Grant County businesswoman Sandie Gilson, of Mt. Vernon, is the vice president in the Greater Idaho movement. She and Mike McCarter, the organization's president, and Matt McCaw, its executive director, in a news release Thursday, July 11, invited Gov. Tina Kotek to meet with them about moving the Oregon border to allow much of the state to join Idaho.

LA PINE — Leaders of the Greater Idaho movement are asking Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to sit down with them and talk about next steps in possibly moving the Oregon border to allow much of the state to join Idaho.

So far, 13 counties in Eastern Oregon have passed measures supporting exploring moving the Oregon/Idaho border.  The organization has reached out to the governor’s office with a formal invitation to meet, and offered to sit down with her at a time and place of her choosing.

The group announced the invitation in a news release Thursday, July 11.

Kotek’s press office did not say if she would accept the invitation. Her office did issue a statement, saying the governor “believes in an Oregon that stays together and supports each other. She recognizes that it’s a wake-up call for the whole state when people are frustrated enough about not being heard to consider joining another state.”

The letter from Greater Idaho leaders — signed by Mike McCarter, the organization’s president; Sandie Gilson, its vice president; and Matt McCaw, its executive director, reads in part: 

“Over the last four years, Eastern Oregon voters have repeatedly said they want elected leaders to have the conversation about moving the Oregon/Idaho border. This has been done county by county at the ballot box. In May, Crook County joined 12 other counties and became the 13th to pass a Greater Idaho measure indicating citizen support for starting border talks.

“As the leadership team of the Greater Idaho Movement who has helped the voters in these 13 counties have their voice heard, we believe that the people have spoken and that it is time for elected leaders across the state to hear them out and work towards achieving their goals. Therefore, we are formally inviting you to sit down and meet with us so that we can discuss how we all can work together to achieve win-win solutions that help Oregonians on both sides of the Cascades.

“On the campaign trail and throughout your One Oregon Listening Tour, you repeatedly stated that you wanted to listen to communities and hear your constituents’ concerns. As leaders of the most successful county ballot initiative movement in Eastern Oregon history, we are ready to provide you with that opportunity.”

Several county boards of commissioners have sent letters to state leaders requesting action toward beginning border talks. 

So far in Northeastern Oregon, commissioners in Baker and Grant counties have sent letters to the governor supporting the border move. The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners has not, but is scheduled to hold its third meeting to discuss the border move Aug. 28.

“The people of Eastern Oregon have made their voices heard, loud and clear,” McCaw said in the press release. “We believe the governor owes it to the people she represents to sit down with our leadership team and discuss how we can all work together to get better governance for Eastern Oregonians.”

State lines can be moved through a process called an interstate compact. The change would require the approval of both states’ legislatures, as well as the U.S. Congress. 

In 2023, the Idaho House of Representatives passed a memorial resolution inviting Oregon to begin border talks. Similar measures introduced in the Oregon Legislature have not gained traction.