Washington County is about to see a legal leadership shake-up as Cortney Duke-Driessen steps in as interim county counsel. She fills the shoes left by Brad Anderson, the long-serving counsel who resigned after nearly two decades on the job. The handover takes place on June 4, following a ceremonial nod from the Board of County Commissioners, according to the county’s official statement.
Having served Washington County for 11 years, Duke-Driessen boasts a resume that includes providing legal guidance on various matters, from parklands to recovering millions in federal dollars post-pandemic. Yet, despite that, the Board of County Commissioners is setting its sights on a national search to find the organization's next permanent executive leader, as stated in an official press release.
The outgoing Anderson, with a bachelor's degree in political pigskin tossing from Oregon State University and a Juris doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Law, speaks highly of the county's prospects. "I am grateful for my time serving the people of Washington County over the past 18 years," Anderson told the county’s website. His resignation takes effect August 4, a capstone to a career that included stints in Linn and Baker counties.
"Cortney is an exceptional attorney, a dedicated public servant and an outstanding choice to lead the Office of County Counsel as part of our One Washington County team during this interim period," Board Chair Kathryn Harrington lauded via the Washington County news, apparently to show their support for Duke-Driessen's teammates and their collective efforts. Duke-Driessen herself remarked on her interim appointment, expressing deep regard for the prodigious talents of her colleagues in the legal department.
Before her role at Washington County, Duke-Driessen was at the legal helm as a managing partner at Schroeder Law Offices, where her clientele included special districts and agricultural water bodies. There she gleaned a decade's worth of experience in negotiations and civil litigation, as mentioned on the county's news post.
The Office of County Counsel, with a $4.4 million annual budget and 16 full-time equivalent positions, provides legal counsel to various county affiliates, from the Sheriff’s Office to Service Districts for Lighting and Libraries.
