Rhodes holds 6,484-vote lead in Clackamas County sheriff race

James Rhodes leads Brad O'Neil by 6,484 votes in the Clackamas County sheriff election. As of 10 p.m. on election night, Rhodes has collected 52% of the reported votes while O'Neil has gathered 48%.

The race stems from an abrupt departure. Sheriff Angela Brandenburg retired over the summer, leaving two years remaining on her term. Her resignation prompted the special election to fill the vacancy.

Brandenburg's exit created tension within the Clackamas County Commission. Last month, commissioners voted in a split decision to start an independent investigation into the retirement and who knew about it beforehand. The group that opposed the retirement voted in July to appoint Rhodes as interim sheriff. Commission Chair Craig Roberts, a former sheriff who served for 15 years before Brandenburg, supports O'Neil.

Both candidates identify a May election as their next major challenge. They say their top priority is passing a renewal of the county's public safety levy. Voters rejected a measure to renew and increase that levy earlier this year. Without the levy, funding for 17% of the sheriff's office essential services expires at the end of next June.

Rhodes worked at various ranks in the sheriff's office from 1997 until his retirement in 2021. Commissioners recalled him from retirement to serve as interim sheriff. O'Neil has served as undersheriff at the office since 1999.