The five-term mayor of Canby and two sitting councilors are the lone filers in their respective races in the November general election, with one month remaining before the filing deadline closes.
Canby Mayor Brian Hodson filed the paperwork last week to seek a sixth term in office. He has served as mayor for a decade along with two years as a city councilor.
“All in all, I just enjoy being the mayor,” Hodson told the Current this weekend. “I enjoy the work and I’m very excited to continue that work in the capacity of mayor. It’s always my goal to listen to the community feedback and make what we feel are good decisions for the city of Canby to be successful and thrive.”
Incumbent Councilor Greg Parker has also served a dozen years on the Canby City Council and was the first to file for the November election last month. He is seeking a fourth term.
And the council’s newest member, Art Marine, has also thrown his hat into the ring. The longtime mortgage banker and civic organizer in April became the latest appointee to a seat that has been a veritable revolving door in recent years, having been held by five different people since former Councilor Tracie Heidt first won it in 2018.
“I have enjoyed my time on City Council so far and every day I learn more about our city and the choices we face,” he said. “I have also learned that helping guide the city in the right direction is a process that will take time.
“It would be impossible to have a consequential impact in the remaining months of my term. With that realization, I have decided to run for re-election and help finish the job we have started.”
The term of incumbent Councilor Shawn Varwig is also set to expire this year, and he has not publicly indicated whether he will seek re-election. The council positions are all four-year terms while the mayor serves for two years. The winners of the mayor and council races will be sworn in in January 2023.
Nomination papers will be accepted through August 25. Candidates interested in beginning the process should schedule an appointment with City Recorder Melissa Bisset at 503-592-6922 or BissetM@CanbyOregon.gov.
Qualified candidates must be a resident of the city of Canby during the 12 months immediately preceding the election, must be a registered voter in the state of Oregon, and may not be employed by the City of Canby.
For more information, including information on how to file, visit the city’s website.
Interest in the positions has been light through the first two months of filing, a marked change from November 2020’s fiercely contested council races.
Appointments for vacant seats on the council have also been widely sought in recent years, drawing as many as a dozen applicants.
