Meet Pat Malone, Benton County Commissioner

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Pat continues to support Van Buren Court and Harrison Boulevard, two transitional housing units that Benton County and Corvallis are partnering on. He understands that we need all options, from emergency shelters to transitional housing to permanent supportive housing, to make progress on the critical housing issue. 

Pat supported the development of the new Crisis Center, a voluntary, walk-in treatment facility, which was built by actively pursuing state and federal funding. It serves as a model for other counties. When fully operational, the Crisis Center will be open 24/7, 365 days a year.  Pat’s goal is to have the Center fully staffed to handle the challenge it was designed for. He hopes the Crisis Center will assist law enforcement as an alternative to incarcerating an individual in crisis. The Crisis Center is located at 240 NW 4th Street in downtown Corvallis. 

As Chair, when COVID-19 hit, Pat made sure the County followed the science over ideology to keep our county healthy. The County had one of the highest vaccination rates and lowest infection rates in Oregon.

Photo:  Pat planting trees.

Pat has taken the long-term approach and applied his extensive stewardship skills to promote a clean, safe, and sustainable environment for everyone in Benton County. As a tree farmer, Pat knows climate change is real. 

Pat supports solar. Benton County is putting solar panels on county buildings as opportunities arise.  He and his wife Betty, live in a passive solar house that they built. Pat pushed to have the County’s Sustainability Coordinator make sure the County’s environmental protection goals in the 2040 Plan are implemented in its daily operations. 

Photo:  Pat at the end of the bike lane and the beginning of the Corvallis-Albany Bike/Hike Path. 

Bike and hike paths are essential transportation options that help address income inequality, climate change, and community health. Pat seeks partnerships to create more, safe pathways to reduce reliance on cars, such as the connector path to the Greenbelt Land Trust overpass crossing Highway 99W between Jackson Frazier Wetland and Owens Farm.  

Pat will continue to seek out opportunities to secure state and federal funding to improve local transportation systems. The first mile of the Corvallis-Albany Bike/Hike path from Conifer Boulevard to Merloy Avenue is now paved! This safety feature for Highway 20 is a result of Pat’s efforts to obtain grants to fund the project. The next section from Merloy to Scenic Drive in North Albany is in the design phase. 

Photo: Pat campaigning with supporter Janet Wolf-Eshe.

Want to help Pat get re-elected?! Sign up to endorse and volunteer here! 

Donations can be made securely through ActBlue, or mailed to: 

Friends of Pat Malone

24048 Maxfield Creek Road

Philomath, OR 97370 

Your political contribution (up to $100 jointly or $50.00 individually) is allowed as a tax credit on your Oregon State income tax. State law requires us to obtain and report the mailing address, employer, occupation, and name of individuals whose contributions exceed $100 per election cycle. 

Experienced

Long before he even thought about becoming a County Commissioner, Pat was working to make Benton County better for all of us.

His record of volunteerism and service includes Benton County Soil and Water Conservation Board; Workforce Development Board (Northwest Oregon Works); Benton County Charter Review Committee; Benton County Law Enforcement Review Committee; Benton County Bicycle Advisory Committee; Linn-Benton Community College Budget Committee; Kings Valley Fire Chief;  and Oregon Department of Agriculture, Christmas Tree Advisory Committee.

Malone expresses a desire to represent what is best for everyone in the county with the integrity to stand by his values, the inclusivity to respect all viewpoints, and the ingenuity to address both opportunities and challenges creatively. “I would not be running if I didn’t believe that the work needs to continue. During these historic and challenging times, when people are struggling, experience matters. Having a commissioner who has a strong understanding of the County and the County’s budget is essential to the job.” 

Endorsed

Pat’s endorsements come from years of talking with legislators and community members on the issues of the day, building trust, and working together for the good of Benton County. Pat nurtures community involvement to build consensus. As he says, “No one does this on their own. It takes collaboration and partnership.” 

Environmentalist

Pat has lived his entire adult life working to create a sustainable future. He and his wife Betty, built their passive solar house. They recycle everything they can. They walk the talk every day. Their goal when they first began tree farming was to leave the ground in better shape than they found it. That premise leads to making decisions based on long-term benefits rather than short-term gains. Growing crops with 10- to 80-year rotations has been a valuable practice for being a Commissioner.