Pat Malone is Endorsed by...

Benton County Board of Commissioners, Position 1, Pat Malone

Pat Malone is our endorsement for the Benton County Board of Commissioners primary. Longtime readers may be surprised, we’ve never endorsed Malone in a primary, and it’s no secret we have some strong disagreements with him. So let us explain.

Malone personifies the idea that still waters run deep. Think about the downtown Corvallis Crisis Center. Four years ago, we challenged him about funding full staffing before it was ever built. His answer back then; he admitted it would be a problem, and that full staffing would take time. Now, four years later, it’s built, but the hours are limited, so when we hosted him in a debate last month, we asked him about it. His answer, some good news, the hours will be extended in June, 7 am to 7 pm over weekdays. He then said it would take time to open the Center during weekends and then added with a stoic confidence; “baby-steps.”

And then it struck us. Malone is a tree farmer; the idea that you plant what looks like not much, pay it mindful attention over time, and wait, comes naturally for him. Patience and continued attention may not make for an exciting campaign message, but it does make things happen. Malone is one of those people that understands the parts within the parts, and how to leverage what they’re made of.

He is championing parks, new campgrounds and bike paths. He is well respected among local budget commission geeks, which seems important in a time of fewer state and federal resources flowing into the County coffers. He’s been appointed by the governor to a solid waste task force and just happens to drop during debate, like it’s no big deal, that it appears things will be worked out that area trash will be hauled to remote regions of Eastern Oregon and Washington. In other words, an actual plan for after Coffin Butte closes. Like, still years away, but an actual plan.

Malone’s opponent is Adair Village City Councilor and Benton County Planning Commissioner John Wilson. Much has been said about both candidates sharing, for the most part, similar views. And there has been frustration that neither candidate believes the County can constructively intervene in our growing local health care crisis and diminishing schools.

But there are some subtle differences. Wilson may be more willing to litigate when state and federal requirements and policies would be harmful to Benton County residents. Malone has a better understanding of what economic development can achieve. Like we said, subtle. We do wish a more transformative approach was on offer.

Also, there is the elephant in the room. Malone initially voted to approve the Coffin Butte Landfill expansion. We at The Advocate believe he got that one wrong. Underlining that view, within a couple days of that decision we received information that the dump would likely be sanctioned by Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality for landfill gas emission violations.

Malone responded to that new information, ultimately voting to reject the expansion.

However, we are aware that some readers cannot forgive Malone for that first vote, and to them we would say we understand, and in that instance, Wilson would absolutely be a reasonable choice. Currently, the matter is with Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals, where it was always going to go, no matter what.

And once we put the landfill issue aside, the choice becomes clear. We think Wilson would be a good commissioner, but not a broadly visionary or transformative one. And 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.

No Republican has filed for this race.