County Commissioners set policy and adopt budgets for their counties. They supervise County departments either directly or, when there is a County Administrator, indirectly. Counties provide a wide range of important public services, from managing elections to maintaining roads. To qualify, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a registered voter, a resident of the district for at least a year prior to the General Election, and 18 years of age or older.Term: 4 years. This position is partisan.
Campaign Phone (public)
5412308010
Town Where You Live
Corvallis
Your Experience/Qualifications
Hello, I am Dr Keith Lembke. As a candidate for County Commissioner, my background in military leadership and government capacity-building initiatives equips me with the skills and experience needed to serve effectively in this role. I have a proven track record of developing and implementing strategic plans that prioritize community needs while balancing budgetary constraints. My experiences as an infantry officer, aviation leader, and intelligence professional, have honed my ability to think c
County
Benton
Lack of financial resiliency will exacerbate homelessness , poverty, and mental health. We need to increase the economic viability of the county general fund through growth of current businesses and adding new businesses. To do so means to advocate for our businesses, assisting them in maintaining their capital for investment, and helping them find capital.
Education:
BS in Management, USMA, West Point
MS in General Admin
Dr of Business Admin/Public Admin
After commissioning in the Army, I had experience working governments in over 20 other countries in the world, often failing. I know what good and bad governance looks like, and what policies work and don't. .
I spent fourteen years trying to build the Afghan government from district to province, to nation. I taught and advised governors, security forces, and our own people counter-insurgency: governance, security, politics, aculture.
After that, I returned here, and started working as a substitute teacher - they needed help. Since then I have found myself focused on the challenged kids who have been failed by our education and mental
Assisting in increasing the supply of homes. Reduce the tax and fee burden to low-wage earners, and advocate for a change in energy policies to bring relief to inflation reducing the demand for homes.
Town Where You Live
Benton Counthy
Your Experience/Qualifications
1 term Benton County Commissioner, 2 terms Corvallis City Councilor
County
Benton
Term
4 years
My goals for the next four years include a focus on Homelessness, Planning, Mental Health, and Climate and Environmental Justice. By focusing our priorities and leveraging partnerships Benton County can make progress in each of these areas.
I am finishing up my first term on the Board of Commissioners, and look forward to maintaining the momentum I have created by serving a second term. Before I was elected to the Board of Commissioners I served on the Benton County Planning Commission, the Benton County Budget Committee, and two terms on the Corvallis City Council including numerous board and committee roles.
Density belongs in the cities. The role of the county is to work with and support incorporated areas with planning and activities such as urban fringe management and urban growth boundary expansions to ensure cities have enough land supply to build housing.
