Not surprisingly, I disagree with Mr. Yeager’s assessment of my record, which The Advocate published as a Reader View earlier this week.
Here is the real story: since July of 2017, the rate of inflation was 35%. Yes, there was a large increase in the budget, to be sure. Also, we took on some new spending. But what we got for the money are things the community has wanted.
We built and staffed the new Crisis Center, and it is now serving people when they are in need. We also built the new Barbara Ross Children and Family Services Building, along with appropriate staffing. We have more places for homeless people to find shelter. Benton County residents are a caring lot, and they have wanted us to help people in need, and these new buildings and staff mean we can do that.
And yes, we have increased wages for all our employees, ensuring that staff receive a living wage. These are the people that take care of things for you, everything from road maintenance to emergency services, and everything in between. We also now have the Kalapuya Building, which replaced several rentals. That building brings departments together to improve service for our county residents. With Kalapuya and the Sunset and Children Services Buildings, we now have many departments within walking distance of each other.
Mr. Yeager complains about all the money we are spending, then also complains that we did not pass Bond Measure 2-140, which would have spent even more. I think that’s trying to have it both ways, Mr. Yeager.
Three things were included in the 2-140 bond measure: a new jail, a Sheriff’s office, and a new Emergency Operations Center. The bond didn’t pass, so we are continuing to work on our much-needed facilities in phases.
Spending increased because we are building a new courthouse to replace the 137-year-old courthouse, with the State covering half the cost and Benton County the other half. We are also building a new Emergency Operations Center to replace the one in the Law Enforcement Building in Corvallis, which has limited access for non-law enforcement personnel and only room for about 10 people. What we learned during our COVID emergency response was that we needed operating space for about 100 people. We were lucky to have the Kalapuya Building. Even in its then raw, undeveloped state, Kalapuya served us well during the pandemic.
There is nothing simple about governing. No one does this on their own. It is about creating and nurturing partnerships. I have spent decades building those partnerships, both here in the county and with the legislatures in Salem and Washington, DC. I thank you for the privilege of serving you and welcome the opportunity to continue doing so. I’ll continue listening, building partnerships to create consensus, and solving problems through community involvement. I’ll keep using my pragmatism and business acumen to work for and represent all of Benton County. I approach decisions not because they’re politically popular, but for what is right and legal for the whole county.
As the Corvallis Advocate concluded in its endorsement (THANK YOU!): “If basic goodness at the job is the defining metric in this race, Malone is the standout choice, and most especially for some of the most pressing challenges that appear to be on the horizon.”
If you have questions about what I’ve written, please call me to make an appointment or come see me during my “Chat with Pat”. Check the county website for details https://boc.bentoncountyor.gov/events/april-28-chat-with-pat/ or call (541) 766-0135.
Pat Malone, Benton County Commissioner
Quick footnote: Inflation from July of 2017 to March of 2026 is 34.9%. (Benton County 2-year budget cycle begins in July.) https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm (Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index Calculator)
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