Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Two local races and one national will be contested in this year’s primary election on May 16.
Filing deadline for candidates was March 7. Deadline for measures was March 14.
For Linn County Commissioner, position one, three have filed. Incumbent Republican John Lindsey will seek another term against primary challenger Bill Tacy of Lebanon.
Glenda Fleming, a Democrat, faces no opposition in the primary and will run against the Republican primary winner in November.
Tacy is a small business owner and truck driver. Fleming is a research chemist with experience on the Albany City Council and Albany’s Public Safety Commission.
For sheriff, incumbent Tim Mueller will face Michael Spasaro and Keith Leopard, both of Lebanon.
Mueller was appointed sheriff by the Linn County Board of Commissioners on June 1. He has served with the Sheriff’s Office since 1984. He served in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps from 1980 to 1983.
Spasaro is retired from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and is teaching at Linn-Benton Community College. He serves on the Linn County Commission for Children and Families and the Lebanon School District Budget Committee.
Leopard is a former Linn County deputy, who is self-employed in the “transportation industry.”
If any candidate receives a majority of votes on May 16, that candidate will be named the winner, otherwise the top two in the race will face each other in a November runoff.
Incumbent Linn County Clerk Steve Druckenmiller has no challengers in the May 16 election.
For the Fourth Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Peter A. DeFazio is unchallenged in the primary. He will face the winner of the Republican primary in the general election.
Monica Johnson of Eugene will face Jim Feldkamp in the Republican primary. DeFazio defeated Feldkamp two years ago.
For state House District 17, incumbent Republican Jeff Kropf is unchallenged in the primary.
Democrat Dan Thackaberry of Lebanon will face Kropf in the general election.