© 2022 Tootie Smith for Oregon. All Rights Reserved.

The Short End of the Stick

The Short End of the Stick

For over 40 years, Clackamas County has lacked the ability to control its own destiny. That’s how long the county and its residents have been subjected to the additional layer of government, bureaucracy, taxation and regulations that have accompanied our...

Armchair Quarterbacks Should Stay on the Sidelines

When I ran for chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners in 2020, I knew what the position entailed. I knew that once elected, I would face the task of getting a majority of my fellow commissioners to agree...

Putting the Cart Before the Horse

It’s no secret that I’ve been a vocal critic of Metro throughout the multiple decades of my life as an elected public official. Even prior to my stints as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives and Clackamas County...

Too Little, Too Late

Housing is, and has been, one of the top issues for the citizens of Clackamas County for years now. The simple fact of the matter is that the amount of available housing has not kept up with the demand created...

Constructing a Courthouse While Containing Costs

For many years now, it’s become increasingly obvious to Clackamas County residents and leadership that the current courthouse would someday need to be replaced. The courthouse was constructed in 1936, nearly 100 years ago. Clackamas County had fewer than 50,000...

Holding ourselves accountable. An 18 month check-in.

Long before I ever served in any public office, I believed in holding elected officials accountable for upholding the promises they made while campaigning for their positions. All these years later, I still feel the same way. This is especially...

Managing Tax Dollars the Right Way

I’ve long maintained that government agencies should manage taxpayer dollars the same way individuals and households manage their finances. As chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, I take this fiduciary duty very seriously. I have to live within...

Upholding the Social Contract

There are certain expectations that come from living in a free society. The most important is that, as long as you work hard, obey the law and don’t hurt anyone else, you’re generally free to go about your business peacefully....

All Eyes on Clackamas

Even though much of Clackamas County is rural in nature, it’s considered part of the Portland metropolitan area. The “tri-county area” consists of Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties. Those three jurisdictions are also part of Metro. Due to the close...

The Myth of Induced Demand

Did you know that, at one point, there were multiple other freeways planned for the Portland metropolitan area? It’s true. If the transportation systems envisioned in past decades had materialized, the freeway system would operate in more of a loop...