Meet Pat Malone, Benton County Commissioner
About Pat
Pat is seeking reelection as Benton County Commissioner in 2026. Pat is a fifth generation Oregonian. He is the co-owner of Sunrise Tree Farm in Kings Valley with his wife Betty. He has served as a volunteer for thirty-eight years in the Hoskins-Kings Valley Rural Fire Protection District; and for eight of those years was the Fire Chief. He has also served on the Linn-Benton Community College Budget Committee and Agricultural Research Foundation Board.
Pat’s deep roots as a local business owner and community volunteer mean his priorities reflect Benton county values.
Experienced
Long before he even thought about becoming a County Commissioner, Pat was working to make Benton County even 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, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Christmas Tree Advisory Committee, and more.
The hands-on understanding and experience Pat has gained in his years of County-focused volunteerism served us well during his first term as one of our Commissioners. Having such a working knowledge will surely be even more important in meeting the challenges and making the most of the opportunities for Benton County’s residents in the years ahead.
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 with all his efforts looking towards a sustainable future. 40 years ago, 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-year and 100-year rotations has been great practice for being a commissioner.
They have to take the long view, too. As a fifth generation Oregonian, Pat will leave their farm in good shape for their kids and grandkids. He feels the same way about Benton County.
Pat's Priorities
Reducing Homelessness
Strengthening Public Health
Focused on Sustainability
As a Commissioner, in his first term, Pat worked to make the Third Street Commons operational. Operation Turnkey provides state money for entities to buy old motels. He’ll continue to seek out opportunities for more housing. Whether it’s tiny homes, micro-shelters, or quality manufactured homes, Pat understands the need to explore all options to make significant progress on this critical issue.
Focused on Sustainability
Strengthening Public Health
Focused on Sustainability
Pat has taken the long-term view and applied his extensive stewardship skills to promote a clean, safe, and sustainable environment for all of us in Benton County. As a farmer, Pat knows climate change is real.
Pat supports solar. Benton County is putting solar panels on county buildings as opportunities arise. In the last year it has installed panels on the Kalapuya Building in a partnership with Pacific Power Blue Sky Program, Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, and Solarize Corvallis. There are panels on the Health Center and the Fairgrounds, too. More panels are planned for the Law Enforcement Building and Lincoln Health Center.
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.
Strengthening Public Health
Strengthening Public Health
Improving Approaches to Behavioral Health Issues
Before the 2020 pandemic, the County’s Health Department had limited staff and resources. Pat strongly championed the department to meet the Coronavirus challenge. Pat listened to the experts and made sure County policies followed their advice. Benton County is in the top 5 counties in Oregon for low infection rates and high vaccination rates. Outreach to our most vulnerable and hardest to reach populations is a priority. Farm workers, houseless, and rural populations have been targeted for Covid testing and vaccination clinics. This is being done deliberately and systematically throughout this epidemic.
With the Coronavirus is in the rear-view mirror, Benton County’s now robust health department will be well-prepared to meet future challenges.
Improving Approaches to Behavioral Health Issues
Improving Approaches to Behavioral Health Issues
Improving Approaches to Behavioral Health Issues
I’m excited to tell you about the new Benton County Crisis Center. Benton County Behavioral Health has created a voluntary walk-in treatment-centered facility to provide stabilization for people experiencing mental health crisis. When fully operational, the Crisis Center will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to serve all ages, regardless of ability to pay, with no appointment is needed.
So much thought was put into so many details in the building. Consideration has been given to how the person in crisis feels, hears, sees and touches. I am hopeful this place will assist law enforcement as an alternative to incarcerating a person in crisis. This coupled with our County social worker riding along with Corvallis Police could be a game changer for our community and people in crisis.
The Benton County Crisis Center is located at 240 NW 4th Street in downtown Corvallis. For more information click here.
Advancing Transportation Alternatives
Improving Approaches to Behavioral Health Issues
Get Involved: Volunteer, Endorse, or Donate Here
The Corvallis-to-Albany bike path is progressing as a direct result of Pat’s asking questions of the right people at the right time. Cars are costly both in terms of dollars and our climate. Bike paths are a way to help with income inequality, climate change and community health. Pat will continue to seek out opportunities to apply state and federal dollars to enhance local transportation systems.
Benton County Economic Development is partnering with Pacific Power to subsidize up to $1,200/bike to get E-bikes to low-income people. Pat supports this pilot project and will work to have it continued and expanded.
Pat supports the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments’ (OCWCOG) initiative for web-based transit. The goal is one-stop-shopping to enable a rider to go from Sweet Home in east Linn County through Benton County to Newport in Lincoln County.
Pat is seeking partnerships to create more pathways to lessen the dependence on cars such as the North Corvallis to Adair path and utilizing the Bailey Branch path from Corvallis to Monroe.
Pat chairs the Linn-Benton Loop Board. The Loop connects Albany and LBCC to Corvallis and the OSU campus. New buses have been put into service which allows an expansion of frequency and hours to better serve both communities, lessen dependence on cars.
Get Involved: Volunteer, Endorse, or Donate Here
Improving Approaches to Behavioral Health Issues
Get Involved: Volunteer, Endorse, or Donate Here
Interested in helping the re-election campaign? Sign up to volunteer here!
Donations can be made securely through ActBlue (link coming soon), 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.