There’s a four-way race for two open seats on the Stayton City Council this election season with three newcomers challenging one incumbent.
As of the Aug. 27 filing deadline, incumbent Councilor Stephen Sims had filed for office as well as challengers Gary Frank, Ken Carey and Luke Bauer.
Incumbent Councilor Ben McDonald, whose seat is also open, announced Aug. 5 he would not seek re-election.
The two candidates who receive the most votes during the Nov. 5 General Election will be declared the winners. Both seats are for four-year terms.
Sims was first appointed to the council in February of 2023 to fill a vacancy created when Mayor Brian Quigley was elected to his current office. Sims had sought a seat on the council during the 2022 election and came in fourth out of five candidates.
Sims served in the U.S. Navy from 1994 until he retired as a commander in 2016. He also previously served on the Stayton Parks and Recreation Board.
Frank is a graduate of Stayton High School and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He currently works as a truck driver for Canyon Contracting.
Frank’s previous experience in public office includes serving as a member of the Sublimity Planning Commission.
Ken Carey owns multiple local businesses including Baked and Loaded Potatoes and Third Avenue Eatery. He also has a background as a school bus driver and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Carey’s previous government experience includes serving on Stayton’s Homeless Task Force. He was also one of the candidates who applied for the open council seat in 2023.
Bauer is an owner of local contracting company Bauer Built Construction and specializes in fencing. He is also a coach with Valley District JBO, a regional junior baseball league.
Bauer did not list any previous government experience.
