From Salem’s mayor to Oregon’s top law enforcement official, local voters have plenty to weigh in on this month.
Ballots were mailed to voters starting May 1 and need to be postmarked or returned to a drop box by Election Day, May 21.
Some races on the ballot will be settled in May, while others are primaries that determine which candidates advance to the November general election. We’ve noted which are which below so you can understand the impact of your vote.
Salem voters won’t see any local ballot measures in this election.
Salem Reporter has written about contested local races voters will see on their ballots this spring. Here’s a roundup of all our coverage to help you fill out your ballot.
General election information
Here’s an overview of voter registration trends, where to drop your ballot and other voting basics.
Here’s a video explanation from the 2020 election about how Marion County processes your ballot.
City of Salem races
Four city council seats and the mayor’s seat are up for election. All are unpaid volunteer positions, and races are nonpartisan.
Councilors serve a four-year term, and the mayor serves two. Elected candidates will take office in January 2025.
These races are typically settled in May. If one candidate receives more than half of the votes cast, only that candidate is listed on the November ballot.
Mayor
All voters within Salem city limits will have the mayor’s race on their ballot. Mayor Chris Hoy is running for reelection to a second term. His challenger is City Councilor Julie Hoy, a local restaurant owner who was elected to the council in 2022.
Salem Reporter co-hosted a mayoral debate with Salem City Club on April 30 at the Elsinore Theatre. Watch the full debate below.
Council races
Each city councilor represents a geographic area called a ward. Salem is split into 8 wards. Voters will only see a council race on their ballot if they live in ward 1, 3, 5 or 7. Find your ward on the city map here.
Ward 1 – Downtown, north central and Edgewater District in west Salem
Celine Coleman, an epidemiologist for Marion County, is running against Paul Tigan, a city planning commissioner and budget committee member.
Ward 3 – Southeast Salem
Shane Matthews, a Realtor, and Nathan Soltz, a chief of staff in the Oregon Legislature, are seeking the seat representing the Southeast Mill Creek, Fairview and Morningside area.
Ward 5 – Northeast Salem including Highland, Northgate and North Lancaster areas
Irvin Brown, the city’s budget committee chair, is running against Michael Hoselton, a board member of the Northgate Neighborhood Association.
Ward 7 – Southwest Salem, Sunnyslope
City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke is running for reelection unopposed.
Marion County races
Voters have three choices for Marion County Clerk, who oversees local elections, marriage licenses and property deed recording.
Bill Burgess, the county’s longtime clerk, faces challenges from Anna Munson, a retired ultrasound technician and election board worker, and Jo Anne Lepley, the county’s deputy clerk for elections.
If one candidate wins a majority of votes in May, that candidate is listed alone on the November ballot. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two will be listed on the November ballot.
Other county races are uncontested or only appear on the November ballot.
Marion County voters will also select a Marion County Circuit Court judge from among four candidates for the open position 11 seat. Other judges are running uncontested for re-election.
Polk County races
County Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst is seeking a second term, facing Roxanne Beltz, a Monmouth city councilor with a background in transportation planning. The race is nonpartisan.
Other county races are uncontested or won’t appear on the ballot until November.
Other resources
Want to learn more about local candidates?
Marion County voters should have received a Voter’s Pamphlet by mail. The pamphlet is also available online. Polk County does not produce a voter’s pamphlet, but the Secretary of State produces a Polk County version which includes statements from local candidates. That pamphlet is online here.
The State of Oregon Voter’s Pamphlet has also been mailed to voters and can be viewed online here.
CC:Media, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties, has interviews with local candidates available online.
The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum for city candidates was held April 8 and can be viewed here.
