Two Hillsboro leaders vying for a Washington County Board of Commissioners seat disagree sharply on immigration, data centers and transportation spending. A new candidate Q&A spells out where each stands before ballots arrive.

Former Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway and Hillsboro City Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair are the two finalists in a Nov. 3 runoff for the District 4 seat being vacated by retiring Commissioner Jerry Willey. Ballots go out Oct. 14. District 4 covers most of Hillsboro along with North Plains, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Banks and Gaston. Although the candidate must live in the district, all Washington County voters cast a ballot in the race.

The Beaverton Valley Times published the side-by-side Q&A on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Immigration and ICE enforcement

The candidates drew their sharpest contrast on federal immigration enforcement. Callaway said county resources should stay focused on county services, calling immigration enforcement "a federal responsibility." He said communities are safest when residents trust local law enforcement enough to report crimes and seek help.

Sinclair took a harder line, saying the county must act as a "firewall" to protect Fourth Amendment rights. She cited her work passing Hillsboro Ordinance 6513, which she said mandates accountability for ICE interactions.

Transportation priorities

Callaway called for safer roads and intersections in growing communities, reliable routes for rural residents and maintaining existing infrastructure before it deteriorates. Sinclair said rural areas need wider shoulders and pull-outs so farmers can move equipment safely, along with investment in farm-to-market routes. In urban areas, she called for transit-oriented development with workforce housing near transit hubs.

Data centers and the SB 4 CHIPS Act

Data center growth emerged as a defining split. Sinclair called unchecked industrial expansion the county's biggest problem. "We are blindly incentivizing data centers with hundreds of millions of public dollars in tax abatements without regulations or environmental impact studies," she said in the Q&A. She said she was the only Hillsboro councilor to oppose the SB 4 CHIPS Act, which she said expanded the Urban Growth Boundary to include 1,700 acres of farmland. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that if elected, Sinclair would push for an independent audit of the Hillsboro Enterprise Zone Program.

Callaway took a more measured position, saying he saw both the economic value data centers bring and the real questions their growth raises during his time as mayor.

Backgrounds and fundraising

Callaway spent eight years as Hillsboro's mayor after a career in public education as a teacher, vice principal and principal. He led the six-candidate May primary field with 32.9% of the vote. Campaign finance records show he has raised $112,562, with donations from the Washington County Chamber of Commerce political arm, the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors PAC and the Hillsboro Professional Fire Fighters PAC. His endorsements include Willey, Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace and Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty.

Sinclair, who won her council seat in 2022, founded Grandma Chonga's Salsa and co-founded Eat Drink Washington County. She received 21.4% in the May primary and has raised $20,737, with donations from the Democratic Party of Oregon. She has endorsements from the Oregon Working Families Party, SEIU Oregon and the Washington County Democrats. The position pays $136,161 a year.

The winner joins a refreshed Board of Commissioners in January. Ballots arrive in mailboxes starting Oct. 14.