Clackamas County chair Tootie Smith on re-election campaign

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith is running for re-election.
A small business owner, Smith was born in Clackamas County and grew up in a farm family. She served in the state legislature in the early 2000’s and later served four years on the Clackamas County board of commissioners.

Smith, a Republican, won her election as Clackamas County chair in 2020.

On this week’s Eye On Northwest Politics, Smith discusses her campaign materials which claim she “protected the county from the destructive Portland policies that increased crime, drug abuse and homelessness.”

The biggest regional issue currently facing Clackamas County is tolling on I-205. So Smith notes her stance on this position, even after Gov. Tina Kotek has put a hold on tolling plans for now.

Since Smith is also facing a challenger for the chair seat in former long-time Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts, she voices her thoughts when she heard he’d entered the race.

Additionally, in 2023, Smith reversed her vote for the county to buy the Quality Inn Motel on Sunnyside Road and turn it into transitional housing, effectively killing the project. In the wake of this, Smith discloses whether the county has been able to since develop transitional and low-income housing.

Furthermore, Smith voices where budget cuts will likely be made to school districts in the county.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

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