Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Newcomer Laure Fowler joined incumbents Jim Gourley, Jim Bean and Eric Markell on the Sweet Home City Council after the Nov. 4 election results were tallied in Linn County last week.
A total of 51,507 of Linn County’s 63,748 registered voters cast ballots – an 80.8 percent turnout.
Voters also approved a measure to establish a service district to fund the Linn County 4-H and Oregon State University Extension programs, re-elected County Commissioner Roger Nyquist to a four-year term and elected Will Tucker to fill the seat on the County Commission vacated by Cliff Wooten.
Councilman Rich Rowley came in fifth in Sweet Home election voting totals, in which only the top four of the five candidates won seats on the council.
Gourley ((1,676 votes), Fowler (1,559) and Bean (1,448) were elected to four-year terms while Markell, who was elected to the council in 2006, got a two-year term by finishing fourth (1,425). Rowley finished with 1,320 votes.
Fowler said she was surprised by the results.
“A friend of mine called and said, ‘You’ve got to see this.’ I didn’t really know what to think.”
Fowler filed for the office believing that one of the current councilors was not going to run again, she said. She was looking for an opportunity to serve in the community and filed for the council.
“I’ve got a lot to learn,” she said. “I don’t know what to expect. I’m excited.”
She thinks it might be an indication that “people might be looking for a change,” she said. She’s not sure what that is, so “I’m going to have to let them tell me.”
She invites residents to call her at (541) 818-0270.
She said she appreciates Rowley’s service, she said.
“I really like him. I think he’s a really nice guy and has a lot to offer.”
Rowley, for his part, said he is planning on sticking around in city government, he said. He has already let the city manager know he wants to apply for one of the open positions on the Budget Committee.
He has served con-tinuously with the city since the early 1990s, including 11 years on the Planning Commission before being appointed to the City Council. He also served for six years on the Sweet Home Economic Development Group Board of Directors.
“The democratic process is a wonderful process,” he said. “I was pleased to participate in it.”
He has enjoyed working with the council, he said.
“I just wish them all well in making the tough decisions that need to be made.”
“I’m excited about the new term and wanting to see if we can work together and get great things accomplished for the city,” Gourley said of his win.
In the races for county commissioner positions 2 and 3, Republican Nyquist defeated challenger Pete Boucot, a Democrat, 28,601 (55.53 percent) to 17,078 votes (33.16 percent). Tucker, also a Republican, defeated Democrat Gordon Kirbey Jr. in a race for Seat 3. Tucker, of Lebanon received 25,143 votes (48.81 percent) to Kirbey’s 18,141 (35.22 percent).
In the race for the 17th District state House seat, Republican incumbent Sherrie Sprenger of Lacomb defeated Democrat Dan Thackaberry of Lebanon 14,250 to 9,438 votes. Phil Barnhart, the Eugene Democrat who represents the 11th House District, which includes Crawfordsville, was unopposed.
State Sen. Frank Girod of Stayton defeated Democrat Bob McDonald of Salem 28,602 to 18,144 votes to retain his 9th District seat for another six years.
Fourth District Congressman Pete DeFazio left two third-party challengers in the dust to win his 12th two-year term in the House of Representatives.
Linn County Measure 22-81, the Linn County ballot measure to establish a service district for the Linn County 4-H and the OSU Extension programs, passed 24,041 votes (46.68 percent) to 22,603 (43.88 percent)
County officials who ran unopposed and were re-elected were Assessor Mark J. Noakes, Surveyor Charles W. Gibbs and Treasurer Michelle Hawkins.
Among the 13 statewide ballot initiatives, the majority of Linn County voters agreed with the statewide outcome on eight. County voters went against the tide on:
– Measure 56, which eliminates the 50-percent voter turnout that was previously required to approve a tax levy. That measure passed statewide 56.6 percent to 43.5 percent compared to the county, where voters rejected it 49.5 to 43.7 percent.
– Measure 58, which would have limited public school instruction in languages other than English to two years. Voters statewide rejected that measure 55.5 to 44.6 percent, whereas it passed in Linn County by a 50.1 to 43.7 percent.
– Measure 61, which created more severe prison sentences for certain theft, identity theft, forgery, drug and burglary crimes. Voters in both the county and the state approved Measure 57, which included drug treatment for offenders and lesser sentences, but the more harsh Measure 61 failed 50.5 to 49.6 percent statewide, though county voters approved it by a wide majority, 57.4 to 37.3 percent.
– Measure 63, which would have exempted certain property owners from building permit requirements for improvements valued at or under $35,000. Statewide, it was voted down 54.2 to 45.8 percent, while in Linn County residents supported it 53.1 to 40.9 percent.
– Measure 64, which would have penalized individuals or entities for using funds collected with “public resources” for “political purposes.” The measure was defeated, 50.5 to 49.5 percent. statewide, while county voters supported it 53.3 to 39.1 percent.