Salem City Council set for a shake-up in 2022. Here's who's in, and who's out so far
Whitney Woodworth
Mayor Chuck Bennett and councilors Jim Lewis and Tom Andersen have announced they are not running for reelection, setting up the Salem City Council for a major shake-up in 2022.
Two candidates — planning commissioner Casey Kopcho and college instructor Hollie Oakes-Miller — have officially filed to run. Kopcho is running to represent South Salem and Oakes-Miller is running for mayor.
Several others are rumored to be entering the political fray but have not yet submitted a candidate filing with the city or created a statement of organization with the Oregon Secretary of State's Office.
Spots in Ward 2 in south-central Salem, Ward 4 in South Salem, Ward 6 in northeast Salem and Ward 8 in West Salem are up for election in 2022.
However, there's plenty of time — the deadline to file to run isn't until March.
'I've accomplished a lot'
Bennett first confirmed his decision to not seek a fourth term to the Statesman Journal Monday.
"I hit a point where I've done as much as needed to and I've accomplished a lot of the goals I set for myself," he said.
Bennett said he's proud of what's been accomplished since he was first elected to mayor in 2016.
He said a robust approach to homelessness is underway, businesses are thriving, a new police station and renovated library were completed, the economic outlook is positive and major additions like the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge and the Gerry Frank Rotary Amphitheater are making downtown Salem a desirable place to live and visit.
"I've had a really good six years," Bennett said. "I feel very good about the production of activities and my relationship with city management and other councilors. So I hope to leave on an upside, not the downside."
After six years as mayor, nine years on the council, 10-15 years on various city boards and time in the state Legislature, Bennett, 73, said he does not intend to seek future office and will instead focus on volunteer opportunities and spending time with his family.
He said it's time to step aside and let new ideas and approaches into leadership. He said he plans on endorsing a candidate and hopes voters take experience into account when electing the next mayor.
"I'm so honored to have had the opportunity to be mayor of Salem," he said. "It was something I've wanted to do since I was a city hall reporter almost 50 years ago."
Andersen to seek legislative office
Councilor Tom Andersen, of Ward 2 in south-central Salem, said he will not seek re-election and will instead run as a Democrat in the primary for the newly redistricted House District 19 in the Oregon Legislature.
The seat is currently occupied by Republican Rep. Raquel Moore-Green.
House District 19 has been a stronghold of Republicans for more than two decades, but recent districting efforts have moved the more conservative areas of Turner, Aumsville and neighbors east of Salem outside city limits into other districts.
According to the new legislative maps, House District 19 is now comprised of neighbors in Andersen's Ward 2, South Salem and southeast Salem.
Andersen's move to the legislative race has left the spot on council open without an incumbent for the first time since 2014.
Andersen, a trial lawyer, won the 2014 election against a Salem Area Chamber of Commerce-back candidate and has held the seat since.
Lewis offered conservative perspective
Councilor Jim Lewis, who represents Ward 8 in West Salem, told the Statesman Journal last week he also would not be running in 2022.
"I will not be seeking reelection," he said. "After 10 years on the Planning Commission and eight years on council, I will be moving on."
Lewis was first elected in 2014 and won reelection in 2018. A proponent of building a third bridge across the Willamette River in Salem and the executive vice president of the Salem Association of Realtors, he often was a more conservative voice on the council.
Previous coverage:Jackie Leung, Jim Lewis secure Salem City Council seats
Promising a clear vision
Casey Kopcho, a principal auditor for the Oregon Secretary of State, has filed to establish a campaign fund to represent Ward 4.
Jackie Leung currently represents Ward 4 after defeating incumbent Steven McCoid in 2018. Leung did not respond to multiple requests for comment on whether she intends to run for reelection or seek other office.
A progressive voice during her time in city leadership, Leung ran as a Democrat to represent House District 19 in 2020. She lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Raquel Moore-Green.
