Salem voters soon can meet and hear from every candidate running to be a Salem city councilor at the latest Salem Reporter Town Hall.

They also will get a chance to observe questioning of Vanessa Nordyke, a second-term councilor now seeking election to be mayor.

The free public event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E. The program also will be broadcast live by Capital Community Media.

TOWN HALL TICKETS: FREE 

“Such public forums are an effective way for people not only to learn about candidates but about the issues facing their community,” according to Editor Les Zaitz, who will moderate the Town Hall.

Public safety, the homeless population and the business environment are major topics in Salem. City officials also have been navigating a role for the city as federal immigration enforcement continues.

The Town Hall will be conducted in two parts.

The first will allow the eight running for council to make brief remarks and then address one question related to city matters.

The candidates include four seeking reelection – Micki Varney, Mai Vang, Linda Nishioka and Deanna Gwyn. Challengers include Manny Martinez, Betsy Vega, Dave Inbody and Chris Cummings.

In the second part, Nordyke will take the stage to face questions from Joe Siess, who reports on city government, and Abbey McDonald, senior reporter who covers homeless and housing issues.

Questions for Nordyke can be sent to Editor Les Zaitz by email at [email protected]. The news staff will make the final selections.

Julie Hoy, the incumbent mayor, won’t participate but acknowledged the invitation.

Hoy has been critical of the mayoral debate conducted by Salem Reporter in 2024.

“The event your organization hosted in the last mayoral race, did not, in my opinion, offer a fair playing field,” Hoy said. “The moderators did not keep the atmosphere collegial or conducive to a fair exchange of ideas.”

In the Town Hall, doors at the theater will open at 5 p.m. to allow people to meet candidates ahead of the event.

The nonpartisan League of Women Voters will also staff a table at the event, providing voter registration forms, the state’s Voting Rights in Oregon handout and other election material.

Ballots for the election go in the mail April 29 and Election Day is Tuesday, May 19. The last day to register to vote in the election is April 28.

NEWS TIP? QUESTION? Email [email protected].

LOCAL NEWS DELIVERED TO YOU: Subscribe to Salem Reporter and get all the fact-based Salem news that matters to you. Fair, accurate, trusted – SUBSCRIBE