With the filing deadline looming for the already crowded Canby City Council race, a sixth candidate has thrown his hat into the ring: Jordan Tibbals.
Tibbals is a Marine veteran who works in trading grains and commodities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University.
Earlier this summer, he organized and spoke at a pro-police event supporting first responders at Wait Park.
He also participated in a similar flag waving demonstration with current Canby City Councilor Shawn Varwig (who is not up for re-election this year) on the Interstate 5 overpass at the Canby/Charbonneau exit several weeks later.
In March, he spoke at a Canby City Council meeting discussing a requested local proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility. Tibbals called for, instead, a “Canby Unity Day,” where all citizens of Canby are celebrated.
Tibbals joins a field of candidates that includes Council President Tim Dale and current councilors Traci Hensley and Sarah Spoon, along with newcomers James Hieb and Jason Padden. A fourth incumbent, Trig Berge, has not yet filed to keep his seat.
Incumbent Mayor Brian Hodson, who is the executive director of an Avamere senior care facility, has also filed to seek a fifth term in office, with no challengers as of yet. The former city councilor has not drawn an opponent since he first won the position from the one-term incumbent Randy Carson in 2012.
Councilors serve four-year terms, with their expiration dates alternating such that three of them normally open every two years. The fourth seat in this election is the result of former Councilor Tracie Heidt’s resignation last year.
Trig Berge was appointed to replace her, but per the city charter, his appointment was only until the next city election — not the full unexpired term.
Councilors are elected at large, meaning the top three vote-getters (or in this case, the top four) will win the open seats. In this case, the candidate with the fourth-most votes will serve only the remaining two years of Heidt’s original term.
The mayor of Canby serves only a two-year term. All city offices are nonpartisan.
Qualified candidates for City Council or mayor must have lived within the city limits of Canby for at least 12 months and be a registered voter. They must not be a city of Canby employee.
Those interested in running should review the candidate packet on the city website, and file the appropriate paperwork with City Recorder Melissa Bisset.
Filing will be open until 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20. For more information or questions, Bisset at 503-266-0733 or bissetm@canbyoregon.gov.