Rieke-Smith (Submitted photo)

Sue Rieke-Smith selected to replace Courtney Neron Misslin

The former superintendent of the Tigard-Tualatin School District has been selected to fill a vacant seat for Oregon House District 26.

On Friday, June 6, the Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill boards of county commissioners appointed Sue Rieke-Smith to fill the seat vacated by Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville. 

Neron Misslin was appointed to the Oregon Senate to represent Oregon Senate District 13 on May 7, following the death of Sen. Aaron Woods in April.

House District 26 includes King City, Sherwood, Wilsonville, the unincorporated neighborhood of Bull Mountain and portions of Clackamas and Yamhill counties. 

A King City resident, Rieke-Smith served six years as Tigard-Tualatin School District superintendent, retiring June 30, 2024, after a 25-year career in education.

She previously served as a trauma and public health nurse, a teacher and a principal. 

Rieke-Smith was sworn in by Gov. Tina Kotek Monday morning.

“I want to thank everyone for supporting me to get to this point and everyone in the legislature for what has already been a warm welcome,” Smith said in a statement. “No need for a long speech. There’s a lot to be done. Let’s get to work.”

Also vying for the seat were Chelsea King, a former West Linn-Wilsonville school board chair, small business owner and nonprofit executive, and Mary Pettenger, who serves on the West Linn-Wilsonville school board’s Long Range Planning Committee.

According to a Washington County government spokesperson, in selecting a new legislator, state law requires votes from county commissioners from all three counties included in a representative’s district. The law also requires the person appointed must be from the same political party as the former legislator for at least 180 days before the vacancy.