After hearing remarks from as many as 17 residents in a crowded City Council Chamber, City Council members voted Feb. 25 to place a ballot measure on the May election ballot asking how Sweet Home’s mayor should be selected.
The measure will ask voters if they want to have a direct election of the city’s mayor rather than seven elected council members appointing a councilor to the position.
In response to those who may be upset about potential cost to the city for placing the measure on this year’s ballot, resident Vincent Mack mentioned funds recently spent to install several new stop signs and create one-way streets, and resident David Lowman mentioned the city’s recent purchase of the former Santiam Feed building.
Lowman added that if the cost to place the measure on this year’s ballot were to be $10,000, that adds up to $1.297 per registered voter.
“The reason for the urging, why are we pushing this? – because it’s been shoved under the rug, it’s been missed, it’s been let go over and over, and people are starting to feel like their voices aren’t heard,” resident Sherry James said.
Councilor Ken Bronson urged the council to wait and put the measure on the May 2026 election in an effort to be “fiscally responsible.”
Mayor Susan Coleman agreed with that suggestion and added there may be further charter amendments coming down the pike that would also need to be put on a future ballot.
Councilor Dylan Richards responded by saying he believes putting the question on this May’s ballot is the “morally right thing to do” and is a decision the city has put off for decades.
Resident Brandy Wysong-Frick reminded the council that Sweet Home’s population is expanding and said it’s time to adjust to that growth.
“Having a mayor appointed by the council has seemed to work just fine for years, but we are no longer the little town that we were when those decisions were made,” she said. “At this point, we have to look beyond ourselves and our comfort levels in the way things have always been done and make the uncomfortable but inevitable decision to make our mayoral position elected.”
Coleman later remarked that the current system which has the council select the mayor is not due to the population size, but because the council is a “representative form” of government, adding that voters choose their representatives and senators, but they do not choose the Speaker of the House and Senate President.
Councilors Richards, Chelsea Augsburger, Angelita Sanchez and Josh Thorstad voted in favor of placing the question on this May’s ballot, allowing the resolution to pass 4-3.
Officer honored for saving life
Police Chief Jason Ogden honored Officer Daniel Gerkman with a lifesaving medal and certificate for providing care to a resident who suffered a cardiac arrest.
Ogden explained the police department will often listen to scans from other agencies’ frequencies. On Jan. 21 of this year, Gerkman heard a report of a medical emergency through the fire department’s frequencies and quickly responded.
“What is so significant about being able to scan these calls is we’re out in the field already and oftentimes we’re able to show up to do these medical calls and provide lifesaving work at these locations,” Ogden said.
When Gerkman arrived at the location, he found an unresponsive male in the trailer doorway and began administering CPR until medics arrived.
“His swift and decisive action significantly contributed to the patient’s survival and recovery,” Ogden said.
In other business, Ogden reported that society crimes (which tend to be “victimless” crimes such as drug possession, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, etc.) are down 48% from this time last year. Also, person crimes (crimes in which a person is victimized, such as assault, rape, murder, etc.) are down 21% and property crimes are down 6%.