Elected through Terror

Untitled Part 6

During the summer of 1984 I spend a lot of time campaigning. I went to a number of meetings both large and small. In addition I did a lot of knocking on doors.

I was pretty well known in the community. But not everyone knew me. I had/have a full beard. One door I knocked on had a young lady answer that thought I was a sannyasin from Rajneeshpuram and I had to show her my identification before she would talk to me.

But most recognize me and many said they knew my background and would be voting for me and recommending their family and friends do the same.

That summer was one of open hostility from the Rajneesh sect and members of the rest of the citizenry. The concern that they were trying to take over county government was a very real issue and the fear was that they would influence this particular election to further those goals.

A political action committee was formed by some Wasco County residents. They supported a number of us that were running. The people that organized the committee had been exposing the misdeeds of the Rajneesh for quite a while and they felt those of us on the list were the most likely to not cave in to their demands. The list was based on the people not the party as both Republicans and Democrats were on the list.

Through the years most elections in Wasco County were very close. One candidate was tied with another candidate for commissioner after a recount they flipped a coin. It was not unusual for the winner to win office by fewer than 10 votes – one of my predecessors was elected by 6 votes more than his opponent.

Past practice of the Rajneesh, in elections, was everyone voted the same across the board – there may be one or two voters that didn't toe the line, but everyone else did. I believe, at the time, there were somewhere between 500 and 1000 registered voters at Rajneeshpuram, easily enough to sway an election in the county. Since they were a precinct onto themselves their votes were obvious.

That fear or Rajneesh followers controlling the election grew and it was the reason that the political action committee was formed. That fall election in Wasco County had an almost 100% turn out of voters. Many of these voters voted as the political action committee suggested, we were all elected to our posts, by wide margins.

But before that election took place there was a lot of underhanded and criminal activity by the sannyasins to undermine or swing the election. They too were aware of how close most elections were in Wasco County and looked for ways to tip it in their favor.

They infiltrated the political action committee. Claiming to be a local resident against the Rajneesh, one young sannyasin joined and gained access to some of the committee's files. However, she was soon exposed and she went back down to the ranch.

Another young lady took up residence in The Dalles. She claimed she was a member of a long standing family – the last of which had moved from the area. However, she wanted to move back and wanted to help with county government by running for county commissioner. She took out a petition to gain signatures that would put her on the ballot, she, too, was quickly exposed.

But they also were planning more sinister actions to influence the election: Germ warfare.