The race for Washington County Commission Chair is heating up as the May 19, 2026, election approaches. During a recent town hall in Forest Grove, candidates Nafisa Fai, Jenny Kamprath, and Pam Treece laid out their competing visions for the county’s future, focusing on economic growth, public safety, and government transparency. These are three very different candidates.
Nafisa Fai is in her 6th year as a Washington County Commissioner, and is known for standing up to decisions made by the sitting board, such as fighting to keep River Road from being shut down for a land developer for 8 months, and the County Museum being closed- something the other Commissioners did with no qualms. Fai was a lone voice on those issues and many others. Her willingness and ability to be a voice for the average person and the marginalized were evident, with current Chair Harrington trying to shut her down and shut her off many times. Fai has shown strength against Harrington, who is legendary for her verbal assaults on staff and who has been the subject of significant ethical and conduct claims. Fai, as County Chair, would have the capacity to draw on 6 years of experience and bring her people-first agenda into the mix. No doubt many feel our County has become a walled-off castle with few opportunities for the public to be engaged or consulted, and one where Executive departmental decisions are made without much debate.
Kamprath has run for office before and presents a very much “burn down the house” persona when it comes to the County. Her deeply conservative views resurfaced repeatedly at the town hall. She would be an easy choice for any voters who want a complete 180 and who are big supporters of ICE and the current immigration policies and actions. She represents a very massive departure from the way Washington County has been positioned. Some in our community share that mindset, which is why we have elections.
Treece is closely aligned with the contentious & polarizing outgoing County Chair, Kathryn Harrington. The pair traveled to Denmark, Laos, and Singapore together in the past few years on the Clean Water Services ratepayers’ dime, which led to an ethics investigation, findings that Oregon Laws were violated, and an official action by the OGEC. Treece’s is heavily aligned with big business (NIKE, AMAZON, Genentech) and receives significant funds from energy-related donors too. Her message seems to be that we can not change things now, as the current county situation is financially dire and on the precipice. Notably, Treece herself has been in control as a County Commissioner for 8 years. Pam also traveled to Salem in 2026 to support Senator Janeen Sollman’s SB 1586, where she made a strong argument for expanding the Urban Growth Boundary to accommodate more Advanced Manufacturing and Data Centers. The Bill went down in flames in the end after hundreds of pieces of testimony. Her message is ultimately that the Status Quo is the solution for leadership, and for those who are happy with the County and believe we are on the right path with some of her new messaging, she is a great choice.
Here are some of the highlights and main points from each candidate:
Nafisa Fai: “People Power and Independence”
Currently serving in her 6th Year as the District 1 Commissioner, Fai positioned herself as an independent leader willing to challenge the “status quo” and special interests.
Key Platform: Focused on affordability, transparency, and responsiveness. She emphasized her background as a refugee from Somalia as the driving force behind her commitment to community-driven systems.
Economic Strategy: Advocates for an “ecosystem” approach. She believes that while large businesses are important, the county must prioritize infrastructure, public safety, and housing production so that workers can afford to live where they work. Our reliance on a few major corporations was noted as being a huge problem for our County.
On Federal Relations: Took a firm stance against federal overreach, particularly regarding ICE and sanctuary laws, stating that local government should act as a “defense mechanism” for its residents.
Transparency: Highlighted her record of holding monthly town halls and constituent coffees to ensure the community remains engaged with county decisions.
Jenny Kamprath: “The Outsider’s Call for Change”
A fourth-generation Oregonian, Kamprath framed her campaign as a necessary break from established political leadership, leaning into her lack of government experience as a strength.
Key Platform: Centered on “real change,” prioritizing safety, affordability, and a reduction in bureaucracy. She criticized current leadership for a “tax and spend” mentality.
Economic Strategy: Argues that Oregon is currently “not a great place for business” due to high taxes and red tape. She proposes cutting regulations to attract large employers and widen the tax base.
On Public Safety: Expressed significant concern over transitional housing projects and the number of unclassified sex offenders in Oregon. She criticized the county for placing low-barrier housing near neighborhoods and schools without sufficient public notice.
Transparency: Pledges to move away from “behind-closed-doors” decisions and wants to foster real-time dialogue between commissioners and the public during meetings.
Pam Treece: “Experienced, Collaborative Leadership”
Treece, an eight-year veteran of the commission, emphasized her track record of collaboration and deep roots in economic development.
Key Platform: Stability and “economic resiliency.” She argued that with a $2 billion budget and a workforce of 2,300, the county cannot afford “errors” in leadership.
