Category City Hall
VOTE 2026: Meet your candidates for Salem City Council Ward 8
Councilor Micki Varney, a retired fish biologist, is running to secure another four years as West Salem’s city councilor. Challenging her for a second time is local business owner Chris Cummings, who narrowly lost the primary race against Varney in 2022.
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VOTE 2026: Meet your candidates for Salem City Council Ward 6
Councilor Mai Vang, an attorney, is running for a full term on the Salem City Council after winning the seat in a 2025 special election. Challenging her is business owner Betsy Vega.
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CITY MEETING: Council considers Salem’s strategic plan, downtown programs
Salem city councilors are taking up plans to improve downtown, a new strategic plan and another federal grant to subsidize air travel at their Monday, April 27 meeting.
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Nishioka proposes downtown ambassador team to help businesses address homelessness
Salem City Council President Linda Nishioka on Monday, April 27, will pitch a new ambassador team for downtown that would help area businesses address some of their lingering issues related to homelessness without having to make 911 calls. Nishioka said that like many things, the trick to getting such a team would be figuring out how to fund it.
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WHAT’S AT STAKE: How city council races could impact Salem’s development
Both conservatives and progressives agree that Salem needs more housing and generally want to cut red tape to bring in more development. But the sides often differ on how far the city should go to accommodate developers — and many aspects of development are outside direct council control.
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CITY MEETING: City council approves $1 million land deal for affordable housing
Salem city councilors Monday unanimously authorize a land deal to acquire about an acre of land at Northeast Evergreen Avenue currently owned by Northwest Human Services.
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Differing approaches on homelessness, development come into focus at chamber council debate
The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce held a candidate debate forum Monday, April 13, featuring all eight candidates for city council. It focused primarily on homelessness, housing and development, and navigating the city’s budgetary woes.
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CITY MEETING: City council to consider $1 million land deal for affordable housing
Salem city councilors will consider voting Monday to authorize a land deal to acquire about an acre of land at Northeast Evergreen Avenue currently owned by Northwest Human Services.
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City budget proposal calls for new police to focus on downtown, drug trafficking
A city manager budget proposal released Friday, April 10, would continue Salem’s pilot programs for homeless camp outreach and clean-ups, as well as a fire department crisis team.
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