Tillamook County emergency director throws his hat in the ring

LOCAL NEWS: Tillamook County emergency director throws his hat in the ring

Tillamook County official shifts gears to run for sheriff.  Joanne Rideout reports.

Gordon McCraw, Tillamook County emergency management director, also known to Coast Community Radio listeners as the station’s meteorologist, has announced his candidacy in the November election for Tillamook County Sheriff. McCraw is a lieutenant in the executive staff of the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office

The seat is currently held by Sheriff Jim Horton. Horton was appointed Sheriff by the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners in August 2019, after former Sheriff Andy Long retired. Horton recently announced that due to personal and family reasons, he was withdrawing from the race for Sheriff in the upcoming election.  

McCraw said in a press release, “Sheriff Horton recently approached me to say he would not be continuing in the election and asked if I would run in his place?”  McCraw said he would be honored to run for the office.

McCraw came to Tillamook County in 2006 after he and his family moved from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  Lt. McCraw had been a Police Patrolman in the City of Gretna Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans, and was recruited to come to Tillamook County. 

The McCraws had ties to Tillamook through his wife Heidi’s family. McCraw has a background in meteorology from his days as a Navy aviation forecaster. and was in charge of the New Orleans Air Station Weather Office. About two years after his arrival McCraw was appointed as the Director of Emergency Management.