Jackson County Commissioners Rick Dyer and Colleen Roberts, both Republicans, appeared to win second terms in office with Tuesday's election. And incumbent Sheriff Nathan Sickler won election to the post he was appointed to in early 2017.
All faced spirited opposition. Dyer drew Democrat Amy Thuren, a former Red Cross executive and current director of The Valley School in Medford. Vote totals Tuesday night showed Dyer with 53% of the vote to Thuren's 44%. Libertarian Frank Brannen pulled 3%.
Roberts, a first-termer like Dyer, faced off against Lanita Witt, a retired MD and the co-owner of Willow-Witt Ranch. Roberts gathered more votes, 52% to 46% for Witt. Libertarian Edward Stanton also ran and drew 2% support.Sheriff Sickler faced Bill Froehlich. Sickler arrived in the sheriff's job by appointment in early 2017, when elected Sheriff Corey Falls resigned to take a job in the Portland area. Sickler's numbers over Froehlich: 77% to 23%.
Jackson County voters also rejected a "Second Amendment Protection" measure, 56%-44%.