Wasco County mourns Commissioner Phil Brady after sudden death on election day

Phil Brady

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., May 20, 2026 — There was an empty seat this morning at the Wasco County Commission meeting.

And it will take much to fill it.

Wasco County Commissioner Phil Brady, a teacher, philosopher and deeply compassionate public servant was missing… and being missed.

He died Tuesday, May 19, the same day voters cast ballots that placed him first in the primary race for reelection to the Wasco County Board of Commissioners.

Brady’s death was announced during Wednesday morning’s regular Wasco County Commission meeting, where his seat sat empty as fellow commissioners Scott Hege and Jeff Justesen reflected on the colleague and friend they said cared deeply about people from all walks of life.

Brady, a former science teacher at NORCOR and later at The Dalles High School, spent years working with students and incarcerated youth before entering county government. He also served on multiple regional nonprofit and public service boards, including the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, Mid-Columbia Center for Living, Mid-Columbia Medical Center Board and Mid-Columbia Community Action Council, organizations focused on housing, mental health and helping vulnerable residents across the region.

Brady was a pivotal figure in bringing affordable housing to the Gorge with his contributions helping to bring the Mariposa Village in Hood River and soon the Chenowith Loop affordable housing project in The Dalles adding some 200 apartments at rents locals can more easily afford.

Karen Long, executive director of the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, said she and her staff were “shocked and crushed” by Brady’s sudden death and described his impact on the community as enormous.

A rose honoring Phil Brady stood in his absence as Commissioners Scott Hege and Jeff Justesen shared an emotional remembrance of their colleague Wednesday morning.

Photo by Rodger Nichols

Hege described Brady as someone whose love of teaching never left him, even after becoming a county commissioner.

“Every meeting we have, Phil would always come around to what do we learn today?” Hege said during the meeting. “What is the scientific thing? What are we talking about?”

Hege said someone recently described Brady as “a modern-day philosopher,” a phrase he said perfectly captured Brady’s curiosity, intellect and thoughtful approach to public life.

Phil Brady inspecting and strategizing on the Bert Hodges Property on Chenowith Creek several years ago.

“To me that just really struck home,” Hege said. “He really is a modern-day philosopher.”

Justesen, who knew Brady from their time at NORCOR, recalled one of his first impressions of Brady as a teacher. He said staff once called him to the recreation yard because Brady had apparently started a fire during a science lesson for students.

“They’re like, ‘You’ve got to stop him,’” Justesen recalled. “And I said, ‘No, I’m going to watch. This looks fun.’”

Justesen said the moment reflected Brady’s passion for hands-on learning and his ability to engage students who often struggled in traditional classroom settings.

“He really got the kids interested in learning,” Justesen said. “That was Phil as a teacher.”

Beyond education, Justesen said Brady brought kindness into county government and sought out conversations with people from all political viewpoints.

“As a commissioner, I think he was still a teacher,” Justesen said. “He just liked learning from people.”

Phil with commissioners Hege and former Commissioner Steve Kramer several years ago.

Justesen said one conservative constituent once told Brady, “You’re not as bad as I thought you were going to be,” a story he joked would have made a fitting campaign slogan for the commissioner known for his progressive politics and approachable personality.

“But if you start with kindness, it goes a long way,” Justesen said. “And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

Despite his death occurring on election day, Brady led the three-person race for Wasco County Commissioner Position 3 in final unofficial results released early Wednesday morning. Brady received 2,571 votes, or 35.84%, narrowly ahead of Mike Urness with 2,474 votes and Dick Schaffeld with 2,111 votes.

County officials did not publicly discuss details surrounding Brady’s death during Wednesday’s meeting.

The meeting itself shifted back into routine county business after the remarks, a transition Hege acknowledged felt difficult.

“We have to move on,” Hege said quietly before the board resumed its regular agenda.