Voters have approved a measure to expand the Deschutes County Commission from three members. The measure passed Tuesday 64.5% to 35.5%, according to preliminary results.

The two new seats will be elected in 2026 for a two-year term and then serve four-year terms following the 2028 election.

The citizens’ initiative was launched by John Heylin, a Bend business owner, who led a collection of more than 6,500 signatures over the summer.

“It’s nice to see all the hard work paid off,” Heylin said Tuesday. “It just really kind of made me happy about the democratic process in the sense that one person with a good idea can actually make a fundamental change in the community.”

Proponents, which included the Bend City Council and other elected officials, argued that increased representation was overdue for a county where the population has surpassed 200,000 people. The number of commissioners now is the same as when the county was formed in 1916.

Supporters say a five-member board will lead to more thoughtful decision making, saving the county money.

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Initiative to expand county commission headed to November ballot

Deschutes County Republicans, including two sitting commissioners, presented the strongest opposition to the measure, arguing it would result in too much spending and a loss of transparency as individuals from a five member board can meet one-on-one without violating public meetings law.

Some Republican leadership cast the initiative as politically motivated and an attempt by Democrats to take control of the county commission.

Tuesday’s result is the second change Deschutes County voters have approved in their county government structure in the past several years, after a ballot measure in 2022 did away with partisan election.