Clackamas County Commissioner Diana Helm, left, who was appointed to the commission last year and is now seeking election and Jeannette Warren, right, who is running for election to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
Courtesy of the campaigns
In an election cycle with the potential to reshape the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, seven county residents are seeking to serve two years in the unexpired term of a commissioner who fled the country last year facing fraud and theft charges.
The commission selected former Damascus Mayor Diana Helm to fill Position 4 through December 2026 in the wake of Melissa Fireside’s resignation.
To keep the seat, Helm must fend off six challengers: Brian O’Neill, R.W. Smith, Pete Wease, Robert Kukish, Jeannette Warren and Bill Osburn in the May 19 primary election.
R.W. Smith, left, and Pete Wease, right, are both running for a position on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
Courtesy of the campaigns
The challengers’ backgrounds vary: O’Neill is a manager at a steel company, Smith is an environmental consultant, Wease is a mortgage banker, Osburn is a rancher, Kukish is a carpenter and personal trainer, and Warren was a tax analyst.
The race will go to a November run-off no matter what. Even if a single candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in May, that person would still run in November, though as the only name on the ballot. If no candidate receives a simple majority, then the top two finishers will face off in the November run-off.
In an undated, provided photo, Bill Osburn, who is running for position 4 on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
Courtesy of Bill Osburn
Helm, a former mayor of the now disincorporated town of Damascus, has backing from two of her colleagues on the commission: Martha Schrader and Ben West. West is also seeking re-election. District Attorney John Wentworth and the Clackamas County Peace Officers Association have also endorsed Helm.
The only other candidate in the race to list any endorsements is Smith, an environmental consultant who has the backing of the Clackamas County Democratic Party and two members of the Milwaukie City Council.
In campaign materials, Helm promised to focus on affordability and livability, champion small businesses and ensure “our justice system works well for all of our citizens.”
Affordability is a key issue in all three Clackamas County commission races, with nearly every candidate across all three contests promising in campaign materials or voter’s pamphlet statements to make it a priority.
In response to questions from OPB, Kukish, Warren, Osburn and Helm all mentioned “streamlining permitting” or “cutting red tape” as a way to encourage home building and make housing more affordable.
Candidates also highlighted public safety and fiscal responsibility.
“Public safety is essential, but so is ensuring our taxpayer dollars are handled with care,” Warren wrote in response to questions from OPB.
Wease said he “believes in public safety funding,” but added it must come with transparency and accountability.
Read the candidates’ complete answers to OPB’s questions here:
