City News

Three finalists named for open Ward 7 seat on Salem City Council

Salem city hall (Salem Reporter)

And then there were three.

City leaders on Thursday named Vanessa Nordyke, Reid Sund and Bonnie Heitsch the three finalists to be Ward 7’s voice on Salem City Council.

Salem City Council will likely interview the trio at an Oct. 21 meeting, Salem officials wrote in a press release Thursday. Councilors may make their decision in that same meeting, the press release said.

Whomever they appoint succeeds Sally Cook, who officially resigned Oct. 1. The term expires Dec. 31, 2020. Voters will ultimately decide in 2020 who will take the Ward 7 seat for the next four years.

Twelve people total sought the shortened term, but the city’s Boards and Commissions Appointment Committee unanimously recommended Nordyke, Sund and Heitsch, the press release said.

Mayor Chuck Bennett and councilors Tom Andersen, Brad Nanke and Chris Hoy comprise the committee.

Nordyke and Heitsch are both attorneys with the Oregon Department of Justice. Sund is finance director of Salem Health.

All three have experience in public service. Nordyke and Sund most recently served on Salem’s citizen budget committee, helping council finalize its annual budget. Heitsch was elected to the Salem-Keizer School Board in the late ’90s and served two terms.

Have a tip? Contact reporter Troy Brynelson at 503-575-9930, [email protected] or @TroyWB.

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