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Sparacino holding on to solid lead in Jackson County Commissioner race

Candidates Denise Krause and Randy Sparacino are running for Jackson County Commissioner in November 2024.
Denise Krause campaign website; Randy Sparacino campaign
Candidates Denise Krause and Randy Sparacino are running for Jackson County Commissioner in November 2024.

In the race for Jackson County's next commissioner, Republican Randy Sparacino is leading Democrat Denise Krause.

As of Wednesday morning, Sparacino retains his lead, with nearly 57% of the votes, while Krause has just over 43%.

On his campaign Facebook page, Sparacino wrote, "Thank you, Jackson County! I am incredibly honored and humbled by the trust you’ve placed in me to serve as your next County Commissioner. This journey has been one of hard work and dedication, and I couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of my family, friends, and every one of you who believed in our vision for a safer, stronger Jackson County. Together, we will continue to focus on the issues that matter most: enhancing safety, supporting economic development, and addressing housing and homelessness. I look forward to working side-by-side with you to make our community a better place for all. Let’s get to work!"

The Jackson County Commissioner race is a chance to get some new blood on the board. Two of the commissioners are currently serving their third terms, while Commissioner Dave Dotterrer has decided not to run again.

Sparacino is the mayor of Medford and previously ran for State Senate in 2022 and lost. Krause previously ran for county commissioner in 2022 and lost.

In their campaigns, the candidates said they would work to focus on issues like the overcrowding of the county jail, the lack of housing and the homelessness crisis.

Both Krause and Sparacino have been endorsed by their respective county political parties.

Jane Vaughan is a regional reporter for Jefferson Public Radio. Jane began her journalism career as a reporter for a community newspaper in Portland, Maine. She's been a producer at New Hampshire Public Radio and worked on WNYC's On The Media.