Loretta Smith and Jules Bailey Win Multnomah County Commission Seats

Loretta Smith

Former state Rep. Jules Bailey (D-Portland) will join the latest rebuilding effort on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, joining a re-elected Commissioner Loretta Smith.

Bailey defeated businessman Brian Wilson ,with unofficial results showing Bailey with 72 percent of the vote to Wilson's 27 percent. 

The two were vying to replace Commissioner Deborah Kafoury, who left her seat to run for county chair after former Chairman Jeff Cogen, whose career imploded last summer in a sex scandal.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Loretta Smith has won a decisive re-election to a second term over three challengers. Returns show Smith with 77 percent of the vote.

"I'm glad my message to support youth and the elderly, and to keep jobs, resonated with voters," Smith said.

The campaign, for Smith, often reflected the man who publicly harassed her last summer—former mayoral aide Baruti Artharee—as much as her accomplishments. Two of Smith's challengers, Teressa Raiford and Bruce Broussard, aligned themselves with Artharee during the campaign. 

Early results show Broussard has 13 percent of the vote; Raiford, 6 percent, and Kelvin Hall, 3 percent.


WWeek 2015

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