R.W. Smith for Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 4
Clackamas Values. Bipartisan Solutions.
Clackamas County is my home.
My family lives here.
My children go to school here.
Like many families, we feel the pressure of rising costs.
I’m running because the local government should work openly and responsibly for the people it serves.
As your commissioner , my priorities are
OPPOSE LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTERS IN CLACKAMAS COUNTY
Clackamas County does not need to attract or entertain the idea or building of data centers
● Data centers consume vast amounts of electricity, requiring new substations and infrastructure. Residents should know who pays for these and how they affect local electricity costs and reliability.
● Large data centers can use millions of gallons of water daily for cooling. Clackamas County’s water should prioritize families, farms, rivers, fish, and future generations over industrial development.
● Once open spaces become industrial campuses, they rarely revert to original use. We have one Clackamas County, and we must protect our communities’ character and natural beauty.
REDUCE COSTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES
Clackamas needs to be more affordable. I’ll continue bringing together community and county leaders around solutions to this crisis.
● Irresponsible budgeting around our parks and courthouse have wasted millions in taxpayer dollars. Residents
shouldn’t be asked to foot the bill for poor planning.
● We must limit large corporations from buying up our housing supply and pushing families out of the market.
● To lower skyrocketing utility rates, we need to build new clean energy capacity while ending subsidies to massive data centers.
END UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS
We must move unhoused neighbors off our streets and into recovery-oriented care. These conditions are inhumane; the status quo has gone on far too long.
● We need more treatment options and more shelter beds for people experiencing severe addiction and mental
health challenges.
● The best way to reduce homelessness is to prevent it in the first place by building more affordable housing.
KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. But the fentanyl crisis is tearing apart families and devastating
communities across our region.
● Our police and first responders must have the resources and tools they need to keep our communities safe.
● While the federal government is targeting immigrants, we will stand up for our neighbors and ensure families
have access to the support they need.
