Three-way race for Clackamas County Chair pits incumbent against former sheriff

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The race for chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners features two candidates with extensive political experience.

Incumbent Tootie Smith faces retired Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts in the May primary. Before winning the election for county chair in 2020, she served as a Clackamas County Commissioner from 2013 to 2016. 

The Position 4 seat, previously held by Smith, has been a game of musical chairs in recent years. Smith lost her reelection campaign to Ken Humberston in 2016. Humberston then lost his reelection bid in a runoff with current commissioner Mark Shull in 2020. Shull is now at risk of losing the seat after he reportedly posted racist, transphobic, Islamophobic and anti-immigrant views on social media.

Roberts served as Clackamas County Sheriff from January of 2005 to December of 2020. As a former sheriff, Roberts received an endorsement from the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association. However, Smith is backed by the Clackamas County Peace Officers Association President Ben Wiley and the local firefighters union.

The third candidate to enter the race is Clackamas County employee April Lambert, who also runs the local organization Yona’s Kids.

Clackamas County Board of Commissioners Position 1 candidates

• April Lambert: Clackamas County employee
• Craig Roberts: Former Clackamas County Sheriff
• Tootie Smith: Current Clackamas County Chair