Yakima County has been home to five generations of the Udell family.  His great-grandfather was a Yakima attorney and a pioneer apple grower on Naches Heights. Both his grandfather and father continued the family’s legacy as apple growers and businessmen in the county. After Bob Udell received a Horticulture degree from Washington State University, he began his own career in the fruit industry before life took him in a different direction: 36 years ago, he would join the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office to begin a career in public service. 

His work took him to every corner of the County with firsthand experience of patrolling roads as a deputy, investigating serious crimes as a detective before becoming part of the Sherriff’s Office administration. In this position he would learn the aspects of managing a modern law enforcement agency, including the complex budget and organizational management. When elected Sheriff in 2018 Udell became more involved in overall County management.

During his term as Sheriff, he worked hard to build relationships with agencies and cities across Yakima County, all to increase public safety. He helped advance major initiatives, including a long overdue modern communications system, a regional SWAT team and Local Crime Lab. It is these relationships that have been helping make Yakima safer. He has built a strong internal structure at the Sheriff’s Office as well, hiring the right people and focusing on accountability to produce professional results. 

Now it is time to use that experience as a county commissioner to create and use opportunities all over our County. Udell and his wife Traci have raised four daughters in this community; his family’s ties to this County go back generations. He is committed to helping make this County succeed and prosper for everyone who lives here, and being part of the Board of County Commissioners offers a way to make that happen. Yakima County is an amazing place and there are so many great paths forward. As a county commissioner, he is ready to listen, continue to build relationships, and foster a financially-sound county government driven to make this County an even better place to live, work, and visit.