Both run on experience and careful spending. Compare an accountability-and-management case, with rural response times as its measured goal, against a list of operational priorities: traffic and impaired-driving enforcement, property-crime follow-up and fentanyl investigations.
Draft; human review pending.
Key
Said
A campaign statement, in our summary or their words.
Voted
A recorded Council roll call.
— Not found
Not in the sources we reviewed. A research gap, not a position.
Prioritizes frontline operations, traffic enforcement and serious-crime investigations.
—not found in the sources we reviewed
Restores traffic and DUII (impaired-driving) enforcement; targets fentanyl traffickers.
Cuts administration and discretionary spending before front-line services; reports budgets publicly.
—not found in the sources we reviewed
Summaries are our one-line readings of what each candidate says. Issue lines are short forms of the positions in each brief, AI-drafted and awaiting human review; “—” means not found in the sources we reviewed.
Four votes that split this Council
No candidate in this race sits on Council today.
— Not foundNo featured votes are selected for this race yet.
Candidate briefs, A–Z
Sheriff candidate · Clackamas County · November 3, 2026
Brad O’Neil
Undersheriff with patrol, investigations and search-and-rescue leadership experience.
Photo: Candidate-submitted photo · 2026 Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet
In their words
Said: Clackamas County deserves a Sheriff who is experienced, accountable, and ready to lead on day one.
Pamphlet p. 16
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Skipped the “Brad O’Neil for Clackamas County Sheriff” heading and the “Trusted. Qualified. A New Direction” 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 words
Emphasizes professional leadership, measurable performance and public trust.
Improve response, investigations, jail operations and frontline services.
Allocate resources responsibly under budget pressure.
Set expectations, report results and strengthen relationships.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Rural response times
Open books
His statement runs on management and accountability rather than named hires or cuts; the claim to be the only candidate with current Oregon police certification and no disciplinary action is the campaign’s own.
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
Crisis care, jail and deflection
Rural response times
What
Said: Would make response times in rural and unincorporated areas a measured priority, keep search and rescue equipped, and pair deputies with behavioral-health partners on calls they cannot solve alone.
How
Said: Recruitment and retention as a sustained priority, since every vacancy stretches response times; data to guide staffing and patrol; partnerships with local police and behavioral-health providers.
Measured by
Said: Help arriving faster in the places that wait longest today, set as a measured goal after a first-100-days review of response times and coverage; no numeric target published.
Taxes and the budget gap
Data-driven, open books
What
Said: Would protect core public-safety services first under budget pressure, guide staffing and spending with data, and show the public where the money goes.
How
Said: Data-driven staffing, patrol and spending decisions; modernized operations and technology; cutting what wastes time and money; books open to residents.
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Roads, bridges and air
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 3 questions. Brad O’Neil is on record on 3. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
On record
If voters reject a levy again in May 2027, which levy-funded services go first?
Said: Says budget pressure is real and ongoing, and core public-safety services will be protected first with resources directed to the front line; which levy-funded services would go first is unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
When the Sheriff's Office budget shrinks, cut administration and programs before patrol and jail?
Said: Would protect core public-safety services first, direct resources to the front line, guide staffing and spending with data and eliminate waste so the office runs leaner.
Make response times in rural and unincorporated areas a measured priority?
Said: Would make coverage and response times in rural and unincorporated communities a measured priority, saying families in outlying areas wait longer for a deputy than families in town.
Which performance measures and disciplinary disclosures would you publish?
Sources (3)
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 16Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
O’Neil · prioritiesCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
O’Neil · vision and first 100 daysCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
Sheriff candidate · Clackamas County · November 3, 2026
James Rhodes
Appointed sheriff; former undersheriff and Wilsonville police chief.
Photo: Candidate-submitted photo · 2026 Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet
In their words
Said: I was born and raised in Clackamas County, where Patti and I raised our daughter and owned a small business.
Pamphlet p. 16
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Skipped the “SHERIFF JAMES RHODES” heading and the “Proven. Local. Trusted.” 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 words
Prioritizes frontline operations, traffic enforcement and serious-crime investigations.
Protect patrol, jail and investigative services.
Improve property-crime follow-up and restore traffic and DUII enforcement.
Target fentanyl traffickers and coordinate with prosecutors.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Front line first
Fourth floor first
The appointed incumbent names operational priorities more clearly than their cost; restoring traffic enforcement and adding property-crime follow-up implies staffing the statement does not quantify.
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
Crisis care, jail and deflection
Traffic and fentanyl focus
What
Said: Would protect patrol, jail and investigative services, restore traffic and DUII (impaired-driving) enforcement, follow up on property crimes and target fentanyl traffickers.
How
Said: Budget savings found in fourth-floor administration, discretionary spending and programs before front-line services; partnerships with the District Attorney, courts, contract cities, schools and emergency-management partners.
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Taxes and the budget gap
Cut administration first
What
Said: Would start budget cuts at the top (administration, discretionary spending and programs) before front-line services, and report the budget publicly.
How
Said: Every dollar examined against one question, whether it helps the office conserve the peace and serve residents, starting with administrative overhead.
Measured by
Said: Regular public budget reporting with quarterly updates so taxpayers can see whether the office is staying on track.
Roads, bridges and air
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 3 questions. James Rhodes is on record on 3. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
On record
If voters reject a levy again in May 2027, which levy-funded services go first?
Said: Says that when budgets are tight he starts with fourth-floor administration, discretionary spending and programs that must show value before cutting services residents depend on; which levy-funded services would go first is unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
When the Sheriff's Office budget shrinks, cut administration and programs before patrol and jail?
Said: Would find savings in top administration, discretionary spending and programs before touching patrol, corrections, detectives and parole and probation, with quarterly public budget reports.
Make response times in rural and unincorporated areas a measured priority?
Said: Would improve response times with more visible patrols and restore traffic and DUII enforcement; rural and unincorporated areas are not singled out.
What staffing or spending would change to restore traffic enforcement?
Sources (2)
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 16Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
Rhodes · the planCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
