Board of Commissioners

Lindsay Berschauer - Chair

Lindsay Berschauer was elected to the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners in the May 2020 primary.

Prior to being elected, Lindsay served on the Yamhill County Budget Committee as one of the three citizen lay members and was previously elected to the Newberg Rural Fire Protection District in May 2017 prior to voters choosing to annex into the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue service district. She has been a small business owner since 2013 working in the public policy, marketing, and public affairs fields. Lindsay holds several board positions including Board President for Building Excellent Schools Together, Board Director for Timber Unity Association, Government Affairs Council Member for the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce, member of the Chehalem Valley Chamber and is a member of Oregon Women in Timber. She was the Board Director for Yamhill Community Action Partnership (YCAP) from 2019-21. Lindsay also served as a member of the K9 SAR Team Evergreen Search Dogs with her German Shepherd Ayla in Clark County, WA from 2016-17.

Lindsay moved to Oregon in 2002 and lived in Salem and Keizer before relocating to Olympia and Seattle, WA. In 2010 she moved back to Oregon and lived in Wilsonville before discovering the beauty of Yamhill County. Her and her husband Mike live in Carlton along with three teenage children. A native of Arizona, Lindsay graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Justice Studies and a Minor in History.

Lindsay is a strong supporter of strengthening Yamhill County’s working families, operating the county like a business with a customer service-oriented attitude, and respecting taxpayers’ checkbooks with a focus on core services.

Lindsay serves as liaison to various county departments and committees, including Community Justice, District Attorney, Sheriff, Assessor, County Clerk, and Treasurer.

Areas of Responsibility

Click here to e-mail Commissioner Berschauer

Kit Johnston - Commissioner

Kit Johnston began serving his first term with the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners in January 2023.

As a fifth generation Oregonian and lifelong farmer, Kit is an advocate for the wonderful agricultural resources that Yamhill County has to offer. He has been farming a variety of commodities in Yamhill County since 1994 including poultry, berries, and apple rootstocks to name a few. A graduate of Dayton High School, Kit is a huge supporter of FFA and career technical education programs. Prior to being elected, Kit served on the Yamhill County Planning Commission and the Newberg Urban Area Management Commission. He lives with his wife Caralee and has two daughters.

Kit is committed to an open-door policy for all Yamhill County citizens. He regularly attends various city council meetings, visits with businesses, and welcomes all conversations. He would like the county to stay conservative in budgeting, transparent in decision making, and focused on making Yamhill County a place that is safe and welcoming for families and businesses.

Kit serves as liaison to various county departments and committees, including Transit Division, Planning Department, and Public Works. 

Areas of Responsibility

Click here to e-mail Commissioner Johnston

Mary Starrett - Commissioner

Mary was elected to the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners in May 2014 and re-elected to a second term in May, 2018.

Prior to that, Mary spent 25 years in broadcasting as a news anchor, investigative reporter, medical reporter, and talk show host at network affiliate TV stations on the east and west coasts, including 17 years at Portland’s KATU TV.  She also worked as a political talk show host at KPDQ radio in Portland, taught at Mount Hood Community College, and wrote an Oregon state senator’s legislative newsletter.  She has worked in public relations, marketing, and media consulting, in addition to being a small business owner.

Mary has lived in Oregon since 1980. She and her husband Ron have lived on Parrett Mountain in Newberg since 1994. Mary has a grown daughter and two grandchildren.  A native of Brooklyn, New York, Mary graduated with a BS cum laude from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.  She received certification as an Emergency Medical Technician II in three states.

Mary serves on  a number of boards including YCAP, Northwest Senior and Disability Services - Chair, Yamhill County Board of Health, Chehalem Youth and Family Services, Christian Family Adoptions, and is a Newberg foster child mentor. Mary is committed to safeguarding the rights of the residents of Yamhill County and ensuring good stewardship of the taxpayers’ resources.

Mary serves as liaison to various county departments and committees, including Health & Human Services, Emergency Management, and Veterans.

Areas of Responsibility

Click here to e-mail Commissioner Starrett

You may contact the commissioners by phone at (503)434-7501, by individual email, or by mail:

Yamhill County Commissioners' Office
535 NE 5TH St.
McMinnville, OR 97128