As Oregon lawmakers consider criminalizing threats against public officials, Betty Malone, wife of Benton County Commissioner Pat Malone, says she and her husband have at times been threatened. She is supporting the legislation, and has sent The Advocate the letter below, which she also sent to Senator Gelser Blouin, Representative Finger McDonald, Senator Anderson, and Representative Gomberg about SB 1516 and SB 1530.
You can learn about the proposals, here.
From Betty Malone…
I am very much in favor of SB 1516 or SB 1530. And here is why. These are the threat pieces that Pat Malone, my husband and Benton County Commissioner, has received recently and which consequently affects me:
- Last November, Pat and Commissioner Nancy Wyse were threatened with a gun on Next Door by Steve Oder followed by Joel Geier’s admonishment about writing it down. (Not that you shouldn’t threaten someone, but that you shouldn’t write it down!)
- This was followed by threats on social media about dumping garbage by our homes.
- There was a threatening phone call on Pat’s cell, referencing our address. This was turned in to the sheriff. This and the garbage dumping are of consequence to me since I live and work out here nearly always by myself.
- Pat was stalked after leaving the Benton Center one night. It was dark and lightly raining. Even though it was outdoors, Stalker Guy had an N-95 mask on and his hat pulled low. He followed Pat out to his car in a very dark parking lot north of the main parking lot. We each had our own vehicle. I watched what was happening and followed in my truck the stalker following Pat. I put my truck lights on him and got his picture. Afterwards he turned back and walked back towards the Benton Center. (He wasn’t going out to his car.) I turned his picture into the sheriff.
I have been watchful ever since an incident a couple of years ago at a recorded meeting. Nancy Whitcombe said on a hot microphone that someone should put a gun in the mouth of a Benton County staffer. The staffer shortly thereafter quit working for Benton County.
The results of these threats are that I have made many adjustments to how I live. It would be imprudent of me to list all the changes. I live rurally and my house is not visible from our road. But I have asked all my neighbors to be watchful and call me, if they see anything unusual. I am concerned for Pat’s safety especially when he is in town after dark. I have on occasion, when not accompanying him, have called to ask someone to watch that he makes it to his car safely.
In this day and age, I don’t take these threats lightly. Please pass one of these bills. I am hopeful that either of the proposed bills might give pause to people who choose to threaten elected officials like my husband.
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