There’s a little bit of everything on the May 21 primary election ballot for the more than 41,000 registered voters in Lincoln County – choices for political office and a handful of pocketbook issues.
During a presidential year primary that includes races for low-profile statewide offices, there’s a bit more to chew on for Lincoln County voters. There’s a five-way race for one of three county commission seats, a district attorney contest surprisingly without an incumbent, and money requests by Oregon Coast Community College and the almost-countywide Lincoln County Library District.
But first some basics.
Lincoln County clerk Amy Southwell mailed ballots and a local voter’s pamphlet to 40,441 registered voters in the county. They need to be returned – mailed (no stamp needed!) or put in secure drop boxes at all city halls or the county courthouse — by 8 p.m. May 21.
A sample ballot and voter’s pamphlet have also been online for weeks.
Because it is a primary election, what party – or not – you are registered with determines what ballot you get.
The money requests, the county commission and district attorney’s races are non-partisan, so everyone gets a crack at those.
But like much of Oregon, non-affiliated voters in Lincoln County now outnumber those with party registration. There are 15,447 voters not affiliated with any party in the county – meaning they will not have a choice of candidates running in the closed major party primary races. Nonaffiliated voters outnumber Democrats (13,320), Republicans (8,565), Independent (2,278) and the 831 voters registered with seven minor parties.
Based on previous presidential year primaries, Southwell is estimating a turnout in Lincoln County of between 50 percent and 60 percent.
Here’s a snapshot of the races:
- Lincoln County Commission: A five-term incumbent, Claire Hall, is being challenged by Ryan Parker of Newport, Rick Beasley of Depoe Bay, Don Gomez of Newport and Ty Halbrook of Waldport. For a full story on the race, go here.
- Lincoln County district attorney: First-term incumbent Lanee Danforth pulled out of the race at the last minute, so chief deputy district attorney Jenna Wallace and longtime Newport defense attorney Kathryn Benfield jumped in. For a full story on the race, go here.
- Oregon Coast Community College is seeking approval of a $33.16 million bond to build a trades education center on its Newport campus and also upgrade education, health, aquarium sciences and welding programs, update classrooms and technology and make safety improvements. For a full story on the request, go here.
- The Lincoln County Library District is asking voters in Waldport, Toledo, Siletz, Newport, Lincoln City and unincorporated areas to approve an operating levy of 9 cents per $1,000 assessed property value to replace a levy of the same amount that expires in 2025. For a full story on the request, go here.
- Voters in the city of Newport are being asked to decide a ballot measure that would institute a 5 cent per gallon year-round gasoline tax to replace one that varies from one to three cents depending on the season;
- The Depoe Bay Rural Fire Protection District is seeking a five-year levy of $1.39 per $1,000 assessed property value – 30 cents more than the levy expiring in June 2025 to fund operations and personnel;
- The Gleneden Beach Sanitary District south of Lincoln City is seeking a five-year local option levy of 77 cents per $1,000 assessed property value to renovate and improve its existing infrastructure;
- The city of Toledo is asking residents to approve a $2.65 million bond to replace the 32-yer-old water tank on Ammon Road and would result in a property tax of 35 cents per $1,000 assessed value;
- Two legislative incumbents – Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City and Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, are unopposed in their party’s primaries. Anderson will face Democrat Jo Beaudreau, a Florence city councilor, in the November general election. No Republican filed to challenge Gomberg in November.
Bigger races
There are Republican and Democratic primaries for Oregon attorney general, treasurer and secretary of state. Stories on those candidates are in the “Oregon News” section of YachatsNews.
In the 4th Congressional District, first-term incumbent Val Hoyle is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Amy Ryan Courser of Keizer and Monique DeSpain of Eugene are seeking the Republican nomination to oppose her in November. The 4th district includes all of Lincoln, Benton, Lane, Coos, Curry counties and portions of Douglas County.
Long term housing is an issue affecting the spectrum of labor. I am currently demolishing a place I could have remodeled were it not for street improvement requirements by City of Newport. It sits at the top of a dead end street that the city wants widened, paved and sidewalk installed.
I see that the proposed gas tax will do nothing to help with any of that effort. Ergo, one less available family home, one less potential transient haven and fire hazard, one less insurance burden.
I’m voting for Claire Hall for county commissioner. I went to the LWV Forum, and watched the event in Lincoln City. I’ve also been following the candidates on social media, looking at their endorsements, and just observing. None of Claire Hall’s challengers have convinced me that they could do better than her in this role. Moreover, not one of them seems to even come close to her experience, passion, and nationwide connections. I would seriously consider voting for someone else if I thought there was someone who could at the very least measure up to her. But not one of her challengers has convinced me of this. In fact, each one of them has provoked serious concern about one thing or another.
One crucial point about the college bond measure is that this is a continuation of the existing levy and will not increase tax rates above their current level. If approved, the new bond would kick in when the current bond expires in 2025. The bond costs me, as a Lincoln City homeowner, roughly $30 per year. I think continuing that investment to provide trades education throughout Lincoln County represents tremendous value for money. Please join me on voting yes on Measure 21-224.
Thank you, Yachats News, for providing multiple sources for unbiased information about the candidates and measures we will vote on this month. Well informed voters are the key to an involved electorate, and this means that citizens know they are a meaningful part of the larger community. Good work!
Georgia Roelof, LWV Lincoln County Member