The (early) results are in, and they are encouraging for the two incumbent members of the Canby City Council seeking reelection this year.
Incumbents Sarah Spoon (3,436/18.65%) and Traci Hensley (3,291/17.86%), along with newcomers Christopher Bangs (3,146/17.07%) and Jason Padden (3,022/16.5%) were the leading vote-getters in the early returns of a hotly contested Canby City Council race so far.
Jordan Tibbals and James Hieb were not far behind, with 2,776 votes (15.07%) and 2,755 (14.95%), respectively.
According to the city charter, the top three candidates will win a full four-year term on the council. The fourth-place finisher will finish out the final two years of the term Tracie Heidt originally won in 2018, before stepping down the following year.
Spoon is principal broker for a local real estate firm she owns and is seeking a second term on the council. She was also the leading vote-getter the first time she ran for council in 2016.
“I am humbled and honored that the citizens of Canby entrusted me with another four-year term on city council,” Spoon told The Canby Current Wednesday morning. “I look forward to working with the other councilors as we continue to work toward a more perfect Canby.”
Hensley, who has served on the council since 2011, was a founding member of the Canby Suicide Prevention Task Force and also a volunteer for the American Legion Auxiliary and Operation Snuggle.
“Thank you, Canby!” Hensley posted on her campaign Facebook page Wednesday. “I am honored to continue serving you. I’ve been busy collecting signs today. … Thank you all for your confidence in me and your support.”
Bangs, who filed to run just before the deadline earlier this year, is a longtime government and history teacher at Canby High School.
“I’m looking forward to working on behalf of the city — I love Canby,” Bangs told the Current by phone Tuesday night. “You know, I don’t have an agenda — I’ve said that all along — but I do have some ideas. I’d like to talk about the dog park and some other improvements to the city.”
Bangs said he was pleased to see the two incumbents — “who have done real work for the city in recent years” — be rewarded with the two top slots in early returns, and he said he always appreciated Tibbals and Hieb for stepping up and throwing their hats into the ring.
“That’s really important,” he said. “I was real happy to see that.”
Padden is a broker sales representative for McHutchison Horticultural Distributors, and previously served on the Canby City Council from 2009 to 2011, before stepping down due to work commitments (he had a different job at the time, which required frequent travel).
He has also served on and chaired the Canby Budget Committee, as well as the Canby Urban Renewal Board and a street maintenance task force.
Reached Tuesday evening, he declined comment until more results were in.
Tibbals is a Marine veteran who works in trading grains and commodities, and who has been involved or helped organize several pro-police events in Canby this summer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University.
“I’m truly blessed to have the support and encouragement from the citizens of Canby,” Tibbals said by text. “Proud of every candidate for stepping up to the call of public service, regardless of the results.”
Hieb is the director of the Building Blocks Early Learning Center in Wilsonville, and has served as the elected precinct committee person for voter precinct 124 (North Canby) in House District 39 and treasurer for the Young Republicans of Oregon. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007.
“I am a bit disappointed, but it is not the end of the world,” Hieb told the Current. “I had lots of support and am thankful for all who were there for me. Congratulations to the winners.”
As expected, incumbent Mayor Brian Hodson has won a fifth term in office, with 5,919 ballots cast as of Thursday. The former one-term city councilor was unopposed and has not drawn a challenger since he first won the position from incumbent Randy Carson in 2012.
