What’s on my November 2026 ballot in West Salem?
By Jules Rogers, The West Side Newspaper
West Salem, Ore. — Many West Salem voters are receiving their ballots in the mail for the upcoming November 3 election.
This fall’s election includes two county commissioners, the county treasurer, the mayor of Salem, four city councilors, and a municipal court judge.
Ballots can be returned by mail or at an official ballot drop site. The closest drop site to West Salem is the Marion County Courthouse, 500 Block Court St. N.E.
Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. Prepare for the November election online at www.co.marion.or.us/CO/elections.
City Positions
Following a May primary win against incumbent Julie Hoy, Vanessa Nordyke is running for mayor of Salem, for a two-year term.
Nordyke is the executive director of CASA of Marion County, which advocates for abused and neglected children in foster care, and is a current city councilor for Salem’s Ward 7. She also has experience serving as the Oregon State Bar president and on its board of governors, as well as serving on the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, SAlem Youth Advisory Commission, Salem Budget Committee, Community Police Review Board, and Social Services Board, according to her filing paperwork. She reported a B.S. in international political economy from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from the University of Oregon’s School of Law.
As for the four-year council positions, Chris Cummings is running against incumbent Micki Varney for councilor of Ward 8.
Cummings has 36 years of experience as a small business owner and CEO of IT services companies, according to his filing records.
Varney reported a background as a research salmon biologist with a B.S. in zoology from Washington State University, a teaching certificate from Central Washington University, and studied fisheries at Oregon State University. She also has experience as a city councilor in Dayton, Washington, as well as in Salem.
Linda Nishioka is running for Ward 2, Dave Inbody is running for Ward 4, and Betsy Vega is running for Ward 6, all uncontested. Eleanor C. Beatty is running uncontested for a four-year term as municipal court judge.
County Positions
In Polk County, incumbent Jeremy Gordon is running against Steve Milligan for county commissioner position 3.
Gordon holds a B.A. in philosophy and sociology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, according to his filing paperwork. He also reported experience as a program manager for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee provost's office, and as a social policy area manager for Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Milligan reported an associate’s degree in accounting from Chemeketa Community College, and five years of experience as a small business owner, 15 years of experience in accounting, and 25 years of experience in plant management, production management, and scheduling.
In Polk County, Soil & Water Conservation District Board Member position for Zone 2 is on the ballot, up for reelection for a four-year term.
According to Sandi Hiatt, grants administration officer/SWCD election clerk with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, no candidate filed to be listed on the Ballot for the Polk SWCD board Zone 2 position, where Lindsay McClary is the current incumbent. Hiatt said the Position is now open for an eligible nominee to file as a write-in until October 20th.
Measures
This November, a measure for a local option tax for the Polk County Fairgrounds and Event Center is on the ballot.
If passed, this measure would authorize the county to levy a five-year local option tax of up to $0.12 per $1,000 assessed value to fund the fairground’s operations, maintenance, and improvements, beginning in 2027. The funds may also be used to improve the electrical system, resurface the parking area, upgrade HVACs, and make improvements and repairs to the facilities.
Properties with assessed values of $300,000 may see an increase in property taxes of $36 per year. If passed, this measure is estimated to generate more than $1 million in 2027, and more than $5.4 million by its expiration in 2031.
If the measure does not pass, the fairgrounds could shut down in December 2026.
Ballots can be dropped at Roth's Fresh Markets, 1130 Wallace Rd NW, Salem, OR 97304