Oregon Primary Day: County Commission Chair Looks Headed for a Runoff

With so much attention being focused on Oregon's presidential primary Tuesday, one would not be blamed for forgetting there are a whole series of local races and measures, as well.

In Clackamas County, there is the hotly contested race for chairman of the Clackamas County Commission.

With nearly 78 percent of the vote in, Incumbent John Ludlow was trailing his colleague on the commission, Jim Bernard, 37 percent to 28 percent.

It looks like the two will face each other in a November runoff.

Paul Savas, also currently on the commission, was in third with 21.4 percent.

Oregon City Mayor Dan Holladay is in fourth with 13.3 percent.

Ludlow and Barnard are often on the opposite ends of issues, with the split between the two embodying the split between county voters.

Also on the ballot is Martha Schrader, running for another term on the Clackamas County Commission in Position 3.

She easily won re-election.

Meanwhile, her colleague on the commission, Tootie Smith, will likely have to face a runoff in November against Ken Humbertson.

Smith has had a large lead for much of the night and while it is still sizable — she's up 45.9 percent to 29.5 percent — it does not look like she will crack the magical 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff.

County Sheriff Craig Roberts, who was unopposed, also won another term.

A big measure on the ballot is an advisory vote for residents to indicate whether the county should pursue voter-approved funding for a limited number of years for road maintenance.

It passed easily. With 91 percent of the votes counted, Yes was leading over No by 63 percent to 28 percent.

A measure that would allow a road and stormwater drainage system through Wesley Lynn Park in Oregon City was ahead with 91 percent of the vote counted.

Voters also approved a 15-year, $59 million measure to revamp the county's 911 system.