YAKIMA, Wash. – Yakima County Sheriff Bob Udell has announced his candidacy for the Yakima County Commissioner Position One.
The lifelong Yakima resident shared his excitement for this next step at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
“This is my home. I’m a fifth generation Udell. We have been here forever and this is a great opportunity to make sure that I continue to help my community,” Udell said.
Udell has spent 36 years in Yakima County law enforcement, including eight years as sheriff. He announced his retirement from the sheriff’s role back in November, which will take effect at the end of 2026. Now, he is ready for a new challenge.
“This is really, really important to me. I am so excited for a different challenge. The sheriff’s office has been fantastic. It’s been 36 years. I am leaving them better than I found them. And now the next challenge is to go to the entire county. This is a beautiful place and it deserves effective leadership and new ideas to move us forward,” Udell said.
During his announcement, Udell outlined his priorities, including public safety, agriculture, water rights and managing the county’s budget. He plans to leverage his law enforcement experience to enhance public safety and budget management and his farming background to address agriculture and water rights.
“You know me. You can trust me. I am driven to succeed. That’s just who I am,” Udell said.
Udell emphasized his commitment to listening to the community and expressed hope they will support his candidacy.
