The bitterly contested November election spurred Oregon and County voters
to cast their ballots. Nearly three-fourths (74 percent) of eligible voters
showed up countywide, topped only by the 77 percent turnout statewide.

The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) election results promised to have
an impact on Mountain residents. With the relentless attack from the Board
regarding the county’s dissolution of the Villages at Mt. Hood – an incursion
led by then-Chair John Ludlow and Commissioner Tootie Smith – voters
appeared to get the message, or at least send one.

Ludlow was defeated in the race for the chair’s position by Commissioner Jim
Bernard (53 percent to 47 percent) and Ludlow was relegated to take a back
seat on the Board.

Smith was sent packing by Ken Humberston’s run after Position 4, with Smith
suffering a 51 percent to 49 percent defeat.

The new makeup of the BCC includes: Chair Bernard, and commissioners
Humberston, Paul Savas, Martha Schrader and Ludlow.

House District 52 incumbent Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River) held off an
effort by Democrat Mark Reynolds, returning to Salem with a 55 percent to 44
percent win. Johnson’s margin was considerably wider within Clackamas
County, 61 percent to 39 percent.

Federal results
Hillary Clinton fared better at the county and state level than she did on a
national scale. Clinton topped President-elect Donald Trump 50 to 43 percent
countywide, and 50 to 39 percent statewide.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D) coasted over Republican rival Mark Callahan 54
to 37 percent and 56 to 33 percent, countywide and statewide respectively.
U.S. Representative contests that local residents participated in included
Democrat victories by incumbents Earl Blumenauer and Kurt Schrader over
David Walker and Colm Willis. Blumenauer’s win raised eyebrows locally as he
lost to Walker countywide 48 to 47 percent, but romped statewide 72 to 20
percent.

State results
Incumbent Democrat Kate Brown was returned as Oregon’s governor, eking
out a narrow statewide victory by 50 to 43 percent, despite Clackamas County
voters disagreeing by backing Bud Pierce’s bid 48 to 47 percent.

Republican Dennis Richardson unseated incumbent Bard Avakian in the
Secretary of State race, 53 to 39 percent countywide and 47 to 43 percent
statewide.

Local results
The City of Sandy will have the same look as before with the mayor and three
city councilors keeping their posts while running unopposed. Bill King is
mayor, John Hamblin, Donald Hollis and Olga Gerberg will return in Positions
3, 4 and 5, respectively.

Measure 3-510 passed by a 75 percent to 25 percent margin levying a 3
percent tax on marijuana sales.

Measure 3-509, proposing a 6-cent per gallon fuel tax failed by a 63 to 37
percent margin.

And the city of Sandy will continue prohibiting marijuana sales with a vote of
56 to 44 percent. Just in case, another measure that would have authorized a
tax on marijuana should the other measure permit sales, was approved by 79
percent to 21 percent.