Clackamas County Clerk, Sherry Hall, Continues to Work for Clear and Fair Elections in Clackamas County

May 8, 2010  Oregon City, Oregon

Clerk,
I am responsible for all aspects of our elections in Clackamas County. I report to the state’s Chief Elections Officer, Secretary of State Kate Brown. The Secretary of State’s directive to reprint the ballots for our primary election was, by law, a task that required compliance.

All of us at the Elections Office in Clackamas County work for secure, fair, and impartial elections. To have elections subject to political disruption, like the unfortunate distraction of the Commissioners’ misguided and inappropriate legal action, seriously impedes this important goal.

Secretary of State Kate Brown’s letter arrived as I was consulting legal counsel about options to minimize political interference on this Clackamas County election.

The comments from the Secretary of State regarding the confusing nature of ORS 249.205 were definitive. An interpretive mistake ‐‐‐ not an oversight ‐‐‐ was made in our analysis of this statute. Clackamas County had a unique situation when their Commission went from 3 partisan positions to 5 nonpartisan positions by a vote of the people in November of 2007.

Additionally, the Elections Office welcomes Mr. Fred Neal on site in Clackamas County on Monday, May 10. When the elections officer in a county is up for reelection, as I currently am, it is protocol to ask the Director of Elections at the Secretary of State’ Office for additional presence on election oversight to avoid any perception of bias.

My previous request for this additional presence was deemed unnecessary three weeks ago. But, now, the Secretary of State is providing us with this piece and we are grateful. This oversight is a service the state provides at no charge to the county, to ensure fair and equitable elections.

Respectfully,
Sherry Hall

For Immediate Release Contact: sherryhal@co.clackamas.or.us