Jamie Damon managed to squeak by in the May primary, but despite the victory faces an uphill battle to secure Position 4 on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners. The November election pits Damon – who is the incumbent after being appointed to a vacant position – against Tootie Smith. The May margin for Damon was by a narrow 710 votes.

Further, the third-place vote garnered by John Swanson – considered to be
more aligned with Smith politically – suggests Damon’s daunting task.

But she’s not shying away from the fray.

“It’s unfortunate this race is seen (by some) through the lens of partisanship,”
Damon said. “I’m a Democrat, but I was raised in a Republican household. I’m
a moderate, and I am calling on all (county voters) seeking their support.”

Damon points to endorsements from county mayors to underline her ability to
appeal to those with diverse political views. She has received the nod from
mayors in Estacada, Molalla, Milwaukie, Happy Valley, Lake Oswego, West
Linn, Wilsonville, Tualatin and Sandy.

“And four of them are Republicans,” she said.

The Eagle Creek resident of 15 years believes strongly in the need of a rural
presence on the county commission – something her opponent does not bring.
“Having a commissioner who lives in the shadow of the mountain, to drive
these roads, to shop, to know the challenges of rural areas, that’s what I
bring to the board and it’s what I represent,” she said. “We (the county
commission) haven’t done much regarding forests, timber, with BLM. There’s
a lot we need to do in managing the land and rivers in our rural communities.”

TRI-MET
Damon was in the majority of a 3-1 vote by the county commissioners on
Aug. 23 to approve a re-negotiated agreement to lower the county’s
contribution to the light rail project to $19.9 million from $25 million – and
approved the sale of bonds to pay for the obligation.

The proposed agreement includes enhancement such as safety and security
upgrades, community connectivity improvements, livability enhancements,
and design and natural area improvements.

Damon supports transportation choices, and Tri-Met addresses that need.
However, she points out the commission’s decision on the light rail project
was made in 2010, before she was appointed to her county post.

“A frenzy was whipped up (over the light rail decision) which eroded our
ability to make it the best it can be,” she said. “Now, I will work hard to make
sure we’re going to pay less and get a better deal. I’m a realist about it.”

DISTRICTS
Damon strongly supports splitting the county into district representation on
the commission.

“Absolutely,” she said. “Running a county-wide campaign trying to cover
2,000 square miles, 16 cities, is next to impossible.”

She said the commission has set up a task force to look into dividing the
county into districts. She expects they will come up with a plan by next spring
and have it to the voters by next fall.

“This will ensure a constant rural voice on the commission,” she said.

FAMILY AND BACKGROUND
Damon graduated Sam Barlow High School, Portland State University, and
received an MA in international conflict resolution from the School for
International Training in Vermont.

She has worked as a mediator for 25 years and writes on her Web site: “(I’ve
served as a mediator) resolving community conflicts from war-torn Africa to
the Willamette Valley. By focusing on what unites, rather than divides us, we
can move our county forward.”

She has a 29-year marriage with Warren Damon – who built their home by
hand from trees sustainably harvested from their property – and has two
daughters, Janie and Josie.