County Elections Providing Insight Into Local Politics?

To All COLA LO Members,

The election results are in for several races in Clackamas County and the story they may be telling is very insightful. 

 It seems the electorate isn't pleased by negative campaigning and is returning all incumbents back to office in several positions.

Does this amount to a rejection of more conservative candidates or a rejection in tactics?  Many are now asking that question and projecting the impact of this election on both 2014 and 2016.  

The Oregonian is reporting that PAC funded challengers failed to unseat the incumbents this primary election. 

Details can be found at: Failed to Unseat 

These results represents an interesting about face compared to the 2012 county election.  Many are asking what this says about the leadership at the county and candidates immediately being elected for one position then running for another within a 1-2 years.  

It will be interesting to see how this impacts local elections in the fall of 2014.

Do voters want conservative candidates with a  positive message?  Only time will tell. but the outcome of this election and recent votes in Damascus clearly signal that voters aren't satisfied with some of the recent behaviors. Why? They were unwilling to unseat incumbents and by doing so rejected the expressed support of several newly elected officials in the county that openly asked for the removal of the incumbents.    

Election results can be found at:  Clackamas County Elections.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.