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.
Behavioral Health / Public Health Projects and Accomplishments:
- Mobile Behavioral health in the Canyon after the last clinic closed
- Female SOAR – Class #1 graduated
- His Place – Opened December 27, 2022 – Dads and children are living there
- Wellness Van at Church in the park – began summer 2022
- Woodburn clinic efforts (remodel) –Complete
- HB 4002 passed – recriminalization of hard drugs
- Ground breaking on new Secure Residential Treatment Facility for mental illness
- OUR Place ribbon cutting, March 2025 – 5, 3 bedroom units for families, with parents navigating addiction recovery, emersed in services.
- Co-hosted a City of Salem/Marion County meeting of learning the system of behavioral health, working towards transparency of systems challenges and collaboration
- Advocating for Civil Commitment reform through the Oregon Legislature (2024 and 2025 sessions)
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.
Wildfire Recovery Projects and Accomplishments:
- Secured $12 million for Wildfire Recovery
- Built an $8 million Wildfire Recovery Housing Program
- Launched the Marion County Wildfire Recovery Housing Program
- $623,387 in grants approved as of March 2024
- Purchase of 15 acres of property for housing – Mill City – June 2022
- Purchase of 6 acres of property for housing – Gates – Fall 2023
- Waiver of property taxes for year of fire – 2021
- Waiver of increased property taxes after rebuild for primary homeowners
- Waiver of County permitting fees for survivors to build back – On-going
- Approved grants for wildfire recovery housing projects for a total of $700,452.80
- Created a hazardous tree removal grant for homeowners and local jurisdictions
- Working on the special legislative action to modify three basin rule
- Pursing an $80 million waste water system benefitting the communities of Mill City, and Gates and all communities down river
- Pursing state grants for build of affordable housing in Mill City, and market rate housing in Gates
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.
Public Safety Projects and Accomplishments
- G- Pod opened, all jail wings available ($2 million annual investment)
- Maintain and expand the East Salem Service District patrol division
- Preparing the Stabilization Center as a result of House Bill 4002
- Finally getting the right people to the table to have conversations about the needs of our youth
- Pursing Multidisciplinary team of community partners, local law enforcement and county partners to tackle crime across our county
- Stabilizing funds for the return of one law enforcement/health teams for mental health calls
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.
AOC Projects and Accomplishments
- More conversations happening statewide and better collaboration across all the participating counties
- Build on the work done in 2022/2023 and prepare to make 2024 successful in the cross-county collaboration
- Harnessed the collective consciousness of the counties through AOC to help advocate for the passing of House Bill 4002
- Continue to have deep and meaningful conversations about the real needs of counties
- Persuaded Governor for regular consistent meetings with AOC leadership in hopes of better understanding of local government
Housing
I believe in creating opportunities for people to become homeowners—not just renters. That’s why my focus is on expanding homeownership, not more apartment complexes.
I’ve worked to put our Community Development Block Grant to work for the people—developing down payment assistance and homeowner rehab programs that make owning a home more accessible.
Through strong community partnerships, I’m helping bridge the gap between renting and owning. By connecting renters with financial education and resources, we’re building an escalator of housing opportunity—so more Oregonians can level up into long-term stability and ownership.
Housing Projects and Accomplishments
- CDBG Down payment assistance 10 applicants, 3 completed downpayment assistance grants, and 55 in the waiting list
- CDBG homeowner rehab 14 completed jobs for a total of $514,874, 12 more in progress for a total of $433,991.25 with 56 projects on the waiting list
- 15 acres purchased in Mill City for housing – June 2022
- 6 acres purchased in Gates for Housing – Fall 2023
- Secured $12 million for Wildfire Housing Recovery for primary residents
Homelessness
Homelessness is one of Oregon’s most pressing issues, and I believe we need solutions that combine compassion with real accountability.
I’ve helped expand HIS Place and OUR Place—safe, supportive homes for individuals and parents choosing sobriety. Now, I’m working to open a second location for HER Place, creating more opportunities for women in recovery.
As a member of the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance, I advocate for programs that work—calling for strong data, responsible funding, and a balanced approach between low-barrier and barrier-based services.
I’m committed to real solutions that support people in crisis and strengthen our communities.
Homelessness Projects and Accomplishments
- MAC participant for Governor Kotek’s Executive Order
- Tours with homeless experts and city councilors in camps across Salem – January 2023
- Working to identify evidence based programs, with long term results
- Creating accountability in contracts through data reporting
- Funded of three Keizer based homes for individuals transitioning from being unhoused and in the throws of addiction, to stable housing, engaged in services working toward stabilization.
– Leo Rosten
Get Involved
Paid for by Friends of Danielle Bethell