangerous supporters he has unearthed. He is another believer of situational interpretation of the Constitution, Oregon laws and Federal laws, with his own interpretation being supreme, naturally. Palmer was running for re-election unopposed until today.
Grant County is located to north of Harney County. The economy of Grant County is a doing a bit better than their neighbors to the south. Sheriff Palmer has been able to find some business people receptive to the idea of stealing public lands from the rest of us.
On Tuesday, May 17, voters in Grant County will have the opportunity to choose between a Sheriff who makes up his own laws, or Todd McKinley who stated today:
“When I took my first oath of office as a reserve deputy on April 3, 2000, it was that I would support the Constitution and the laws of the United States and of the state of Oregon, and to honestly and faithfully perform the duties imposed upon the member under the laws of Oregon,” he said in the statement. “I do not remember that there were any clauses that told me this was optional, and up to my interpretation of the Constitution and laws.”
Our public lands in Grant County deserve to have a protector like Todd McKinley. Those forests and rivers and parks belong to all of us, not to the highest bidder or slickest thief.
(The Blue Mountain Eagle has a limited number of viewings, but here is a link to Les Zaitz’ Facebook page: Les Zaitz on Facebook.)
