It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since I was sworn in as your county commissioner. From the beginning, my primary mission has been to represent the interests of our county’s
residents, ensuring that your voices are heard, and your concerns are met. My priorities continue to be behavioral health (mental and addiction) and public safety. These are the core services we need from our county government.
County Commissioner is a big job, and along with the board meetings and work sessions, I serve on several boards and committees, including the Marion County Housing Authority, Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance as Vice Chair, the Marion County Community Corrections Board, NW Senior and Disability Services and many more. I love getting to be out in our community, listening to what is needed and finding
ways to help.
As a community, we have had many opportunities and challenges, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working to make Marion County safe, healthy and
economically vibrant.
– Danielle Bethell
Priorities
Standing Up for Our County
I took office during the pandemic, and much of my role as commissioner has been to stand up against the overreach of the state. Just recently, when the State of Oregon and the Oregon
Health Authority failed to uphold their responsibilities, I took decisive action. The safety of our community is paramount, which drove our decision to file a lawsuit against these entities. We
have been shouldering the burden of looking after potentially dangerous individuals released from the Oregon State Hospital into our community without the necessary resources or authority, and this cannot continue.
Wildfire Recovery and Housing
I have worked hard to make sure that our community has the support and resources to rebuild after the devastating 2020 fire. We were able to secure $12 million for recovery relief and have
been working hard to find ways to reduce red tape so our neighbors up the canyon can rebuild. We are working across the county for creative solutions to our housing crisis. Homelessness
continues to be something our communities are struggling with; we continue to work towards outcomes that invest program funds in services that produce results and work towards personal responsibility for those in need of these services.
Repealing M110 and Public Safety
Keeping our county safe is my highest priority. My colleagues and I recently appointed a new sheriff who shares our priorities and I look forward to working with him to continue to protect our community. Measure 110 and the legalization of hard drugs has had catastrophic impacts. We recently voted to endorse a repeal of M110, and I take every opportunity to lobby the legislature to fix this issue so our law enforcement can act more effectively and work towards returning our communities to safe, sanitary spaces.
New Responsibilities and Advocacy
I’m excited to share with you that I was sworn in as the president of the Association of Oregon Counties for 2024, an honor I am proud to receive after being recognized by my peers statewide. In this role, I will fervently advocate at the legislature for common-sense solutions that work for our communities. My focus will be on limiting overreach and opposing “one-size-fits-all” measures that often do not consider the unique needs and aspirations of individual counties. In this role I will also collaborate with other state association presidents and work with Oregon delegates in Congress.
– Leo Rosten
Get Involved
Paid for by Friends of Danielle Bethell