R. W. Smith (Clackamas County Commissioner Board Position 4, Oregon, candidate 2026)
R. W. Smith is running in a special election to the Clackamas County Commissioner Board Position 4 in Oregon. Smith is on the ballot in the special primary on May 19, 2026.[source]
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Biography
R. W. Smith has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are R. W. Smith, click here to fill out the survey.
Elections
Nonpartisan primary
Special Nonpartisan primary election for Clackamas County Commissioner Board Position 4
The following candidates are running in the special primary for Clackamas County Commissioner Board Position 4 on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Diana Helm (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Robert Kukish (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Brian O'Neill (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Bill Osburn (Nonpartisan) | ||
| R. W. Smith (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Jeannette Christina Warren (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Pete Wease (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Campaign website
Smith's campaign website stated the following:
Reduce Costs for Working Families
Clackamas County must become more affordable for the people who live and work here. Housing costs, rent, utilities, and everyday expenses are rising faster than many families can keep up with.
As commissioner, I will work to:
- Encourage housing development that working families can afford while ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth
- Streamline permitting so local builders and small investors are not burdened by repeated costly design revisions
- Support energy policies that stabilize long-term utility costs for residents
- Promote responsible budgeting so taxpayers are not burdened by poorly planned large projects
- Protect housing supply from speculative corporate ownership that drives up prices
Government should focus on lowering everyday costs for families while supporting responsible economic growth.
End Unsheltered Homelessness
The conditions on our streets today are not humane for the people experiencing them or for the communities around them. Clackamas County must take a balanced approach that focuses on treatment, recovery, and prevention.
My approach includes:
- Expanding addiction treatment and mental health stabilization programs
- Increasing shelter capacity paired with case management and recovery pathways
- Strengthening partnerships with nonprofits already serving vulnerable populations
- Preventing homelessness by expanding affordable housing and stabilizing families before crisis occurs
- Supporting programs identified through the Community Action Board that address housing instability and poverty
Ending unsheltered homelessness requires compassion, structure, and long-term planning.
Keep Our Communities Safe
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. Public safety requires both strong emergency services and thoughtful long-term planning.
Clackamas County must ensure that communities receive the services they need as they grow.
As commissioner I will support:
- Ensuring law enforcement, fire, and emergency responders have the resources they need
- Strategic planning to maintain strong emergency response times across the county
- Expanding treatment programs that help break cycles of addiction and reduce repeat crises
- Strengthening cooperation between county agencies, cities, and service districts
- Prevention programs that help young people avoid addiction and violence
Safe communities require both strong first responders and systems that prevent crises before they happen.
Strengthen Food Security and Local Agriculture
Clackamas County has a strong agricultural tradition, yet many families still struggle with food access.
By strengthening partnerships between farmers, food banks, and volunteer gleaning organizations, the county can help ensure surplus crops feed families rather than going to waste.
I support policies that:
- Connect local farms with food recovery programs and food banks
- Encourage voluntary crop donation programs that support farmers and community food systems
- Strengthen community gleaning networks that provide fresh food to families in need
- Support small farms and local agriculture that contribute to the county’s food security
Strong local food systems strengthen both our economy and our communities.
Responsible Government and Fiscal Accountability
Residents deserve transparency and careful planning when public money and public services are involved.
Large decisions made today can shape communities for decades. Clackamas County has already seen how governance decisions can affect service delivery. When the City of Damascus was dissolved and returned to county governance, residents lost local representation and many experienced longer emergency response times and fewer infrastructure investments.
That experience highlights an important lesson: government structure and planning directly affect public safety and community stability.
As commissioner, I will support:
- Independent fiscal review of major public projects and long-term financial agreements
- Transparent reporting of county budgets and long-term obligations
- Public review of major structural decisions affecting communities
- Careful planning to ensure emergency services and infrastructure keep pace with growth
- Strong coordination between the county, cities, and service districts
Responsible government means making careful decisions today so communities remain strong tomorrow.
— R. W. Smith's campaign website (April 2, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Clackamas County Commissioner Board Position 4 |
Footnotes
