Steve Callaway Eyes District 4 Seat in Washington County 2026

Key Points

• Former Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway and current Hillsboro City Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair are competing in the 3 November 2026 runoff election for the open District 4 seat on the Washington County Board of Commissioners.
• The explosive growth of high-tech data centers across District 4—encompassing Hillsboro and Forest Grove—has become a central issue, raising public concerns regarding farmland preservation, energy demand, and water usage.
• While both nonpartisan candidates accepted invitations for sit-down interviews with local broadcaster KGW, Sinclair was forced to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances and instead released a detailed policy statement criticizing corporate influence in county politics.
• Callaway highlighted economic affordability as the primary voter concern in western Washington County, pointing to the board’s regulatory authority over local fees, property taxes, and regional service districts like Clean Water Services.
• Callaway stressed the necessity of fully staffing the Washington County Jail to serve both incorporated and unincorporated areas, while emphasizing ongoing investments in county road maintenance.
• Addressing concerns regarding federal immigration enforcement, Callaway advocated for county government readiness to defend individual rights while maintaining compliance with state and federal laws.

Portland (Evening Washington News) October 31, 2026 – Voters across western Washington County are preparing to elect a new county commissioner in the 3 November 2026 general election runoff, facing a choice between former Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway and current Hillsboro City Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair. The nonpartisan District 4 race, which covers the expanding communities of Hillsboro and Forest Grove, has centered heavily on economic affordability, public safety infrastructure, and the controversial proliferation of industrial data centers across rural and industrial zones.

How Do the Candidates Differ on Data Center Expansion in District 4?

The rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers across the Silicon Forest has transformed environmental and land-use policy into a critical issue for District 4 voters. Both candidates have expressed caution regarding technological development, though they differ in their operational framing.

As reported by journalist Blair Best of KGW, nonpartisan candidate Kipperlyn Sinclair was unable to attend a scheduled broadcast interview due to unforeseen circumstances but issued a formal campaign statement detailing her position. In the statement released by Sinclair, she asserted: “In the era of AI and data centers, Washington County needs a commissioner who will hold the line to protect our farmland, our air, our water, and our public dollars. Just as importantly, we must protect the public’s right to be heard before major decisions are made, not after.”

Sinclair further criticized special interest influence in local government, stating: “I am not a corporate candidate, and I am not part of a political pipeline designed to serve special interests. My sole priority is the benefit of our community.”

In his sit-down interview reported by Blair Best of KGW, Steve Callaway voiced support for temporary development pauses while local and state officials evaluate the long-term impact of high-tech facilities. As reported by Best, Callaway stated: “So, I support the moratorium that exists, and during this statewide moratorium, we need to have important conversations about what kind of incentives are we going to have if any. … We need to make sure that we are protective of our farmland we need to make sure we are protective of our natural resources.”

What Are the Key Proposals for Addressing Local Affordability Concerns?

Amid regional inflationary pressures, household affordability has emerged as a top voter priority across Hillsboro and Forest Grove.

Speaking to KGW reporter Blair Best, Steve Callaway emphasized that county commissioners possess direct regulatory levers to manage cost burdens for residents. As reported by Best, Callaway stated: “The one thing I am hearing over and over again is affordability. … We do have control over things such as Clean Water Services, we have control over fees and taxes, and so as a county commissioner, I will be watching those things very, very carefully.”

Callaway argued that his administrative tenure as Mayor of Hillsboro provides him with practical experience in balancing municipal budgets while managing essential public utilities without placing undue tax burdens on working families.

How Do the Candidates Plan to Address Public Safety and Law Enforcement?

Public safety management across Washington County’s urban and rural sectors represents another major divide in the District 4 contest.

During his interview with Blair Best of KGW, Callaway identified law enforcement staffing and transportation infrastructure as the two primary components of public safety in District 4. As reported by Best, Callaway stated: “We need to make sure that we have a fully staffed jail, because that serves all of the county, both incorporated and unincorporated. … Another piece of public safety is our roads because we have a huge network of roads, especially in western Washington County.”

Addressing community anxieties surrounding federal immigration enforcement in Washington County, Callaway emphasized the need for clear jurisdictional boundaries and civil rights protections. As reported by Best of KGW, Callaway noted: “If there is any sort of activity that the county is prepared to respond to make sure that rights are being defended and that our residents are being protected.”

Background of the Washington County District 4 Board Vacancy

The race for Washington County Commission District 4 was created by the upcoming retirement of eight-year incumbent Commissioner Jerry Willey, who opted not to seek re-election in 2026. District 4 represents the western portion of Washington County, comprising the cities of Hillsboro and Forest Grove along with agricultural and forest lands extending toward the Coast Range.

In the May 2026 nonpartisan primary election, Steve Callaway and Kipperlyn Sinclair emerged as the top two vote-getters from a multi-candidate field, advancing to the 3 November general election runoff. The election takes place against a backdrop of local regulatory actions regarding industrial development. In mid-2026, the City of Hillsboro enacted a 120-day moratorium on new data center applications to examine land-use rules, water consumption, and electrical grid demands. Concurrently, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved restrictions limiting uncoordinated standalone data center developments in unincorporated rural zones.

Prediction: How Will the District 4 Election Outcome Impact Local Residents and Tech Developers?

The outcome of the 3 November runoff between Steve Callaway and Kipperlyn Sinclair will directly shape land-use regulations, tax policy, and industrial development across Washington County for the next four years.

For local residents and agricultural property owners in western Washington County, the election of either candidate will reinforce local oversight regarding natural resource preservation. However, a victory by Kipperlyn Sinclair would likely signal a more confrontational approach toward corporate tax incentives and industrial zoning, potentially leading to stricter environmental conditions and expanded public hearing mandates prior to project approvals. Conversely, a victory by Steve Callaway would likely result in a structured regulatory framework that balances municipal tax growth with farmland protections, utilizing established regional utility districts to manage infrastructure costs.

For high-tech developers and data center operators seeking to expand in the Silicon Forest, the election outcome will dictate the speed and predictability of local permitting processes. Stricter county-level restrictions could divert future data facility construction toward neighboring jurisdictions, while influencing how Washington County negotiates tax incentive agreements and public utility offsets with major tech firms.