Benton County hires new top lawyer... but past controversy follows
Jane Vetto is scheduled to begin the role April 13...
Benton County has hired a new top legal adviser, bringing in a veteran Oregon government attorney whose previous tenure in another county ended under scrutiny.
The Benton County Board of Commissioners announced this week that Jane Vetto will become the county’s next county counsel, the chief lawyer responsible for advising elected officials and guiding the county through legal disputes, contracts, land-use decisions, and public policy.
Vetto is expected to begin work April 13, replacing longtime county counsel Vance Croney, who is retiring after more than 25 years in the role.
But while county officials emphasize Vetto’s decades of experience advising governments across Oregon and Washington, her recent history in another county government has raised questions.
A veteran government attorney
Vetto has worked in public-sector law for much of her career.
She previously served as county counsel in Marion County and Clackamas County, two of Oregon’s largest local governments. Earlier in her career, she worked in Washington state as a civil deputy prosecutor for Clark County, where she defended the county in lawsuits and advised departments on legal matters.
More recently, she worked as deputy county attorney for Linn County, a role that included advising county departments on issues ranging from land use and public works to health services.
County officials say that breadth of experience made her an appealing candidate during Benton County’s search.
Croney, the outgoing county counsel, described Vetto as “bright, experienced, professional and personable” and said she would be well-suited for the position.
A short and contentious tenure in Clackamas County
Vetto’s time as Clackamas County counsel in 2024–2025 lasted about a year before ending abruptly.
Records later revealed that multiple employees complained about workplace issues related to management style and communication. The county hired an outside investigator to examine the complaints.
The investigation ultimately did not substantiate the allegations, but the situation led to a negotiated resignation that included a severance agreement, according to reporting at the time.
The episode drew attention in local government circles, in part because the county counsel position sits at the center of major legal and political decisions.
A key legal role in Benton County
In Benton County, the county counsel serves as the top legal authority for county government, advising commissioners and departments on everything from contracts and public records law to potential litigation.
The office plays a particularly important role in complex policy decisions: including land use disputes, labor negotiations, and environmental issues that regularly surface in Benton County.
With Vance Croney’s retirement, the appointment marks one of the most significant administrative leadership transitions in county government in decades.
For Benton County residents, the new hire places a lawyer with extensive experience — and a complicated recent chapter — at the center of the county’s legal decision-making.
Whether that past controversy proves to be a footnote or a preview remains to be seen.
— The Corvallis Inquirer, Mar 13, 2026
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Sometimes positions and people are not good fits together. I suspect the County knew this information when they hired her.
So she parted ways with a previous employer over claims that were investigated and determined to be unfounded. Would you have stayed in a job after going through that process?
Whole story is a Big Yawn.