NEWPORT – The race to see who will replace Lincoln County Commissioner Doug Hunt got crowded even before he officially announced his retirement last week.
Hunt announced at the end of last week’s commission meeting that he would retire in December after 10 years – two years as an appointee and eight years as elected – on the three-member commission.
But it was common knowledge that Hunt, a former banker, was not going to seek re-election, prompting five people to file for the position before he officially announced his retirement. Those are:
- Greg Holland, the mayor of Waldport who served on the city council there for 12 years before his election in 2020;
- Casey Miller of Newport, the current county public information officer;
- Mitch Parsons, a member of the city council in Lincoln City;
- Carter McEntee of Newport, a member of the family that operates Mo’s Seafood and Chowder retaurants; and
- Steve Sparks of Depoe Bay, a retired technology manager and organizer of a child and family trauma recover group.
Commissioner Kaety Jacobson is also up for re-election and has yet to draw an opponent.
Also on the Lincoln County ballot is the circuit court judgeship currently held by Sheryl Bachart, and positions of county clerk and county treasurer. Amy Southwell of Toledo has filed for county clerk and no one has yet filed for the judicial or treasurer’s position.
Candidates have until March 8 to file for the May 17 primary election. If no one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, then the top two proceed to the November general election.
Candidate filings and other May primary election information is on the Lincoln County clerk’s website.
Not excited about any of them. Same old same old.