Oregon Public Broadcasting

Voters in Deschutes County have unseated a long-serving District Attorney. Former chief deputy, Patrick Flaherty defeated DA Mike Dugan who, as David Nogueras reports, held the job for more than 20 years.

Mike Dugan hadn't faced a challenger for 15 years, that is until Patrick Flahrety decided he would run against his former boss.

Duing the campaign, Flahrety chipped away at Dugan's long record. He called into question his political advocacy for measures 66 and 67, his judgement as a prosecutor and his decision to campaign for his wife, State Representative Judy Stiegler.

James Foster is Professor of Political Science at Oregon State University's Cascades Campus. He says Dugan may have been particularly vulnerable this year due to a widespread backlash against political incumbents.

James Foster: "People have their finger on the trigger. It gave voters the who are in general dissatisfied, an opportunity to look to look real closely at this guy who's been around forever and in the end vote for Flaherty."

In the end Patrick Flaherty won convincingly, taking in 61 percent of the vote in Deschutes Country.  He's take the oath office in early January.