According to her biography from Oregon State University, Leung is in the PhD program in Public Health/Global Health at OSU, and worked as a community organizer and community health worker at the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon Communities United Fund.
Kopcho said he aligns with many of Leung's positions and wants to bring more accountability along with a focus on homelessness, housing availability and economic recovery to the council.
"After a lot of thought, input from community members, and conversations with my family, I have decided to become a candidate for City Council," Kopcho said. "The last few years have added a lot of challenges to Salem's plate and I feel my unique blend of knowledge and experience will help guide the city in the right direction for the future."
Kopcho moved to Salem in 2017 with his wife and two children.
Detailed plans for his platform can be found on his campaign site at caseykopcho.com.
Kopcho has served on the city's Planning Commission, the Climate Action Task Force, and the Community Policing Audit Steering Committee and on the board of directors for the non-profit Music Lessons Project and Salem-Keizer NAACP.
He said with a growing community and multiple crises, including homelessness, civil rights, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and economic recovery, Salem is at a critical point and must have a clear vision for the future.
"I believe I can deliver that vision and accountability," Kopcho said.
He pointed to specific challenges facing Ward 4 like connectivity to the rest of the city's public transportation and housing affordability.
Kopcho said his background in auditing as well as his experiences working his way through college and working minimum-wage, service-industry jobs give him the perspective to address the challenges faced by residents.
"Salem is the third-largest city in Oregon by population and the state capital," he said. "It's time we act like it, start leading by example, and set the bar high for cities everywhere, not just Oregon."
The remaining councilor up for reelection, Chris Hoy in Ward 6, did not respond to inquiries on whether they would be seeking reelection.
Seeking the top city spot
Hollie Oakes-Miller, who ran for Ward 5 in 2020 and lost against current councilor Jose Gonzalez, submitted a candidate filing with the city stating her intention to run for mayor.
In 2020, Oakes-Miller initially held the lead but ultimately lost to Gonzalez in the close race.
She announced her candidacy on her Facebook page on Oct. 28.
"I continue to be incredibly humbled by the outpouring of grassroots community support for me to run for this critical office," Oakes-Miller said. "With your support, I know that we will win this seat and use it to transform our city into what we know it can and should be. Solidarity forever!"
She told the Statesman Journal in 2020 that as a grandmother, climate change and environmental science teacher at Portland Community College and community organizer with the Salem Democrat Socialists of America, she wanted to be the voice of the working class and poor people in northeast Salem.
Homelessness topped her list of issues facing the city, along with climate change, environmental justice, housing justice, social equity and disaster preparedness.
"My supporters and I believe that Salem needs a mayor that is embedded in the working class and willing to stand up for the values and needs of working people and their families," Oakes-Miller said on Monday. "For too long the mayor of Salem has ignored and silenced the voices of the community that he was elected to serve. I am a teacher, a scientist, and an active community- and union-organizer, not a politician, which means that I view city leadership and community service very differently than your typical candidate for political office."
Status of others unclear
All council positions and the mayor's seat are unpaid, nonpartisan positions. Mayoral terms are two years, and councilors' terms are four years.
Typically in the past, sitting city councilors have run for mayoral office.
As of Monday, no filings or social media releases have been made by sitting councilors signaling their intentions.
Record-breaking amounts of campaigns funds have been spent on recent council elections, with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations coming from special interest groups and political action committees.
Previous coverage:Salem City Council campaign spending breaks records, $200K in contributions
In past elections, candidates typically spent about $10,000 on their campaigns, but recent years saw this number double, triple and sometimes climb to nearly $70,000 for a single campaign.
Sept. 9 was the first day to file to run for city office in the May 17 primary election. Candidates must file the needed documents, including a filing form, signature sheets and petition submission with the city recorder's office by March 8.
Those interested in running for city office are encouraged to set up an appointment to review important filing deadlines, paperwork and process questions with the city recorder. More information is available online at cityofsalem.net/Pages/run-for-elected-city-office.aspx.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth