Now chair for 2013, Janet Carlson was elected to the Board of Commissioners in November 2002 and re-elected in 2006 and 2010. Her accomplishments as commissioner include working with the Fair Board to promote the county fair, leading the 150 Miles for 150 Years countywide relay, and raising community awareness around prisoner reentry and the need for community volunteers and mentors.
Commissioner Carlson is a past-president of the Association of Oregon Counties with an important role in representing county issues to the state legislature. A summa cum laude graduate of Willamette University, Commissioner Carlson taught French and social studies in public schools for ten years, was a budget analyst for the State of Oregon, and served as budget director and regional coordinator for the Oregon Commission on Children and Families.
She was awarded a Ph.D. in education and public policy from the University of Oregon in 1997. She also worked as a consultant with public and nonprofit agencies, specializing in children and families policy, planning and evaluation. Janet served as a state representative in the Oregon legislature in 2001-02.