I encourage registered Democrats to vote for candidate John Wilson in the May 19, 2026, primary race for Democratic candidate for Benton County Commissioner.
Wilson is a dedicated public servant with over 30 years of experience in case management, disaster response, and community leadership, and he is currently serving as an Adair City Council member, an appointed Benton County Planning Commissioner, and a volunteer member of the City of Adair Village Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He has a strong background in community leadership, disaster response, and emergency preparedness. He has shown himself to be articulate on local issues and values.
I appreciate that John Wilson listened attentively to community member evidence raised during the public hearings for the most recent landfill expansion application, for his cogent analysis of the issues before the Planning Commission, and the leadership he demonstrated in the vote by all Planning Commissioners to deny that application.
During the expansion hearings before the Board of Commissioners, Pat Malone was unengaged, asked no questions of the public, and appeared disdainful having to endure all the folks testifying in opposition to the landfill expansion. No wonder, the landfill expansion was his idea embedded into the 2020 landfill franchise agreement when he was Chair of the Commission.
Malone voted to approve the expansion, overturning the Planning Commission’s unanimous decision to deny the application. Under mounting political pressure and action by Oregon DEQ, Malone later voted to deny the expansion application. Republic Services appealed that decision to the State Land Use Board of Appeals.
Setting the landfill controversy aside, Pat Malone’s two-term record as Commissioner is unsupportable. Malone has overseen reckless County government spending increases:
If you are a Benton County property owner, you know your property taxes are high. Did you know that Benton County property taxes are ranked 4th HIGHEST in Oregon behind the three Portland metro area counties?
And no wonder with the increased spending by the County. The actual spending for the 2017-19 biennium was $217.7 million. The County’s adopted budget for the 2025-27 totals $540.3 million. A 148% increase!
Next, let’s look at the number of Benton County employees. The County ended in June 2019 with 456.45 full-time equivalent (FTE). The adopted 2025-27 budget includes funding for 613.75 FTE, a 34.4 percent increase in the number of people working in the County government.
Compared to 2023-25 County budget, “The total salary growth for 2025-27 is estimated at 29.4%.” (page 15, adopted Budget document). A primary driver of these increased salary costs is the massive raises given to management and non-represented employees in 2024 under the guise of pay equity and a “market study” resulting in the ongoing $2.5 million per year payout to 114 employees.
Malone has approved the use of Benton County taxpayer money and America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to subsidize an external fleet operation that provides services to external counties (e.g., Linn, Marion, Polk). This money losing operation has been subsidized with our tax dollars for many years under Malone’s watch.
Also, under Maone’s watch the County has increased long-term borrowing ($53.6 million debt has been issued since 2018) and has purchased many private buildings for use as government offices.
The $36 million bond recently sold to pay the County’s share of their new courthouse on Highway 20 near HP will require repayment of $67.5 million over the next 20 years. And, of course, there is no plan for saving or restoring the historic courthouse, the emblem of our County.
Our property tax dollars are PLEDGED FIRST to the bond holders. As federal resources are eliminated that support many important programs (e.g., Health programs), the County will have to cut services or raise more revenues to pay those debts.
The failed effort to get the public to approve “Justice Center” Bond Measure 2-140 can also be laid at Malone’s feet given the County’s bloated proposal and misleading public campaign for the measure.
The future of our County depends on protecting our environment, exercising fiscal restraint, and living within our means going forward. Under Malone’s leadership, we are headed down the wrong path.
It’s time for a change. It is time for a change in leadership. Vote for JOHN WILSON.
Mark Yeager is a retired environmental engineer.
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