Primary Election Schedule
The Linn County Clerk’s Office will mail local ballots by April 29. April 27. Ballots must be postmarked by May 17 or deposited at a drop site. Drop sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Drop sites in Lebanon include:
♦ Justice Center, 40 N. 2nd St.; Public Library, 55 Academy St.; Linn County Sheriff Lebanon Substation,
2950 S. Main St.
♦ A 24-hour drive-through drop box is located at the Linn County Courthouse, in the 300 block of 5th Ave. (back side), until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
This is a big year for some elections for political office in east Linn County.
In addition to the governor’s race, which will have 34 candidates on the May 17 primary ballot, the fields are large in some local races.
That’s thanks, in part, to redistricting, which created a new U.S. House of Representatives district for Oregon and moved east Linn County communities from the 4th into the 5th Congression-al District, from the 17th to the 11th Oregon House District, and from the 9th state Senate District (represented by Fred Girod) to the 6th.
Two bond measures will be on the ballot for Lebanon residents: a $20 million bond to fund a new pool facility and school improvements in Lebanon School District, and a $16 million request for Linn-Benton Community College for a new agricultural training center and facility improvements.
Some local races won’t be contested until November, since there are only two candidates.
That will be the case in the Sheriff’s election between incumbent Michelle Duncan and challenger Jon Raymond of Lebanon.
Incumbent Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker and challenger Scott B. Bruslind, of Lebanon, are the only ones in the race for the Position 1 seat, so they will face off in November.
In the race for the state Senate 6th District, in which east Linn County communities now are located after redistricting, Cedric R. Hayden, of Lowell, a Republican who is currently 7th District state representative, is running uncontested against Democrat Ashley J. Pelton of Cottage Grove. They will face off in November. Current 6th District state Sen. Lee Beyer is stepping down.
In the other contested local election for a state office, for the 11th District state House seat, Jami Cate, who was redistricted out of her previous District 17 seat, will be the closest to an incumbent, facing off against Tyler Collins in the Republican primary. The current incumbent in HD-11, Rep. Marty Wilde, D-Eugene, does not live in the newly re-drawn HD-11 and is not seeking another term in the legislature. Four Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination (see page 25.)
Another race that has drawn a large field is for the 5th U.S. Congressional District, into which redistricting has placed east Linn County. Incumbent Kurt Schrader, a Democrat, is facing off against Jamie McLeod-Skinner in the Democratic primary, while five candidates are seeking the Republican nomination. (See page 26.)
Two online resources for coverage of the governor’s race and other statewide position elections are oregoncapitalchronicle.com or oregoncapitolinsider.com.