CCCNews Podcast: Urness Stresses Land Use, Wildfire Coordination, and Fiscal Restraint in Commissioner Race

Wasco County commissioner candidate Mike Urness presented his platform during a CCCNews podcast, focusing on land use, wildfire preparedness, and fiscal responsibility ahead of the May 19 primary election. Urness, vying for Position No. 3 against incumbent Phil Brady and Dick Schaffeld, highlighted challenges such as rising housing costs and the pressures of large-scale industrial development, including data centers. He advocated for expanding the urban growth boundary and increasing developable land to address housing affordability, cautioning against the county taking on financial risk in housing projects. Regarding data centers, Urness acknowledged their growing role in the county's economy, referring to the associated tax revenue as a "windfall" that requires careful distribution, with portions earmarked for county debt reduction. He also addressed public concerns about data center water usage, stating that city water infrastructure upgrades are long-planned to support overall community needs. Additionally, Urness discussed improving rural fire response through coordination and strategic firebreaks, supporting small businesses, and facilitating education partnerships for a new high school.