CANYON CITY — A leader in the Greater Idaho movement is pushing the Grant County Court to take a more active role in the effort to redraw Oregon’s border.

The movement argues that residents of Eastern Oregon are more aligned politically with Idaho and would be better served if they were part of that state.

In May of 2021, Grant County voters passed a resolution instructing the county court to meet three times a year to discuss the idea, and in May of this year, Crook County became the 13th Oregon county to pass a resolution endorsing the notion of becoming part of Idaho.

Mt. Vernon resident Sandie Gilson, who serves as vice president of Citizens for Greater Idaho and Move Oregon’s Border, spoke at the Grant County Court’s Aug. 7 meeting.

She reminded the three court members of the Crook County vote and castigated them for not taking a stronger stance in favor of moving the border.

“We wonder why we have voter apathy when our leaders don’t lead,” she said.

“My question to you guys is what is it going to take for you guys to do what your voters have asked you to do?”

The three court members pushed back.

County Judge Scott Myers noted that the resolution passed by Grant County voters says nothing about taking action to change the state border.

“It doesn’t say that we will advocate,” Myers said. “It doesn’t say that we will take a position. It says we will have a discussion.”

Commissioner John Rowell said he sees no need to leave Oregon “at this time.”

“I am a born Oregonian,” he added. “I’d like to see Oregon get back to where it should be.”

And Commissioner Jim Hamsher cited the lack of support for the idea in the Oregon Legislature.

“What we need to do is keep fighting for our county and Eastern Oregon,” he said, “and I do that on a daily basis.”

Not satisfied with that response, Gilson continued to press.

“I think you guys have been given this tool — you could band together with 13 other counties and fight for what we need,” she said. 

“We are asking for you guys to represent our values and push this issue.”

Hamsher suggested that pushing to redraw state lines would do nothing to resolve the problems facing Eastern Oregon.

“I believe you can do one of two things,” he said. “You can leave or you can stay and try and make things better.”

Only a handful of county residents were in the audience for  the meeting, and they expressed a variety of opinions, with some echoing Gilson’s call for action and others saying they had no desire to pull out of Oregon.