January 11, 2016
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is looking forward to a peaceful resolution of the occupation by armed militants of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Local control is a long‐ held tenet of Oregon counties, and as such, AOC would like to see these out‐of‐state and out‐ of‐county militants go home to their families, and respectfully ask them to do so.
The issue of federal land management has been on top of the AOC radar screen for many years. The Association intends to redouble efforts to work with the Oregon Congressional Delegation and federal agencies to give Oregon’s rural communities a voice in decisions that impact their livelihoods and way of life.