Crook County Sheriff

Clark defeats write-in to win 6th term

By Rachael Scarborough King / The Bulletin
Published: November 08. 2006 5:00AM PST

PRINEVILLE – Incumbent Rodd Clark appeared to be on track to being re-elected to a sixth term as Crook County Sheriff.

Clark, 62, looked to be defeating write-in candidate Frank Avey, 60, a former Sheriff’s Office employee. As of 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, Clark led with 63 percent of the votes.

“I think actions speak louder than words, I think the public has 20 years of my actions of leading the Sheriff’s Office, and they’ve got a few months of some misplaced wording from a few challengers,” Clark said. “I’m proud that the citizens of Crook County recognized that and voted that way.”

The sheriff position is nonpartisan. The sheriff serves a four-year term and currently earns $73,186 per year.

This election was the first in more than 10 years in which Clark faced opposition. He defeated four challengers in the May primary election to appear alone on the November ballot.

He also is still the subject of an investigation by the state Attorney General’s office examining whether he exerted undue influence over the election. Avey and one of the candidates from the primary, Sam Forney, who ended up running as a write-in candidate, said that during an August 2005 staff meeting, Clark threatened to fire anyone who ran against him.

Clark and his lawyer denied the claim, saying Clark told employees that they should not campaign for themselves or other people while on the job.

Avey did not enter the race until August, but he mounted a spirited campaign, featuring large handmade signs with the slogan “Elect a Lawman, Not a Politician.”