This month’s primary election will set the stage for November’s general
election as voters will determine who will move on to represent each party on
the ballot.

But one race in Clackamas County could be determined this month if the
winner receives 50 percent plus one in the vote.

Three candidates vie for Position 2 for the Clackamas County Board of County
Commissioners (BCC), and if one does receive the 50 percent plus one, that
person will be elected and no further vote necessary. If no one receives 50
percent plus one, the top two vote getters will move on to the November
ballot.

Candidates for Position 2 on the BCC include Louise Lopes, a home-based
business owner and former Clackamas County Parks Advisory Board member;
incumbent Paul Savas, a small business owner; and Peter Winter, a
construction project manager with no prior government experience.

There are also three candidates for County Clerk, including incumbent Sherry
Hall, who has held the position since 2003; Sherry Healy, a small business
owner and current chair of the Election Integrity Caucus; and Pamela White, a
development and communications director who has served as a school board
member. In this race, if a candidate receives 50 percent plus one, that
candidate will move on as the only one listed in November, while the top two
vote getters will move on if nobody surpasses 50 percent plus one.

Sonya Fischer was the only candidate to file for Position 5 on the BCC, while
Brian T. Nava is the only candidate for County Treasurer. A potential race
within the Democrat party for the Oregon House District 52 (HD52)
nomination lost a candidate when Aurora del Val announced on Wednesday,
April 11 on a Facebook page that she will support her opponent, Anna K.
Williams, and asked her supporters to do the same. del Val cited concerns
about fundraising in the message, while adding she had no regrets about
running in the race.

“Flipping the district is most important to me, and in these past several
months, I learned that Anna and I share the same values and sensibilities for
our region and Oregon,” del Val wrote. “She understands that we need to
bridge divides and focus on the common good.”

However, del Val will still appear on the ballot, as the deadline for candidates
to withdraw from the primary election was March 9.

As the presumed winner, Williams would take on Jeff Helfrich in the November
election, as he will run unopposed this May as the Republican candidate.
Helfrich was appointed to the position last November. Both the Democrat and
Republican candidates for the State Senate District 26 (SD26), Chrissy Reitz
and incumbent Chuck Thomsen, respectively, will run unopposed in the May
primary. No Independent Party candidates filed for the HD52 or SD26
positions.

The Democratic Party of Oregon and Oregon Republican Party primaries will
be limited to voters registered with their party, while the Independent Party of
Oregon primary is open to voters who are not members of any party for the
May 2018 election.

Candidates Forum info:
The Hoodland Area Candidates Forum will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5,
in the Trees Room at The Resort at The Mountain. The forum will be
moderated by Mr. John Erickson, CEO of JAE Consulting & Recruiting. Mr
Erickson is also Chairman of the Board for the Tourism Development Council
of Clackamas County and a previous General Manager for The Resort at The
Mountain.

Election Deadline: 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 15: To find an official drop site, or
for other questions, call the Clackamas County Elections Division at 503-655-
8510.