Commissioner, Position 4 candidate · Clackamas County · November 3, 2026
Diana Helm
County commissioner, business owner and former Damascus mayor.
Reach the campaign
- votedianahelm.com (opens in a new tab)
- campaign@votedianahelm.com
- 503-522-6305
- Facebook (opens in a new tab)
As published in their pamphlet statement and campaign site.
In their words
Said: Commissioner Diana Helm has proven to be a strong voice for the citizens of Clackamas County by advocating for affordable housing, leading the effort to pause mega-sized data centers, addressing homelessness and addiction, and supporting safe communities.
Pamphlet p. 18
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 18 ↗Skipped the “LEADERSHIP • TRANSPARENCY • INTEGRITY” labels. Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims.
The verbatim opening of their voters’ pamphlet statement, the same rule for every candidate. We chose nothing.
What they say they would do
Our summary of their platform, in our wordsEmphasizes permitting reform, local jobs and a pause to evaluate large data centers.
- Reduce unnecessary housing and permitting barriers.
- Use a data-center moratorium to study impacts and involve residents.
- Support shelter, recovery and related services.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their wordsHer data-center position is a pause with a decision still to come, and her housing targets (900 units by 2030, permitting reform by 2028) are dated goals the whole board, not one member, would deliver.
Where they stand
Homelessness and housing
Faster permitting- What
- Said: Would increase affordable housing by cutting regulatory burdens and speeding up permitting, and keep shelter, recovery and support services available to people who are homeless.
- How
- Said: A more customer-service-friendly permit process; completion and operation of the county Recovery Campus.
- Measured by
- Said: 900 more affordable units by 2030; regulatory burden reduced by 2028; the Recovery Campus completed and operating by 2027.
Crisis care, jail and deflection
Deflection, recovery- What
- Said: Says the deflection program is working, with the Milwaukie Stabilization Center taking people in mental-health, substance-use or other crises and the Recovery Campus opening in fall 2027; says the county needs a new jail and will study its cost and site.
- How
- Said: The Stabilization Center in Milwaukie for people in crisis, the Recovery Campus (fall 2027) for substance use, mental health, homelessness, job training and transitional housing, and a Strategic Plan study of a new jail’s cost and site.
- Measured by
- Not in their sources
Taxes and the budget gap
Balanced, safety first- What
- Said: Every department must present a balanced budget each cycle, and with revenue trailing inflation some cuts are necessary; General Fund priority goes to public safety, health, housing and human services (including seniors and people with disabilities) and transportation.
- How
- Said: Each department presents a balanced budget every cycle, with cuts where revenue trails inflation.
- Measured by
- Not in their sources
Roads, bridges and air
Data-center pause- What
- Said: Led a moratorium on large data centers so the county can gather facts and hear the public before deciding, and would advocate for the Sunrise Corridor freight route.
- How
- Said: Keep the moratorium in unincorporated Clackamas County until the county codifies a policy on water use, energy use, sound and air quality; cities set their own.
- Measured by
- Not in their sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 5 questions. Diana Helm is on record on 5. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
On recordAsk voters again for a public safety levy in May 2027, and at what rate?
Said: Told the June 2 policy session after the levy's defeat that there needs to be a real effort right now to get out in front of people before asking again; the rate is unsaid.
Adopt a county moratorium on data centers now, or wait for the 2027 Legislature as staff recommended?
Said: Says she led the effort for a moratorium on large data centers after learning the county had no ordinances addressing them, to gather facts, analyze impacts and involve the public before deciding.
Declare that county agencies will not help federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant?
Said: Says the county is following state law and defers to County Counsel on whether to adopt a judicial-warrant declaration.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Push for a property-tax freeze or new relief for older homeowners?
Said: Would get ahead of senior homelessness, potentially by freezing property taxes for homeowners 65 and older within a certain income range, paired with senior services.
Back the Recovery Campus with county-issued bonds and operating money so it opens in fall 2027?
Said: Commits to addressing homelessness through completion and operation of the Recovery Campus by 2027.
Their answers to our questions
Crisis care, jail and deflection
Said: Our deflection program is working well and we now have the Stabilization Center in Milwaukie that handles those in crisis, whether it’s mental health, substance abuse or other issues. Our Recovery Campus opens in fall of 2027 and will assist those with SUDs, mental health issues, homelessness, workforce training and transition housing. We need a new jail but are doing the best we can with a very old building. Part of our Strategic Plan is to research the cost of a new jail and where to site it. However, this is years away at this point.
Taxes and the budget gap
Said: Every budget cycle each department must present a balanced budget to the Board. Revenue is not keeping up with inflation, so cuts are sometimes necessary within each department. Priority General Fund dollars center on Public Safety, Health, Housing and Human Services (which includes seniors and those with disabilities), Transportation and more. Our County Budget is available at clackamas.us.
Roads, bridges and air (data centers)
Said: There is currently a moratorium on Data Centers in Clackamas County (with the exception of individual cities, which would have to institute their own policy). Nothing will happen until we codify a new policy that addresses water use, energy use, sound, and air quality.
Judicial-warrant rule
Said: County Counsel recommends we follow state law.
A question the evidence leaves open
What findings would justify allowing or rejecting data centers after the moratorium?
Sources (3)
- Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 18Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
- Helm · home pageCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
- Helm · emailed response to the Lab’s questionsCandidate statement · Received September 25, 2026Written by the candidate in reply to the Lab’s questions and kept on file; the answers are quoted on the brief. Receipt does not verify the claims.