Benton County, Oregon
Damien Sands is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in behavioral health and public administration. Currently serving as the Behavioral Health Director for Benton County since August 2022, Damien has previously held significant roles including Leadership and Behavioral Health Consultant at Kenshō BH Consulting, Director of Government Relations for Youth ERA, and Executive Director at South Lane Mental Health Services, where management encompassed over 2,000 clients, a staff of 100, and a budget exceeding $6 million. Additional experience includes serving as a Regional Program Officer for The Oregon Community Foundation, Executive Director at PacificSource Health Plans, and Senior Policy Analyst at the Oregon Health Authority. Damien holds a Master of Public Administration from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Oregon.
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Benton County, Oregon
Perfectly placed in the Willamette Valley, 90 miles south of Portland and 40 miles north of Eugene, Benton County has easy access to urban areas with ample opportunities for cultural activities. Combined with outdoor recreation galore in the Cascade Range 80 miles to the east and the Coastal Range and the Pacific Ocean 50 miles west, the county’s 90,000 residents like to say they “have it all.” Voters elect three County Commissioners and a Sheriff to four-year terms. The District Attorney is also elected to a four-year term and is a state official. The County Commissioners are assisted in their administrative responsibilities by the County Administrator, who is responsible for implementing County policy, managing operations, budget, and supervising Department Directors. With a ’21-’23 total budget of approximately $349.8 million and 564 employees, Benton County provides a breadth of services through its departments of Assessment, Board of Commissioners, Community Development, District Attorney, Fairgrounds, Records and Elections, Financial Services, Health Centers, Health Department, Human Resources, Information Technology, Juvenile, Natural Areas and Parks, Public Works, and the Sheriff’s Office. In addition to Oregon State University and local entrepreneurship, Benton County’s economy is driven by the tech and health industries and regional agriculture. Traditionally, county Ag has focused on grass seed, Christmas trees, wine grapes, seed crops, organic produce, lumber, sheep, cattle and dairy, but recent years have seen large upswing in hazelnuts and marijuana. The community’s passion for supporting a thriving local economy allow the county to boast chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, brewmasters and distilleries committed to locally grown ingredients with a strong focus on sustainability.