Craig Roberts leads Tootie Smith in Clackamas County Board of Commissioners race

Craig Roberts still leads incumbent Tootie Smith and fellow challenger April Lambert in a race for position 1 on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, according to the latest returns.

With 81,012 votes counted, Roberts has collected 49.75% while Smith has garnered 40% and Lambert has collected 10%. The ballots of about 28% of registered voters were counted as of the late afternoon Thursday, May 23.

Whoever receives over 50% of the vote will be elected. If no candidate receives over 50%, the top two will face off in a general election. Roberts had eclipsed that threshold when initial results came in Tuesday night but has since dipped below it.

Position 1 is the chair of the board.

Roberts attended an election night event at the Veterans of Foreign War Post #1324 in Oregon City.

“I would say I’m cautiously optimistic and there are still a number of votes to come in. I’m honored to have so many people support me and the number of people to show up for the election night watch to be here as well. I’m humbled by the people here and those who voted for me so far,” Roberts said after the initial returns were posted Tuesday, May 21.

Smith, a Molalla resident, has served on the board for a total of eight years from 2013 until now. Roberts served as the Clackamas County sheriff for 15 years before retiring in 2020. Lambert, a Clackamas resident, works in the county’s health, housing and human services division.

Smith did not return a request for comment.

This is Oregon’s second election cycle affected by the new postmark rule. Ballots dropped off by 8 p.m. Tuesday or postmarked by then will count. In 2022, county election offices received a large amount of ballots at the last minute, delaying the final results in some races.This story will be updated.