Commissioner, Position 4 candidate · Clackamas County · November 3, 2026
R W Smith
Environmental consultant with community-action and climate committee experience.
Reach the campaign
- friendsofremysmith.org (opens in a new tab)
- friendsofremysmith@gmail.com
- Instagram (opens in a new tab)
- Facebook (opens in a new tab)
As published in their pamphlet statement and campaign site.
In their words
Said: Clackamas County is my home. My wife and I are raising our three children here.
Pamphlet p. 18
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 18 ↗Skipped the “CLACKAMAS VALUES. BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS.” slogan (labels with no predicate); the first sentence is under 12 words, so two are given. 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 wordsOpposes large-scale data centers and emphasizes resource protection, affordability and transparent contracts.
- Keep large-scale data centers out of the county.
- Protect electricity, water, farmland and taxpayers.
- Improve access to treatment with measurable outcomes.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their wordsHis data-center stance is categorical rather than a pause; the treatment and shelter expansion he wants is not yet paired with a funding plan, though he pledges independent fiscal review of big projects.
Where they stand
Homelessness and housing
Permitting, shelter beds- What
- Said: Would encourage housing working families can afford, streamline permitting for small builders, limit corporate purchases of homes, and add shelter beds paired with case management.
- How
- Said: Streamlined permitting so builders avoid repeated design revisions; limits on speculative corporate ownership; shelter capacity paired with case management; partnerships with nonprofits and Community Action Board programs.
- Measured by
- Not in their sources
Crisis care, jail and deflection
Treatment with outcomes- What
- Said: Would give police and first responders the resources they need, expand treatment for addiction and mental illness, and insist on measurable outcomes.
- How
- Said: Strategic planning to hold emergency response times as the county grows; cooperation among county agencies, cities and service districts; prevention programs for young people.
- Measured by
- Not in their sources
Taxes and the budget gap
Independent fiscal review- What
- Said: Would put major public projects and long-term contracts through independent fiscal review, report budgets and obligations openly, and end subsidies to large data centers.
- How
- Said: Independent fiscal review of major projects and long-term financial agreements; public review of major structural decisions; new clean-energy capacity to stabilize utility costs.
- Measured by
- Not in their sources
Roads, bridges and air
No large data centers- What
- Said: Opposes bringing large-scale data centers into the county, citing their electricity, water and land demands, and would build new clean-energy capacity.
- How
- Not in their sources
- Measured by
- Not in their sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 5 questions. R W Smith is on record on 4, with 1 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could findPush for a property-tax freeze or new relief for older homeowners?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Ask voters again for a public safety levy in May 2027, and at what rate?
Said: Says a five-year levy can stabilize services but is not a complete solution, and any request must come with transparent budgeting, regular reporting and a long-term plan; May 2027 and a rate are unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Adopt a county moratorium on data centers now, or wait for the 2027 Legislature as staff recommended?
Said: Opposes bringing large-scale data centers into the county at all, citing their electricity, water and land demands and the infrastructure they require; his position is a ban rather than a pause.
Declare that county agencies will not help federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant?
Said: Says the county should be clear that local agencies do not participate in federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant, calling it a clean legal standard that keeps trust in public safety.
Back the Recovery Campus with county-issued bonds and operating money so it opens in fall 2027?
Said: Would expand addiction treatment and mental-health stabilization and add shelter capacity with case management, insisting on measurable outcomes; the Recovery Campus and its bonds are unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
A question the evidence leaves open
What development rules would implement your data-center position, and how would treatment access improve?
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.
- Smith · policiesCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
- Smith · home pageCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.