On Monday, September 1, 2025, Willamette Week reported that Douglas County Circuit Court Judge George Ambrosini unexpectedly recused from a case concerning a disputed May 2024 election result.

The recusal followed the submission of a second amended petition by plaintiff Todd Vaughn, who is challenging the outcome of the election for a seat on the Umpqua Public Transportation District board. Ambrosini provided no explanation for his decision to step aside and did not respond to inquiries from Oregon Justice Project (OJP) seeking comment.

Vaughn, the incumbent in the May 20 election, initially led challenger Natasha Atkinson by 82 votes, a margin of approximately 1.1%, according to preliminary results. However, eight days later, County Clerk Dan Loomis announced final results showing Atkinson had won by 238 votes, or 2.33%, which did not trigger an automatic recount under Oregon law, as the threshold is one-fifth of 1%.

Vaughn filed his initial petition for judicial review on June 24, requesting the court to scrutinize the election outcome. His second amended petition, filed on August 26, alleged a conspiracy by various Douglas County officials, including state lawmakers and county commissioners, to prevent him from securing public office. Ambrosini was not named in these allegations.

The 26-page petition accuses Loomis of actively working to ensure Vaughn’s electoral defeat and claims a group of officials formed a coordinated effort to maintain their influence. It also references Vaughn’s unsuccessful 2024 primary challenge against state Sen. David Brock Smith and alleges interference in his transit board campaign. Additionally, the document makes unsubstantiated claims about widespread election fraud in Oregon, citing an unnamed former military intelligence analyst who described Douglas County as plagued by significant irregularities.

The recusal, first noted by The News-Review in Roseburg, may delay the case, which centers on disputes over document production. Vaughn and his attorney, Stephen Yoncus, are seeking extensive election records, which the county, represented by attorney John DiLorenzo, argues are overly broad and politically motivated.

DiLorenzo contends that Vaughn’s requests aim to access sensitive election data to undermine trust in Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, rather than address specific issues in the May election.

The case has ties to broader election-related efforts. Vaughn’s former campaign consultant, Ben Edtl, who recently resigned as CEO of the transit district, is involved in Initiative Petition 37, which seeks to eliminate vote-by-mail in Oregon. Edtl, along with Umpqua transit board member Michaela Hammerson and Yoncus, are co-petitioners for the initiative, which has raised $9,000 but has not yet submitted signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot.

A hearing for the case is scheduled for September 16.

 

 

Source: Willamette Week