Good morning…..
So, now it’s time for voters to do their duty.
Ballots have gone out in Marion and Polk counties for is consequential election.
That’s not always the case in off-year elections, but this one features the city of Salem’s tax levy. We have reported on about the financial circumstances of the city, and we’ll be doing more.
But Chemeketa Community College also is asking for help. The college wants voters to keep a tax in place rather than let it expire.
And local citizens are running to serve you on the Salem City Council and the Salem-Keizer School Board.
Our team has been interviewing all the candidates. We’ve been sharing with you important accounts. We don’t give you generalities. We tell you where they stand on issues, holding them to specifics because that’s what you deserve.
Joe Siess, our city government reporter, introduces you to three people who want a seat on the Salem City Council.
We keep adding such coverage into one place so it’s easy to find what you are interested in. Ballots are due Tuesday, May 20.
READ IT: 2025 Election coverage
And before we get to the other news of the day, I want to repeat what I said in a newsletter on Friday about our role in elections.
At Salem Reporter, we don’t endorse political candidates or take stands on measures.
From our founding, we have not published opinion pieces because our readers make clear what they want from us.
Let me be clear: We take no position. None.
Our duty is to give you the facts on issues and candidates. Acting on your behalf, we question candidates to probe their views on subjects that matter to the community. We share what they tell us so you can judge for yourself who to support or oppose.
We treasure our independence. We treasure the trust of our readers. We will squander none of it picking sides in political campaigns.
What Salem Reporter does allow is political advertising. That is a business function of ours. The news team has nothing to do with such advertising – no say in who advertises, where ads appear.
Let me know if you ever have concerns or questions about our political coverage.
Now, on to the other news of Salem.
•The superintendent of the Salem-Keizer School District joined other school leaders in Oregon to push back forcefully on Trump administration actions.
•Funding challenges leads the Salem Housing Authority to end a program it considers successful in helping homeless residents.
•Marion County is once again fielding a team to respond to people suffering a mental health crisis, restoring service ended last year. A mental health and a sheriff’s deputy will be assigned.
•Salem’s city budget problems didn’t develop overnight. We explain how the city is millions short of covering its costs.
•Sizable protests are regularly occurring in Salem these days, and our team was at last week’s May Day event.
•A heavy police presence disrupted life in a section of West Salem last week. A teenager is now accused of firing off a gun that afternoon.
•Find out what’s showing at Salem galleries and museums in May with our monthly roundup.
HAVE A COMMENT? SUGGESTION?
Have thoughts about our reporting? A story we should do? A person we should profile? Or do you have questions about how we do our work? You’re welcome to send me an email – I read every one of them. Email: [email protected].
–Les Zaitz, Editor and co-founder
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