Robert Udell
Republican · WA · Yakima County Sheriff
Robert Udell is Yakima County Sheriff and a candidate for Yakima County Commissioner, District 1.
Where Robert Udell stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Public Infrastructure (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Drove the creation of a regional crime lab that county commissioners funded with a $2.8 million contract from federal pandemic relief money. He was named chair of the board that oversees the lab's daily operations.
October 19, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: yakimaherald.com · researched August 2, 2026
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
Campaigned for a county sales tax to replace Yakima County's emergency radio system, which voters approved with about 72 percent support. The seven year tax raises roughly $35 million for a digital system with better coverage.
April 22, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: yakimaherald.com · researched August 2, 2026
Called publicly for a single countywide emergency radio system in Yakima County. He pointed to a school shooting threat where responding agencies on 13 separate radio systems could not talk to one another.
January 12, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: yakimaherald.com · researched August 2, 2026
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Endorsed Lieutenant Jake Church to lead the Yakima County Sheriff's Office after him. He gave the endorsement at a Yakima press conference where he also announced his retirement at the end of his term.
November 19, 2025
Source: yakimaherald.com · researched August 2, 2026
Took a public stand against enforcing parts of Initiative 1639, the voter approved gun law. He said his deputies do not act on its safe storage rule or its age limit on semi-automatic rifles because he sees the law as unconstitutional.
October 8, 2019
Source: yakimaherald.com · researched August 2, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 2 records
State regulators gave him a formal written warning for using public resources to promote his own campaign. He wore his county issued sheriff's uniform in a campaign social media photo and drove his county vehicle to a campaign meet and greet.
July 8, 2026
Source: pdc.wa.gov · researched August 2, 2026
Admitted he failed to file the personal financial affairs statement that state law requires of elected officials for 2022. He settled the case with the Public Disclosure Commission and paid a $100 penalty.
October 6, 2023
Source: pdc.wa.gov · researched August 2, 2026
Past race Robert Udell ran in:
- Commissioner, District 1 · August 4, 2026 · Yakima County, Washington
Profile last researched July 25, 2026.