This time last year, I was elected chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners outright in the May 2020 primary election. I accomplished this by winning over 50 percent of the vote, meaning that a runoff in the November...
19 May 2021
We Must Not Be Unprepared
Unfortunately, residents throughout the rural parts of Oregon have become used to the ghastly sights and smells resulting from catastrophic wildfires ravaging the landscape. And while these disasters have become commonplace in areas like the southern part of the state,...
30 April 2021
The Perils of Government Overreach
Last fall, I made some public statements that caused quite a stir. Fed up with the government-forced lockdown of COVID restrictions, I simply said that I was going to have family and friends over for Thanksgiving and that our governor...
13 April 2021
Hold Their Feet to the Fire
As chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, it’s my job to set the agenda in such a way that the county’s 400,000 residents are well-served. When I suspect that they aren’t being well-served, I must bring that to...
30 March 2021
Tipping Fee Tipping Point.
Metro is up to its same old tricks. And we need to tell them to stop it. Metro is overcharging for residential garbage and the Clackamas County Commission can put an end to this by simply amending the county code...
23 November 2020
Tootie Smith Boldly Defends Clackamas County Against Oregon COVID-19 Measures on National Stage
Published on OregonLive.com Tootie Smith, Clackamas County's Commissioner, asserts her stance against Oregon's COVID-19 restrictions during her appearance on Fox News. Despite Governor Kate Brown's orders, Smith remains resolute in her decision to host a Thanksgiving gathering. Read the full...
13 November 2020
A Thanksgiving Reboot
By Tootie Smith Growing up on a generational farm in south Clackamas County, our Thanksgivings were filled with food, family and football. My mother was a cook extraordinaire. Our small flock of relatives traveled to our farmhouse not so much...
21 May 2020
My Vision for Clackamas County and Its Future
The last few weeks that I’ve spent campaigning in person and online have given me the chance to think about what kind of future I would like to see for Clackamas County and its residents. It’s important for leaders to...
19 May 2020
Enough is Enough
Every election is about choices, and the upcoming May 19 primary voters will never see a bigger contrast in two candidates. Citizens decide every two or four years if they’re happy with their political leadership. If are, they stay the...
14 May 2020
My Closing Arguments
The May 19 primary election is just around the corner. Voter pamphlet statements have gone out, and people have received their ballots. Many have even turned them in by now. Yard signs are up, and so are field signs. Campaign...
