Former Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts ousted incumbent County Chairman Tootie Smith

CLACKAMAS COUNTY Ore. (KPTV) – Former Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts has ousted incumbent County Chairman Tootie Smith, who has yet to concede. FOX 12 called the race for Roberts on election night.

“I feel very blessed that so many voters believed in my vision,” Roberts said. Current tallies have him leading Smith 57% to 42%.

He said it was a grassroots effort that ousted incumbent Chairman Smith after four Roebyears in the role.

“One of the things I heard was that people didn’t feel like they were being listened to,” Roberts said.

Roberts spent four decades with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Department and served four terms as sheriff before retiring the badge in 2021. As a citizen, he said he grew tired of waiting for action from the local government.

“I, like a lot of people, was looking at what was happening locally and across the country and hoping that things would happen, I really did,” Roberts said. “I finally made that decision, I have a lot to offer.”

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“At the top of my list are financial accountability and transparency. I have concerns,” Roberts said, citing a new courthouse as one of the concerns. The building will be completed next year, but Roberts said the county has not been forthcoming about the cost to taxpayers.

“Good news, bad news: I will be honest, open and transparent,” Roberts said.

He says his passion as sheriff was mental health care, something he wants to continue as chairman by expanding its reach in the county.

“We need a mental health center in our province, like an urgent care model where people can go 24 hours a day,” Roberts said. He also said he would like to see 24-hour emergency response capabilities from social workers or officers trained in mental health crises.

Clackamas County still has more than 40,000 ballots. The incumbent said she is waiting for every vote to be counted, a process the province said will continue next week. Smith told FOX 12 in a statement:

“I would like to thank the people of Clackamas County who voted in this election. Because the county is still receiving ballots, it is important that every vote is counted. In honoring every vote, I will wait to make any further announcements.”

According to the latest figures, Roberts leads 57% and Smith 42%.