CCCNews Podcast: Urness Stresses Land Use, Wildfire Coordination, and Fiscal Restraint in Commissioner Race
The Dalles, Ore., April 3, 2026 — Wasco County commissioner candidate Mike Urness said expanding land availability, strengthening wildfire coordination and exercising caution with public spending will be critical as the county plans for long-term growth.
Urness, who is running for Position No. 3 in the May 19 primary election, shared his views during a recent CCCNews podcast interview, outlining priorities that include housing supply, rural fire response and infrastructure investment.
He is running against incumbent Phil Brady and Dick Schaffeld for the Wasco County Commissioner seat.
The race comes as Wasco County faces pressure from rising housing costs, limited land availability and the financial impacts of large-scale industrial development.
On housing, Urness said supply constraints are a central issue, pointing to limited land within the urban growth boundary and restrictions tied to the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. He said expanding the urban growth boundary and increasing available land for development could help address affordability.
“We are landlocked… and that creates more demand and therefore creates a higher price,” Urness said.
He also raised concerns about the county’s level of financial involvement in housing projects such as the Basalt Commons development, cautioning against exposing public funds to risk.
“The level of involvement… putting county finances at potential risk… is a little bit outside of the scope,” he said.
Urness said agricultural producers facing low commodity prices may also need more flexibility to sell or develop portions of their land to remain financially viable.
On wildfire preparedness, Urness pointed to his experience as a longtime volunteer firefighter and current president of the Petersburg Rangeland Fire Protection Association. He said coordination between local, state and federal partners is improving, with new funding streams helping rural fire groups expand capacity.
He highlighted efforts to establish additional water storage in remote areas and to develop incentive programs for creating firebreaks on agricultural and forest land.
“Strategically placing firebreaks… would greatly reduce possibility of rapid spread,” he said.
Urness said rural fire response in Wasco County relies heavily on local knowledge, volunteer coordination and existing farm equipment, describing a “swarm method” that allows rapid response to emerging fires in agricultural land in Wasco County.
On funding, he said a combination of state support, private grants and local coordination is helping stabilize rural fire protection efforts, though continued awareness and participation will be necessary.
Urness also addressed challenges facing small water districts, suggesting the county can play a role in connecting districts with technical expertise and existing resources, including the Wasco County Economic Development Commission.
On economic development, Urness said the county should prioritize supporting small- and mid-sized businesses while reducing reliance on a small number of large employers. He pointed to vacant commercial spaces in The Dalles as a sign of economic imbalance and said existing programs should be leveraged to support local businesses.
He also discussed the growing role of data centers in the county’s economy, describing associated tax revenue as a “windfall” that should be used carefully.
“I think that needs to be very carefully distributed… and parts of that should be earmarked to pay down county debt,” he said.
Urness said infrastructure investments, including roads, public safety and fire resilience, should be prioritized before funding new projects.
On water use, he acknowledged public concerns about data center consumption but said city water infrastructure upgrades have long been planned and are intended to support overall community needs.
He also suggested exploring incentives to help residents maintain defensible space around homes, including potential relief on water costs for irrigation used as a fire prevention measure.
Regarding education, Urness said building a new high school is important but emphasized that responsibility primarily lies with the school district. He suggested the county could help facilitate partnerships, identify funding sources and support long-term planning efforts.
Urness said improving student outcomes and public trust will be key factors in advancing future school projects.
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