EDITOR’S NOTE: If you haven’t voted, please do – election day is Tuesday May 19, 2026. It’s too late to put your ballot in the mail, you must drop your ballot off at a drop box – here’s a link to the list to find the one nearest you: https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/tillamook-county-clerks-office-official-tillamook-county-ballot-deposit-locations-may-19-2026-primary-election/
By Yvette Clark
For context: I was baptized a Republican. However, I remained non affiliated until 2008 when I registered as a Democrat. I am now an elected representative of the Democratic Party where I serve as a Precinct Committee Person for Garibaldi. The following are my personal opinions.
US Senator: Paul Damien Wells got my vote because he challenged this seat and received zero support or recognition from the Democratic establishment. I’m tired of the DPO deciding who will be our nominee. The primaries are for the voters to decide this. This was an unfair race. That is not democracy.
US Representative: Jamil O Ahmad got my vote for the same reason stated above, and for Representative Bonamici’s record for continuing to support Israel.
Governor: I did not give any of the candidates my vote. I don’t know anything about the many candidates and I’m not happy with Kotek.
State Senator: Again, I withheld my vote. With nothing to compare the three candidates running for this seat I felt abstaining would be best.
State Represntative: My vote is not needed here. This candidate is being handed the nomination and that, in my opinion, is a crime. We ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE HAD A CHOICE HERE.
Commssioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries: I know nothing about either candidate or what they do. Vote withheld.
Judge of the Supreme Court: I almost always withhold my vote in unopposed races.
Judge of the Court of Appeals: Four positions, ALL unopposed, and I know nothing about the candidates. Votes withheld.
Judge of the Circuit Court: I would have liked to vote in this one, but I didn’t. There is obviously a lot of money being spent on this campaign. Both candidates are listed as non-affiliated. On paper maybe, but not in their hearts. The judicial branch is saving America right now. Judges matter. The Parties have a responsibility to eduacte their base on these candidates.
District Attorney: Unoppposed and I can’t support this candidate.
County Commisioner: I had a realization a few months back as it pertains to government: no one is in charge. The whole system (I use that term lightly if not totally in jest) is really about influence rather than power. It’s about relationships and (big time) being able to navigate the complexities of the “system” and the many players and their various interests. The learning curve for being a representative is huge. Folks jumping into the deep end are not aware of how deep it is. For these reasons I feel that Commissioner Bell is the candidate best suited for the job. It’s up to constituents to keep her on task with the needs of the entire county. Once elected, the commissioners represent everyone.
Measure 120 (Gas tax increase): HARD NO. A lot of people had a lot of meetings all over the state and went on about how the roads need repair and that they need more money to it. It was basically a dog and pony show diguised as a round table solutions session. They already get a lot of money. They need to manage it better. Additionally, this measure was intentionally moved from the November ballot to the May ballot where voter turnout is significantly lower. Deceptive. And, just in case they do need more money, the everyday driver should not foot the bill. It belongs to the heavy vehicles causing the damage.
Fire District Consolidation between Tillamook and Bay City: This isn’t on my ballot, but it does affect me. I have been suggesting a county wide Fire District for a couple of years now. This proposed merger is a distraction to the real solutions that the county needs. A measure like this should be looking at the next thirty years. Additonally it more than doubles that tax rate for the home owners of Tillamook with no decernable increase in protection. Bay City gets a small financial break, but some taxes will be collected from an additonal fund. This measure is just not a good plan at all. No value. PLEASE VOTE NO IF THIS IS ON YOUR BALLOT. We can do better as a county.
