After making incendiary remarks about Muslims at the start of his term, Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull has lost his bid for reelection to Lake Oswego business owner Melissa Fireside. Fireside, a Democrat, won with 52% of the vote compared to Shull’s 48%, maintaining a lead throughout vote counting.
Fireside aims to bring prosperity and a competitive edge to the county and did not immediately comment on her victory. Shull, a Republican, also did not respond to requests for comment. This loss for Shull comes as Chair Tootie Smith, another conservative on the board, also lost her seat to retired Sheriff Craig Roberts.
Shull, a military veteran, ran against the much younger Fireside, a construction management consultant, and previously secured office in 2020. Early in his term, he faced backlash for xenophobic comments on Islam, transgender people, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Despite this, Shull raised about $7,000 for his campaign.
As Commissioners serve four-year terms in Clackamas County, Fireside will now take over the position with a focus on bringing prosperity to the area. The Board of Commissioners is nonpartisan, but Shull and Smith were part of a conservative voting bloc on the board. Roberts will now replace Smith after winning 57% of the vote.
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