With most voters likely receiving their ballots for the May 21 primary election by now, decisions will need to be made on preferred candidates.
In Benton County, there is only one contested election — the Position 2 seat currently held by Xan Augerot on the Benton County Board of Commissioners. Liz Irish and Gabe Shepherd are the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination and both have been involved in local politics in recent years.
Irish, 50, of Corvallis, has a background that includes work on the Benton County Planning Commission as well as a housing subcommittee and the budget and “Talks Trash” committees. She served as a policy adviser for Albany Mayor Alex Johnson. Housing, mental health and homelessness, and climate change are areas of focus according to what she included in the voters pamphlet. She works in the mortgage lending profession.
Shepherd, 27, of Corvallis, who is in his second term on the Corvallis City Council, has served as the chair for the Benton County Democrats. Other involvement includes various committees, such as the Corvallis City Legislative Committee, and he has served in the role of Corvallis budget commissioner. In the voters pamphlet, he mentioned housing, climate and public engagement as areas of focus. He works as the deputy city clerk in Albany.
No Republican candidates filed for the Position 2 seat.
Position 3 on the county commissioners will not be contested in this upcoming election but in the November general election between Democrat Nancy Wyse and Republican R Keith Lembke.
The Philomath News asked Irish and Shepherd to answer five questions. Guidelines included a 100 word limit.
Question 1: Philomath is in close proximity to Corvallis but still a rural community. What rural-centric issues do you prioritize for a community like Philomath?
Irish: “Philomath has many of the same issues all rural communities have — availability and affordability of housing. Housing affordability is an issue that affects homelessness, schools, small- and mid-size businesses, especially those trying to fill jobs and find long term living options for our aging population. Benton County Community Development has and is currently playing an important role in assisting Philomath with healthy and manageable growth. As a Benton County planning commissioner on the Housing Subcommittee, I am doing that now by partnering with localities and unincorporated towns to be sure we help them every step of the way.”
Shepherd: “I grew up rural, about 10 minutes outside of Junction City, where I attended school. I raised goats for 4-H and was a third-generation graduate of Junction City High School. I know from personal experience concerns in rural communities about access to clean, reliable water, and protection and preparedness for wildfire. As climate change intensifies, both of these concerns are becoming harsher realities for communities like Philomath. As a two-term Corvallis city councilor, I know it is vital that the county commissioners work with cities to prepare for drier seasons and ensure all residents have the water they need.”
Question 2: Dealing with controversies comes with the territory of serving in public office. At the county level, the Coffin Butte landfill expansion is an example. What’s your perspective on this issue?
Irish: “I served on Benton County Talks Trash. It was nine months of Landfill 101. As the county appointment from the Planning Commission, it was a great way to be thrown into the subject. I think that regardless of how any future conditional-use permit process ends, the other side will likely appeal. This just solidifies the need for our Planning Commission to do a great job on their recommendation to the commissioners, and the commissioners to do a great job reviewing and ruling on a decision. Everything we do will be looked at under a microscope.”
Shepherd: “Due to state land use law, I cannot say how I would vote on a potential landfill expansion. I can speak about my environmental concerns including higher than reported methane and potential water contamination. I think the county needs to do a much better job of taking seriously the concerns of the people who live and work near the landfill. As I meet with people out near Coffin Butte, they express genuine concerns about the impact of the waste we import from across Oregon and Washington has on the air they breathe and the water they drink.”
Question 3: A term that seems to be interpreted in various ways is “transparency in government.” What’s your definition and do you believe it’s an issue in Benton County?
Irish: “I believe that our county needs to do everything in its power to let citizens know what is happening in the county. That has gotten harder as local newspapers are no longer the go-to source for what is happening. I have watched the county try and reach as many people as possible, but it is clear that more must be done. Including more social media, newsletters, newspapers, and so much more. I think that we need to create opportunities for the community to share their thoughts and concerns with the BOC that is less formal.”
Shepherd: “To me, transparency in government includes ease of access to government. A priority of mine is public engagement, which I believe is an issue in Benton County. The Benton County Commission meets at 9 a.m. Tuesdays, a time that it is near impossible for those who work traditional hours to attend. I want the county to hold at least one evening meeting a month. I have also committed to a town hall in every Benton County community, every year. Annual town halls are a mainstay of Oregon politics and of former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who has endorsed my campaign.”
Question 4: What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in Benton County?
Irish: “We need additional funding for our health department so it can adequately meet the needs of our community, and we will need to fund our criminal justice system. Currently there are open positions that can not be filled in the county and that includes mental health. If we are going to tackle homelessness we have to focus there. The jail is small and inadequate, costing taxpayers more in the long run. We pay for transportation and housing of our inmates in other jails, and the longer we push out the inevitable, the more expensive it will get.”
Shepherd: “The county put forward Measure 2-140 in May of 2023 to fund, among other things, a new jail for Benton County. That measure failed across the whole county and in Philomath. While many people I spoke with understood the need for a new jail, they often did not support the high cost, how the bond was structured, or the tactics the county used to get them to vote for the measure. The next county commission needs to spend a lot of time rebuilding trust with the general public and develop ways to improve jail capacity and conditions for the incarcerated.”
Question 5: In your view, should any part of the county budget be shielded from cuts? And if so, which area?
Irish: “We currently operate with a balanced budget. That is the law. We only fund what we have money for. So, if in the coming budget we come up short we look at every department’s needs and prioritize until we have a balanced budget. It would be hard to tell at this point what those cuts would be. Many times federal and state funding is designated for a department or service, once we know what those will be in the next budget, then we can discuss options in our public meetings.”
Shepherd: “Many county programs are funded by state pass-through dollars. Also, many local government projects are fund specific, meaning money cannot be spent for a different purpose than collected. Oregon law requires that local governments have a balanced budget and any cuts to the county’s budget would be highly dependent on what revenue stream dries up. Every year county staff and commissioners must decide what projects and positions get funded and which don’t. For all of these reasons, I don’t think it makes sense to, without context, say one part of the budget would be shielded from cuts over another portion.”
