Effort to recall Sheriff Terry Rowan is launched
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Another attempt to recall Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan is underway. Chief petitioner Chris Waine said for this attempt a committee of concerned citizens is using the electronic-petition option instead of sending out people seeking signatures.
Rowan was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving last year on Interstate 84. According to court records, he has completed a diversion program for the reckless driving charge and is in the process of completing the DUII charge. An investigation into the incident is still pending with the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. That investigation was filed in May 2025.
People who choose to sign the recall petition must be registered to vote in Umatilla County. That can be determined on the secretary of state’s election website at State of Oregon: Voting & Elections – Voting & Elections or by contacting the elections division in Umatilla County at Elections – Umatilla County. Those who are not registered may do so online. A total of 3,771 registered voters must have signed petitions by June 29 for the matter to be put to a special vote.
Those who wish to sign the petition for a recall vote need to go to https://sites.google.com/view/recall-sheriff-rowan/home to access and print a copy of it. They then must sign it with blue or black ink.
The petitions must be turned in to drop boxes that are being set up in Pendleton and Hermiston, or mailed. The drop boxes, which are under 24-hour surveillance, are at 116 SE Isaac Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801 and at 545 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838. The mail address is Recall Sheriff Rowan, P.O. Box 455, Pendleton, OR 97801.
People with questions may email recallrowan@gmail.com.
Photo from the Recall Sheriff Rowan website
Editor’s note: This story was updated on April 2 to reflect that the sheriff’s diversion program for the DUII charge is still under court supervision.
