Former WA state senator, Trump USDA official hired to lead Franklin County
Franklin County has tapped a former Washington state senator and Trump USDA official to lead its 200 employees.
Brian Dansel, 42, has been filling in as the county’s interim administrator for the past few months. His work impressed the county’s commissioners so much that they ended the hiring search early to offer him the role.
The board hired GMP Consultants last year to help with their search. They agreed to pay the consulting company $17,500 for the successful hiring of a candidate, with allowances for up to $40,000 for total expenses.
Earlier this month commissioners mentioned Dansel had expressed interest in the permanent position.
“There is an incredible amount of talent at the county, and I am just thrilled to be a part of the team,” Dansel told the Herald in an email. “I want to thank Commissioners Dider, Mullen and Bauman for their trust and support. I look forward to bringing consistency and a steady hand to Franklin County.”
The Franklin County job is expected to range in pay from $145,000 up to $200,000 per year, though it is likely to fall on the higher end.
Commissioners previously discussed the need to increase the salary range for the position because they believed the previous salary was no longer competitive. Former County Administrator Mike Gonzalez was hired at $150,000 per year with the opportunity to earn bonuses.
Dansel’s current contract as the interim administrator was extended last week at a rate of $100 per hour, plus lodging.
Commission chairman Clint Didier said during the meeting that they hope to have a contract ready to sign next week.
Dansel replaced previous interim Administrator Eric Johnson in February. Johnson had been serving in the role since Gonzalez’s departure last summer.
New Franklin County leader
Dansel, who is originally from Republic, started his political career as a Ferry County commissioner in 2010. In 2013 he was elected to the Washington state senate for the 7th Legislative District, according to a USDA profile.
After serving on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources committees he was hired in 2017 by the incoming first administration of President Donald Trump to serve as an advisor and special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Dansel served with two acting secretaries and Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue until being named executive director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Washington state in September 2017.
He was in that role until being promoted to the USDA’s Pacific Northwest Regional director in 2019. Dansel said in that position he oversaw three agencies in the Northwest — Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency.
He later became a Ferry County commissioner before launching a campaign to replace retiring 5th Congressional District Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers last year. He placed fifth in a field of 11 candidates and did not move on to the November 2024 general election, which ultimately was won by Michael Baumgartner.
Dansel is a graduate of Walla Walla Community College, and is married with one son, according to a profile in the Spokesman Review.
He also is a former golf pro and member of the Professional Golfers Association, according to his past candidate filings.
