ROSEBURG, Ore. — A legal dispute in Douglas County Circuit Court regarding the results of a May election has taken an unexpected turn, as Judge George Ambrosini has recused himself from the case without providing a reason. The development follows the submission of a second amended petition by plaintiff Todd Vaughn, who asserts he was the legitimate victor in a contested election for a position on the Umpqua Public Transportation District board.
Vaughn’s claims center around significant allegations of conspiracy involving a group of Douglas County officials, including state lawmakers and county commissioners. Notably, Judge Ambrosini was not named among those purportedly involved. In the amended petition filed on August 26, Vaughn outlines an extensive narrative of what he describes as a coordinated effort to exclude him from office.
The 26-page petition asserts that Douglas County Clerk Dan Loomis has actively sought to ensure Vaughn’s electoral defeat. Vaughn alleges a “cabal” of elected officials aimed to monopolize power. He describes his political involvement as having been sparked by concerns over election integrity following the 2020 presidential election.
In the petition, Vaughn also claims that this alleged group actively undermined his campaign efforts against incumbent state Senator David Brock Smith and alleged that they worked to prevent him from achieving a seat on the Umpqua Public Transportation District board. “The cabal could not tolerate Vaughn and his colleagues’ success as public officials,” the petition asserts.
Vaughn’s allegations extend to broadly questioning the integrity of Oregon elections. His document references a “former military intelligence analyst,” without further identifying the individual, who reportedly claimed rampant fraud in Douglas County elections. However, the petition lacks concrete evidence to substantiate these claims.
The ongoing dispute over Vaughn’s electoral loss to challenger Natasha Atkinson reflects larger questions about voting practices in the region. Vaughn, the incumbent, initially led Atkinson by 82 votes on election night; however, the final count revealed Atkinson’s victory by 238 votes, exceeding the threshold for an automatic recount. After the election, Clerk Loomis certified the results to the transit board, yet the board and its then-CEO Ben Edtl declined to certify the results immediately.
Ambrosini’s recusal may introduce delays in the already complex case. Currently, there are disputes regarding the documentation that the clerk’s office must provide in response to Vaughn’s requests. The county argues that Vaughn’s inquiries are not aimed at addressing his claims but are instead an attempt to gather sensitive election-related data for ulterior motives.
County attorney John DiLorenzo criticized Vaughn’s petition, asserting it contains unfounded allegations that could damage public trust in the electoral process. DiLorenzo contends Vaughn’s claims lack factual support and are filled with misleading assertions.
Amidst the legal maneuvering, Edtl, who has recently resigned from his position and was a consultant for Vaughn’s Senate campaign, is also associated with a political action committee that aims to eliminate statewide vote-by-mail practices. The initiative has garnered minimal financial support thus far and requires significant valid voter signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Vaughn’s case is set for a hearing on September 16, and the outcome may carry implications not only for him personally but also for broader discussions about electoral integrity in Oregon.
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