Ten candidates vying for three open seats on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners lined a basement floor room at the Lakewood Center for the Arts Monday, April 8 to make their case about why they should earn local residents’ vote this May.
Incumbent Board Chair Tootie Smith, Craig Roberts and April Lambert are vying for county commission position 1, while Commissioner Martha Schrader, Amy Nichols and Dana Hindman-Allen are running for position 3 and Commissioner Mark Shull, Rae Gordon, Melissa Fireside and Tina Irvine are squaring off in the race for position 4. The election will be held May 21.
During the forum, hosted by the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce, the candidates discussed the county’s budget, tolling, affordable housing, industrial development and more.
Smith and Roberts showdown
Smith and Roberts, the former Clackamas County sheriff, were at loggerheads throughout the proceedings. Roberts said the county faces a “financial tsunami” due to unexpected costs associated with the rebuilding of the Clackamas County Courthouse. He added that the county needs to make its voice heard on tolling and questioned the accuracy of data showing that county homelessness has declined since 2019.
Smith directed ire toward Roberts at various points during the meeting, noting that the Clackamas County Peace Officers Association and and the Clackamas County Fire District have supported her in the race. She also criticized his leadership, saying that patrols were reduced and the sheriff’s office budget increased during his tenure. Smith also took credit for Gov. Tina Kotek pausing tolling plans, saying that the county board continuously expressed opposition to tolling of local freeways to pay for infrastructure projects.
“If tolling comes back to Clackamas County for a third time, we will stop it for a third time,” Smith said. “I have dedicated my life to public service. I am a fourth-generation Clackamas County resident … I have a lot of common sense in how we solve problems in Clackamas County.”
Roberts contested Smith’s claims about the sheriff’s office budget, cited a contract between the county and the peace officer’s association as the reason for its endorsement and said he has the right experience to bring to the job.
“Each and every one of these issues is complex and I have a long history of solving complex issues,” Roberts said. “I believe it’s time for a change in leadership and the way the county is currently headed.”
Lambert bringing alternate perspective
Lambert, who said in her candidate filing that she works for the county’s health, housing and human services division, said she decided to run due to the county cutting its office focusing on equity and inclusion.
“That decision tarnished our reputation and it hurt the very people who work here to serve. I want to restore trust in our community. It has been broken,” she said.
Lambert also said she felt every city in the county should have a designated safe area for houseless people to camp and said she had a strong background in nonprofit leadership and workforce development.
Position 3 race
Schrader, who has served on the board for much of the last 20 years, said that she decided to run again to facilitate business recovery, workforce development and education. She also mentioned her work to expand child care in the county.
“I respect my opponents who have stepped in to run against me. But I think it’s clear I have the experience, I have the ability, the knowledge of the county, to do this job and do it well,” she said.
Nichols, a small business owner who previously ran for the West Linn-Wilsonville School Board, said she has been dedicated to meeting with residents and local organizations and that she wants to work with law enforcement to reduce crime. She also wants to protect veterans in the community and reduce regulations to make running child care facilities more viable. Further, she expressed skepticism about the future due to the “entitlement” of today’s youth.
“Until the current generation realizes that life throws us curveballs, life isn’t easy and always fair, I don’t see how anyone in elected office can truly help,” she said.
Hindman-Allen, a local real estate agent who has served on the Clackamas County parks board, said she understands local community members’ struggles with high taxes and cost of living and wants to work within the government to make life easier for people.
“I’m tired of government working policies against the people instead of for the people,” she said.
She mentioned the need for reducing barriers for child care facilities and bolstering communication between the county and local residents, particularly youth.
Position 4 race
Shull, the incumbent, expressed his desire for lowered taxes and government spending, ending Oregon’s status as a sanctuary state for immigrants and for amending the state’s land use policies that protect farmland and natural resources to bring in more development.
“Oregon is not an attractive state when it comes to taxes. There are many other places businesses can go to find much more friendly taxes and regulations,” he said.
Gordon, a former employee of Mt. Hood Territory and Oregon City resident, expressed her love for Clackamas County and felt that residents should be better informed about their local government.
“The problem is people are told what is happening when it is almost too late and that’s got to stop,” she said.
Gordon also expressed a desire for less regulations to attract business and housing development, as well as potential property redevelopment to free up industrial land.
Irvine, who is also an Oregon City resident and listed in her application serving on the board of directors for nonprofit organizations like Clackamas Workforce Partnership, said she has worked for decades in employment recruitment. From afar, she said she had grown discontented with the leadership in the county and so decided to run. She also said the state needs to amend its land use planning to make way for industrial development.
“When we look at being attractive to expanding businesses like Intel (which chose to expand in Ohio instead of Oregon) we don’t have what we need to supply them with, which is people, infrastructure and land,” she said.
Fireside, who previously ran for Lake Oswego City Council and is a small business owner in the construction industry, advocated for the preservation of natural resources and current land use regulations. She also said she is passionate about advocating for workforce housing and would like to reduce barriers to meet housing needs. She added the county needs to take advantage of grant programs and public-private partnerships to meet housing needs.
“There are opportunities for the county and cities to partner and make sure we are getting these dollars out the door and make sure people have access to the generational wealth and stability that homeownership brings,” she said.
Most Popular
Comments / 0