Washington County authorizes employment agreement for new County Counsel, Alex Barnett

The Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously authorized Chair Harrington to sign an employment agreement for Alex Barnett to serve as County Counsel, the board announced at its Dec. 10 meeting.

Chair Harrington said the county conducted a national search, used a consultant, vetted applicants and held face-to-face interviews that included the board and other organizational panels. "Out of that, we had discussion and consensus to move forward with one of the applicants, Alex Barnett," she said, noting Barnett has served in the U.S. Army since July 2005 and "has been doing legal work since 2013." She said Barnett "is a member of the Oregon Bar" and would relocate to Oregon with his family.

Commissioners spoke in support. Commissioner Willey thanked everyone involved in the process and praised interim County Counsel Courtney Duke Dreesen for her work. The motion to authorize the chair to sign the employment agreement was moved, seconded and passed unanimously.

The action formalizes the next step in filling the county’s chief legal post after a national recruitment process; the agreement presented to the board was described as a final draft that Barnett had reviewed and accepted. The board did not discuss salary or specific contract terms during the public portion of the meeting.

The board’s consent agenda that included the employment-authorizing item was approved as presented; the vote was recorded as unanimous. The board will follow its posted administrative steps for onboarding and any required disclosures for the new County Counsel.