More than half the seats on the board that governs Clackamas County are up for re-election, creating the possibility for significant change in one of Oregon’s most populous and geographically diverse areas. Or, the county could see more of the same, as the three races feature familiar faces, including the leading candidates running for Position 2.

Two former commissioners, a moderate Democrat and a conservative Republican, are looking to unseat their former colleague, a longtime incumbent and moderate Republican, in a race for Position 2 on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.

Together, the three candidates, Paul Savas, Jim Bernard and Mark Shull, have served 32 years on the commission.

The race also includes two newcomers, David Bush and Jacob Hinthorne, who did not respond to a questionnaire OPB sent to all the candidates. Bush and Hinthorne do not show signs that they’re actively campaigning.

If none of these candidates emerge with a clear simple majority in the May 19 election, voters will decide the winner in a November runoff.

The current incumbent Savas, has served on the commission since 2011 and is now seeking his fifth term. Like several others running for the commission this May, the moderate Republican has emphasized affordability and public safety in his campaign. He also touted the county’s shift to a recovery-oriented system of care to help people recover from substance use issues and move off the streets.

Mark Shull’s four years on the commission between 2021 and 2024 were marked by controversy after bigoted social media remarks he made against Muslims, immigrants, trans people and the Black Lives Matter movement re-surfaced shortly into his term. His comments entered the spotlight in June 2021 when he compared COVID-19 restrictions to Jim Crow laws.

Shull lost his 2024 race for reelection to Melissa Fireside, a Lake Oswego Democrat, who resigned from the commission two months into the job after facing criminal charges for stealing from her mother’s elderly friend. Fireside is now on the run from the law and may have fled the country. The seat that formerly belonged to Shull, and then Fireside, is now Diana Helm’s, though she’s up for reelection this year.

Shull has promised to fight for “real solutions that protect our homes, wallets and way of life.”

Bernard, a moderate Democrat, has promised to bring jobs to Clackamas County, attract infrastructure funding, support families in crisis and provide high-speed internet to rural corners of the county. Bernard served on the commission for 12 years, including the last four as chair until he was unseated by Tootie Smith in 2016. Former Sheriff Craig Roberts now serves as chair.

Bernard faced his own controversy while on the commission over allegations he encouraged the county to give records to his wife, who was considering a lawsuit against the county.

Both Savas and Bernard have flexed notable endorsements in the race, though Savas has the longest list of backers. Bernard has touted support from Sheriff Angela Bradenburg, Milwaukie Mayor Lisa Batey and the Clackamas County Democrats.

Savas has backing from nine Clackamas County mayors, District Attorney John Wentworth, the Clackamas County Peace Officers Association and several other unions.

Shull lists no endorsements in his voter’s pamphlet statement and has no campaign website.

The three candidates’ differing political ideologies appear most prominently in their responses to OPB’s question about whether Clackamas County should declare itself a sanctuary jurisdiction. It’s a move some Oregon counties made last year as the Trump administration stepped up immigration enforcement across the state.

Shull said Oregon should repeal its sanctuary laws so state and local agencies can cooperate with federal partners like ICE.

“Public safety suffers when criminal illegal immigrants are released back into our communities instead of being turned over for federal removal proceedings,” he said. “This undermines trust in law enforcement and increases costs for victims, jails, and county services.”

Bernard said the county should follow Oregon’s sanctuary law, noting it’s important people feel safe reporting crimes to local law enforcement.

Savas said Clackamas County should follow both state and federal law as legal challenges about sanctuary jurisdictions play out in court.

The candidates’ responses to other questions from OPB reveal several priorities they have in common. All three said the county should streamline or speed-up permitting to encourage homebuilding and drive down the cost of housing. All three expressed sensitivity to costs facing the county and its taxpayers. Both Bernard and Savas said the county should focus on “core services” to keep costs down while Shull and Savas said they would oppose new taxes.

Additionally, all three candidates emphasized public safety as a priority. Challengers Bernard and Shull stressed the need for accountability from ambulance provider AMR and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. AMR has historically failed to meet required response times and last year the county inked a new contract with the company that significantly raises costs for patients. The county commission also quarrelled with the sheriff’s office last year over management of finances.

The incumbent Savas said the county has new measures in place to hold AMR accountable for meeting expected response times and that county financial staff are now working with the sheriff’s office to “right the ship.”

Read the candidates’ complete answers to OPB’s questions here:

Savas

Bernard

Shull

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/05/ousted-clackamas-county-commissioners-challenge-incumbent/