Marion County Commissioner Sam Brentano “just had a feel for local government,” but after serving 17 years, he is ready to retire.
“I’m winding down,” said Brentano, who wants to leave his position in good hands. “I love to fish and hunt. I have eight grandkids now, and want to spend more time with them all. I’m 68 and don’t want to be responsible for anything anymore. It’s time to relax a bit.”
Brentano was appointed to the Marion County Board of Commissioners in November 2003 and was elected in November 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. His seat will be open this November, and he will serve until January when the newly elected commissioner is sworn in.
“I’ve always been interested in public service,” said Brentano, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Oregon State University. “My family ran garbage companies in about 30 counties and cities in Oregon, and I got to see a lot of city government at work. When we got the Stayton contract in 1980, it kind of struck me how many good people were there for the right purposes, how many good things they were doing.”
On his waste pickup rounds, Brentano met and worked with a slew of government officials and agencies, peaking his interest even further. His grandfather, Bernard, was St. Paul’s fire chief for 25 years and a friend of Pat McCarthy, the county commissioner from St. Paul.
“I guess you could say I was exposed to public service early,” Brentano said.
Brentano put his network of sources to good use by stepping into the political ring to serve as mayor of Sublimity from 1982 to 1993. For 20 years, he built many contacts by volunteering as a firefighter/EMT with Sublimity, Woodburn and Harrisburg rural fire districts. He also supported the Silverton Hospital and the Stayton Library foundations and is a longtime member of the Stayton Area Rotary. Most local residents remember his longtime affiliation with the Regis High School Foundation, the St. Boniface Parish Council and the St. Boniface Men’s Choir.
“I sold the garbage company five years after my dad died in 1995,” said Brentano, who retired in 2001 from his position as president and general manager of United Disposal Service. Of his political service, he said, “I wanted to matter. It has always been important to me to not just take up space but accomplish something good.”
Brentano used his expertise to focus on solid waste, emergency management and transportation issues for Marion County. He serves on the Association of Oregon & California Counties board of directors, and is working to secure the future of rural communities through revitalization of the timber industry through practical management of Oregon’s forests. Brentano also pushed for improvements to the I-5/Woodburn Interchange and continues to support a third bridge in Salem and expanded access to Cordon Road.
Most recently, when COVID-19 and the Labor Day wildfires caused government and other agencies to scramble, Brentano said Marion County responded.
“You prepare for trouble and when the test came, we were good at it,” he said. “We aren’t over it yet, but I think this county is set up to handle it.”
One step Marion County has taken is to use lottery funds to help tide small business owners and homeowners through tough times ahead, Brentano said.
“Another we are taking is not to charge for building permits on rebuilds,” he added. “We’re also trying to get legislation to help all who still get a tax bill after their home has been destroyed.”
Brentano said the county’s goal is to get people back on their properties.
“Many capable hands will see it through,” he said of the monumental task ahead. Of his own role, he added, “I believe I based every decision on what I thought was right. I’d like to think people appreciated that.”
While driving in to his office recently, Brentano started thinking of “all the wonderful people I have worked with – CEO John Latimer, administrative officer Jan Fritz, and policy advisor Barb Young to name three.”
Brentano now looks forward to his newest project: training a black Labrador puppy.
“She can be the Marion County mascot,” he said lightheartedly. “I’m actually going to name her Marion June. Frankly, my wife Tami wouldn’t let me name our kids that. Too old fashioned, I was told. Well, so am I.”
Brentano leaves the Marion County Commissioners office with a humble wish – to have fresh peach pie with huckleberries from a small bakery in Taft at his going-away gathering with coworkers.
“I was kind of hoping to get a dose of that pie at a party,” he said. “That’s all I want.”
