A Marion County ballot for the 2022 primary election (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
The May 17 election is a primary, but several local races, including the Salem’s next mayor, will likely be settled with vote.
Here’s all of Salem Reporter’s 2022 local election coverage in one place to help you fill out your ballot.
City candidate Q&As
VOTE 2022: Q&A with mayoral candidates Chris Hoy, Chane Griggs
Hoy is the current city council president, state representative and a former law enforcement officer. Griggs is chair of the city’s planning commission and a former assistant director of the Oregon Department of Corrections. Here’s where they stand on major city issues.
VOTE 2022: Q&A with ward 8 candidates Chris Cummings, Micki Varney
Cummings, an IT business owner; and Varney, a salmon biologist and current city councilor, are running for the west Salem seat.
VOTE 2022: Q&A with ward 6 candidates Julie Hoy, Stacey Vieyra-Braendle
Hoy, a singer and restaurant owner; and Vieyra-Braendle, an occupational therapist, are running the east Salem seat on the city council.
VOTE 2022: Q&A with ward 4 candidates Dynee Medlock, Deanna Gwyn
Gwyn, a real estate broker, and Medlock, a network specialist, are running for an open seat representing south central Salem on the city council.
VOTE 2022: Q&A with ward 2 city council candidate Linda Nishioka
Linda Nishioka is running unopposed to represent south central Salem, Ward 2, on the Salem City Council. We asked for her views on homelessness, affordable housing, bringing jobs to Salem and more.
City race coverage
Salem gets a true mayor’s race involving two civic veterans
An expensive race for Salem mayor has drawn candidates positioning themselves as qualified to tackle homelessness, livability and the development of affordable housing in Salem: Chris Hoy, Salem City Council president, and Chane Griggs, Salem Planning Commission chair.
Salem council candidate Deanna Gwyn has rarely voted, records show
The south Salem real estate broker, one of two candidates for Ward 4, has voted just twice in the past decade, missing the 2016 and 2018 general elections along with primaries and special votes. Her voting record is unique among the nine candidates running for city offices.
Other local and state races
A court-appointed lawyer in Marion County, Spencer Todd seeks to unseat sitting District Attorney Paige Clarkson, motivated by frustrations with the office’s work under her leadership. Clarkson, seeking a second term, believes her two decades of experience as a prosecutor makes her the more qualified candidate.
Commissioner Pope, former Dallas Councilor Garus contend for Polk County Board seat
Craig Pope believes his decade-plus experience and relationships developed as a Polk County commissioner warrant his re-election to Position 2. Four years after resigning from the Dallas City Council, Micky Garus said he filed for the seat because the county is in need of better service from its elected officials.
Candidates for Oregon governor tackle state issues in unique Q&A
Issues from crime and safety to climate change to education were put to every candidate running for governor in Oregon. Here’s how they responded in a statewide media collaboration in which Salem Reporter participated.
Voting 101
VOTE 2022: What to know about the May 17 primary election in Salem
Even though it’s a primary, several local races, including the city’s next mayor, will likely be settled in May. Here’s Salem Reporter’s guide to what’s on your ballot and how to check or change your voter registration.
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