Clackamas County Commission Chair Tootie Smith is on track to lose her bid for reelection, according to preliminary voting data.
Although nearly half of the votes still need to be counted, Smith has only managed to garner about 42% of the vote as of 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Her opponent, former Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts, had 57% of the vote.
The Oregonian/OregonLive called the race in favor of Roberts.
From left, candidates for Clackamas County chair Tootie Smith and Craig Roberts in undated photos provided by the campaigns.
Courtesy of the campaigns
Smith has yet to make any public comment regarding the results. Roberts posted on his campaign’s Facebook page, encouraging his supporters to remain patient.
“I’m encouraged by the initial results, but like everyone, will continue to watch the results as they come in,” Roberts wrote. “I hope the trend continues and appreciate that Clackamas County voters responded to our vision of bringing integrity, accountability and financial responsibility back to the office of County Chair.”
Smith previously served on the commission from 2013 to 2016, before being reelected in 2020 as chair. She has been an outspoken conservative on the nonpartisan commission. Roberts served as sheriff from 2005-2020, and is a Democrat.
Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith, left, at the Oregon GOP watch party at Langdon Farms Golf Club, in Aurora, Ore., Nov. 5, 2024. Smith is on track to lose her reelection bid to Craig Roberts.
Lauren Dake / OPB
Meanwhile, another conservative member of the commission is also trailing. Incumbent Mark Shull, a military veteran from Sandy, had 47% of the vote as of Wednesday morning compared to 51% for Melissa Fireside, who owns a construction management consulting company. The race remains too close to call.
Shull’s first term in office saw multiple controversies related to his use of social media. His fellow commissioners condemned him in 2021 for a series of Islamophobic posts he made on Facebook, eventually asking for his resignation. Shull stayed in office. He also received backlash for comparing vaccine paperwork to Jim Crow laws.
Losses from Smith and Shull has the potential to remake the Clackamas County Commission, which currently has a conservative voting bloc on the nonpartisan governing body. The building of a new county courthouse, affordable housing, public safety and homelessness were among the top issues discussed by the candidates.