December 8, 2021 3:50 a.m.

On Tuesday, the leader of the Greater Idaho movement submitted signatures to get an initiative on the Douglas County ballot next spring.

Mike McCarter said he submitted 3,689 signatures for an election in which 2,955 valid signatures are required.

McCarter said the proposal would amend a 1997 ordinance that authorizes county officers and employees to advocate for Oregon legislation that would affect the county. McCarter said the initiative would allow for advocacy for Idaho legislation, including on Idaho legislation to move the state border.

Douglas County voted in November of 2020 on a non-binding advisory question about Greater Idaho referred to the ballot by the county Board of Commissioners. It did not pass. McCarter said, “we hardly spent anything on that campaign, and there was nothing in the voter pamphlet, so voters didn’t even know what they were voting on in 2020”. Now McCarter is asking supporters to connect his organization with potential major donors, so they can be successful in campaigns in both Douglas and Klamath counties. McCarter said, “We want to spend 25k in Klamath County and at least 40k in Douglas County so voters will understand how much better Idaho governance is than Oregon governance”.

McCarter said if southern Oregon wants to be included in the border relocation, then “…Douglas County needs to prove it with their vote. Otherwise, state legislatures might settle just for eastern Oregon”.

A release said eight counties have voted in favor of Greater Idaho ballot initiatives. McCarter said the goal of the movement is to convince state legislatures to move the Oregon/Idaho border to include eastern and southern Oregon into Idaho. He said, “we don’t believe the Oregon Legislature will hold captive these counties that have incomes and voting patterns similar to Idaho’s”.

Douglas County Clerk Daniel Loomis told News Radio 1240 KQEN that his office has 15 days to verify the signature sheets. Loomis said if the proposal qualifies it will be given a measure number and placed on the May 2022 ballot.