Although the primary election isn’t until May, candidates for positions in Crook County are already piling up.

Crook County Judge Mike McCabe’s term expires at the end of next year, but he’s not running for re-election. He will have spent 24 years as judge, the county’s name for the lead commissioner; Crook County’s commission is referred to as the county court. Instead, three people have filed for the judge job: Craig Brookhart, who ran for the post in the past, and Crook County Commissioners Seth Crawford and Ken Fahlgren. Because Fahlgren’s term is also expiring, there are six candidates who have filed for his position. For Crook County surveyor, one person has filed.

Why have so many people filed, and so early?

Cheryl Seely, county clerk, can only guess.

“I know there has been a concern in the county, just as a citizen, about the way our government is going,” Seely said.

In interviews Thursday, some candidates said they thought the number of people who filed was a result of the county judge and commissioners positions switching to nonpartisan elections. That decision was made in May 2014 and went into effect in November of that year.

If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes in the primary election this coming May, that person will automatically be elected. Otherwise, the two top finishers will move on to the November election, regardless of party affiliation.

Seely said it makes sense for the commission positions to be nonpartisan, because decisions made on the county court have more to do with local issues at hand, and less to do with partisan views.

This year, a total of 10 candidates are running for county offices. Five candidates filed for county offices in 2014, seven in 2012 and eight in 2010.

Perhaps what makes this year different though, is how early the candidates are filing, Seely said. The majority filed within the first two months, even though the deadline to file isn’t until March 8.

“We’re excited at the office from a clerk’s point of view,” Seely said. “We’re glad to see a lot of candidates; we like citizens to have choices.”

Commissioner Crawford said Thursday he filed to run for county judge because he’d like “the opportunity to take Crook County to the next level.”

“We’re kind of at a precipice right now, we’ve got a new hospital, new school …” Crawford said. “I’ve been working really hard to get long-term budget planning going.”

Fahlgren said he’s learned a lot during his time as a commissioner, and he hopes people see he’s “worked very hard at it.”

“In our county we’re at a pretty momentous level historically, we’ve grown so much, we’ve gained so many things,” Fahlgren said.

Both Crawford and Fahlgren are looking to continue the work they’ve begun.

But Brookhart has not been pleased with the Crook County Court.

“I wasn’t happy with the leadership before, and I’m not happy with the leadership now,” Brookhart said. “I believe that there is a lack of strategic vision on our county court.”

Candidates for the commissioner position were also split among what they would like to see for Crook County.

Shelby Duncan, 20, of Prineville graduated from Crook County High School in 2014 and began studying political science at Boise State (he’ll continue at Central Oregon Community College). Duncan was the first to file for county commissioner in September.

“I just want to be able to help our county thrive … We really need jobs — and long-lasting jobs,” Duncan said. “It’s kind of been an old gentlemen’s club for so long and there needs to be a little bit more of new ideas and new blood.”

Duncan, along with fellow candidates Tom Jay and Pete Sharp, each pointed out that something needs to change so Crook County jail isn’t constantly at capacity. Jefferson County jail takes inmates when Crook County is full. Melanie Marlow, another candidate for commissioner, could not be reached for comment.

Commissioner candidates Jodie Fleck and Jason Carr see problems with two broader issues. Fleck dislikes the way the county has been approaching decisions such as permit fees. Fleck has seen the county court discuss Crook County and Deschutes County, and she doesn’t think that’s the right comparison to make.

“There’s never going to be a time when Crook County can compare itself to Deschutes County,” Fleck said. “We are nothing like them and never will be.”

Carr, who currently sits on Prineville City Council, sees progress, but wants community members to be more involved in the conversation. To gauge public opinion, he said, there needs to be better communication between the county and residents.

“Sometimes I think governments rely too much on the media to let people know what’s going on,” Carr said.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325,

kfisicaro@bendbulletin.com