The mayoral and City Council races in Corvallis are all but set.
Monday was the final day for candidates to turn in their required signatures. The signatures of mayoral candidate Dean Codo have been certified and those of fellow mayoral contender Riley Doraine are awaiting confirmation, leading to the possibility of a four-person race for the position, including incumbent Biff Traber. Also running is four-term Ward 2 Councilor Roen Hogg.
There will be only five contested races in the nine wards as Ward 7 candidate Jacob Baltzell did not turn in his signatures. Baltzell also did not respond to requests for information about this campaign from the Gazette-Times. Two-term incumbent Bill Glassmire will be running unopposed in the northwest Corvallis district.
Here is some biographical and campaign information on the late-qualifying candidates. See the information box for the full list for the Nov. 6 election.
People are also reading…
• Codo, a retired community volunteer who has worked with Willamette Riverkeeper and the Corvallis Bicycle Collective, said he is running “because I am disgusted with the polite insincerity. In Corvallis we have the most noble words on paper but lack the courage to bring the those words to life. Words minus action equals zero.”
Key priorities for Codo include muffling the exhaust noise of racing vehicles on city streets; replacing the Public Works director; reducing homelessness by 65 percent in four years; balancing the budget; and discussing police behavior, the law and a new jail.
• Doraine, a prep cook and dishwasher at the Peacock, said she has been homeless and is “fed up with watching people slip through the cracks. I am navigating my way back to stability and I want to make sure others have the resources and help they need to succeed as well.”
Doraine also said the city should host more events, “which would be a great source of revenue and tourism. … The revenue from having more and bigger city-run events could help make necessary improvements to infrastructure and offer more robust services.”
• Jan Napack, a retired research associate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Oregon State University, is running against retired pastor Steve Lee in Ward 1. Three-term Councilor Penny York is retiring from the seat.
Napack, who has lived in Corvallis since 1975, said that her recent retirement allows her to “act on my long-held desire to serve on the City Council.”
Napack has run small businesses in Albany and Corvallis, and said she can use her business expertise and analytical approach to help “understand issues (and) solve problems.”
• Rachell Hoffman, business manager for the Corvallis Odd Fellows Lodge, has joined the crowded race in Ward 3. Also running are first-term incumbent Hyatt Lytle and political organizer Mika Goodwin.
Hoffman, a graduate of Corvallis High School and Oregon State University, said “I believe in and love this community and I love living in South Town. I think it is a secret gem. I have lived in South Town for four years and love the fact that there is such a diverse group of neighbors and families.”
Hoffman favors the urban renewal process that is underway in South Corvallis.
“I believe in positive growth for the area,” she said. “It’s happening whether we like it or not. So let’s embrace it but also manage it so we don’t lose the small town feel we have here. With good design we can make this a beautiful entrance to Corvallis.”
Contact reporter James Day at jim.day@gazettetimes.com or 541-758-9542. Follow at Twitter.com/jameshday or gazettetimes.com/blogs/jim-day.