Robert's Experience

"I'm grateful to serve the great people of Pend Oreille County as your Commissioner. I’ll continue to work hard for you, and I ask for your vote and support."

- Robert Rosencrantz

In Robert's business career, he has handled all sorts of transactions, crises, opportunities, and challenges, always sticking to his guiding principles of honor, courage, integrity, and fairness. Robert and Terry have made a habit of doing without luxuries so they could always pay for necessities.

In 1981, Robert and Terry, built an ice cream store in Beaverton, Oregon. Inflation was at its peak, and to build the store, they borrowed money at almost 23%. Through hard work, long hours, good management, and a great location (with Nike headquarters in Beaverton) they paid their five-year loan back in only 18 months. Since then, they've bought and managed multi-family properties, put four kids through college without loans, and lived their lives with strong and sensible financial discipline. Robert has and will continue to bring the same values and sensible financial practices to the County Commission.

In 2004, Robert was hired as Executive Director of the Northwest Association for Housing Affordability (NAHA). It provides affordable housing in Washington’s rural areas and was going broke. Robert was the third Executive Director hired to fix what was wrong, and the Board of Directors gave him a year to get it done. There was never enough money, and the situation was bleak. Robert put a sign on his desk that said “the buck stops here” and got started. During that year, he drove his 1977 Chevy to meetings all over Washington. Along the way, he fell in love with Pend Oreille County, and vowed to move here when his kids finished high school. With the cooperation of a lot of people, Robert got the organization on solid financial ground and square with the IRS. When Robert left the organization, the Board sent him his favorite business email. It said, “Congratulations on accomplishing what no one else could.”

Since moving to Pend Oreille County Robert has been actively involved in the community in many ways. Here are some of the ways he has served:

Pend Oreille County Library District Board, 2018-2021
Elected to the Newport Hospital Board in 2019 and served until becoming a County Commissioner
Tri County Economic Development District Governing Board, 2021-Present; Current Board Chair
Rural Resources Governing Board, 2021-Present; Finance Chair 2023 - June 2026

Robert gets results. His decades of experience in housing played a key role in securing nearly $5 million for the complete renovation of Kaniksu Village Apartments in Metaline Falls. This is the most significant investment in housing Pend Oreille County in a generation and will benefit north county for many years to come.

Robert also provided the strong leadership to get the State Board of Health to agree to revise septic system setback rules. In April 2025 they increased the setback distance from the Pend Oreille river from 100 feet to 200 feet. Robert knew this would cripple development for many families that had dreams of building on the river so he made it an urgent priority and sent the following message: "Pend Oreille County will not be satisfied with mitigation or partial relief from the recently implemented 200-foot rule. We demand a return to the previous 100-foot rule. This is a high priority, ‘line in the sand,’ ‘willing to die on this hill’ issue for us." That's strong language, but sometimes that's what it takes to get results. And it worked. The State Board of Health approved Robert's petition for the rule change back to 100 feet, which not only applies in Pend Oreille county but statewide. Once again we lead the way.