Economic Strategy: Views Washington County as the “economic engine of the state.” She intends to focus on manufacturing and high-wage jobs to fund county services and schools. Her approach supports more massive industrial growth in Hillsboro.
On Housing & Homelessness: Championed the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) measure. She believes the county is on the right path with transitional and recovery housing but noted that the next chair must be prepared to renegotiate funding when current measures expire.
Transparency: Acknowledged that while the county has improved (such as posting agendas online), the chair must be better at listening to a variety of thoughts to reach collaborative solutions.
Party Affiliation & Immigration (ICE) Summary
| Candidate | Party Affiliation / Background | Stance on ICE & Immigration |
| Nafisa Fai | Democrat | Strong Sanctuary Advocate: Supports local “defense mechanisms” to shield residents from federal enforcement. |
| Jenny Kamprath | Republican | Pro-Enforcement: Opposes sanctuary laws; argues for the “rule of law” and cooperation with federal immigration agents. |
| Pam Treece | Democrat (Former Republican) | Pragmatic Compliance: Supports sanctuary values but prioritizes maintaining federal funding and legal compliance. |
Detailed Highlights: ICE and Immigration
The debate over the “Rule of Law” vs. “Sanctuary Status” was one of the most contentious parts of the town hall.
Nafisa Fai (Democrat)
The “Defense Mechanism”: Fai argued that when the federal government “declares war on its people,” local government must act as a shield.
Sanctuary Commitment: She explicitly stated her commitment to upholding Oregon’s sanctuary laws and noted her pride in being an immigrant and refugee herself.
Humanity First: She advocated for emergency declarations to provide benefits and services to immigrant and refugee communities, viewing diversity as a core strength of the County.
Fai frames immigration as a human rights issue. She advocates for the county to actively defend its residents against federal overreach, emphasizing that local governments should follow state sanctuary laws to protect the humanity and safety of all community members, regardless of status.
Jenny Kamprath (Republican)
Rule of Law: Kamprath argued that federal agents are simply doing the job they were hired to do—enforcing laws passed by Congress.
Opposition to Sanctuary Laws: She stated that sanctuary laws prevent criminals from being picked up after serving jail time, which she believes “victimizes” the people of Washington County.
Safety Concerns: Her platform links public safety directly to stricter law enforcement cooperation, arguing that the county should stand for the rule of law and defend police actions.
- Kamprath stands firmly on the side of federal law enforcement. She believes that local authorities have a duty to assist federal agents in enforcing the laws of Congress. In her view, sanctuary policies allow individuals who have committed crimes to return to the streets, which she argues compromises the safety of Washington County residents.
Pam Treece (Former Republican – switched party affiliation to Democrat in recent years)
The Supremacy Clause: Treece acknowledged the “pain and reality” of ICE actions on the streets, but balanced it with the legal reality of the Supremacy Clause.
Contractual Balance: She emphasized that as Chair, she must ensure the county remains compliant with federal contracts to ensure Washington County continues to receive the federal dollars necessary to serve its residents.
Collaborative Safety: While she supported Fai’s emergency declarations for SNAP and refugee services, her focus remains on “economic resiliency” and maintaining stable relationships with federal agencies.
- Treece acknowledges the pain caused by aggressive federal enforcement but takes a more administrative approach. She argues that the county must balance its values with the “Supremacy Clause” of the Constitution. Her priority is ensuring the county remains eligible for federal grants and dollars, which are essential for providing services to those same vulnerable populations.
Other Main Points (Updated)
Jenny Kamprath further distinguished herself by criticizing the county’s lack of transparency regarding the placement of transitional housing (specifically the project on Cornell Road), which she claims was a “behind closed doors” deal that ignored neighborhood safety concerns.
Nafisa Fai reiterated her focus on affordability, noting that “people power” is what brought her to office and is what will drive her to tackle the housing and transportation squeeze. She emphasized engaging the residents of Washington County, listening to the issues, and working collaboratively to improve on the wide array of issues facing the people of Washington County. Her platform is engagement and collaboration rather than top-down executive mandates.
Pam Treece leaned on her 20 years of economic development experience, warning that the county faces deep budget cuts and requires a leader who can manage a $2 billion budget without error. Her approach indicates continuity with the way the County has been managed- an Executive style of management.
More coverage from the Herald on this and other important races will continue as we head towards a May 19th Election with huge ramifications for the next 4 years!
