Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Corvallis Mayor & City Council Election 2026

9 of 9

council seats up

10 contests

19 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Find a candidate

Mayor · 1 seat

Kimi GatherumWorked at the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Hawaii Department of Health.3sourced
Kasey HaxtonCommunity organizer who worked as a legislative aide for the State of Oregon in 2023.3sourced
Charles MaughanIncumbentMayor of Corvallis since January 2023 and a compliance analyst for Oregon Housing and Community Services.4sourced
Andrew StruthersServed on the Corvallis City Council from 2019 to 2022 and chaired a charter review committee.5sourced

City Council Ward 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 · Unopposed

Jim MoorefieldIncumbentRetired executive director of Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services who serves as Ward 3 City Councilor.6sourced

City Council Ward 4 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 5 · Unopposed

Christine DashiellJP>EN translator and former pre-K to 8th grade assistant language teacher and tutor.3sourced

City Council Ward 6 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 7 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 8 · Unopposed

Carolyn MayersIncumbentWard 8 City Councilor who earlier served as Vice-Chair of the Corvallis Planning Commission.7sourced

City Council Ward 9 · Unopposed

Alexis HammerLegislative and policy manager at the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.3sourced

The mayor and all nine ward seats are on this ballot. Each voter picks one councilor from their own ward and the mayor citywide; the mayor and Ward 7 contests use ranked-choice voting.

2 notes on these statements

Single-candidate contests: Ward 3 (Jim Moorefield), Ward 5 (Christine Dashiell), Ward 8 (Carolyn Mayers) and Ward 9 (Alexis Hammer) each list one candidate. Benton County Elections

Statements quoted from the Benton County Voters' Pamphlet are written by the candidates; the county says it has not verified them for accuracy. Benton County Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCity budget gap and new taxes, Measure 2-159: council size, terms and term limits, Housing rules and fees Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to vote

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

City budget gap and new taxes

Where it standsThe council has not decided how to close the gap. On Sept. 22 it voted 5-3 that the current council will take no vote on new taxes, leaving that decision to the council elected in November.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt a payroll tax, a personal income tax, both, or service cuts to close the gap and help pay for city facilities.

The city projects a budget gap of about $20 million a year arriving as early as 2027. City of Corvallis
The city says a 1% payroll tax would raise roughly $10 million a year and a 0.68% income tax roughly $10 million a year. City of Corvallis
On June 15, 2026 the council passed Resolution 2026-24, on the budget gap and facilities revenue sources, 6-2. Corvallis City Council minutes, 2026-06-15 (in the July 20 meeting packet) · Jun 15, 2026
On Sept. 22, 2026 the council passed Resolution 2026-31, saying the current council will take no vote on potential new taxes, 5-3. Corvallis City Council minutes, 2026-09-22 (in the Oct 5 meeting packet) · Sep 22, 2026
After the Sept. 22 vote the council said it will hold four town hall meetings on the budget gap. KLCC · Sep 27, 2026

Measure 2-159: council size, terms and term limits

Where it standsThe council voted 7-2 on July 20, 2026 to send Measure 2-159 to voters. It is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

What's on the tableVoters, not the council, decide Measure 2-159; the next council would carry out the transition, including drawing six wards by Dec. 31, 2027.

If approved, the measure changes the number of councilors and wards from nine to six and councilor terms from two to four years with staggered elections. City of Corvallis
It would limit councilors and the mayor to three consecutive terms. City of Corvallis
All six councilors would be elected in November 2028, with odd-numbered wards serving an initial two-year term to stagger elections. City of Corvallis
The council voted 7-2 to refer the measure; Councilors Ellis and Shaffer voted no. Corvallis City Council minutes, 2026-07-20 (in the Aug 3 meeting packet) · Jul 20, 2026

Housing rules and fees

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council changed its housing and land development rules to follow 2025 Oregon legislation, and staff plan a broader review of system development charges early next year.

What's on the tableHow far to change development fees, system development charges and zoning rules, and how much city money goes to affordable housing.

On June 15, 2026 the council passed two ordinances amending the Comprehensive Plan housing article and the Land Development Code for 2025 Oregon land use changes, both 8-0. Corvallis City Council minutes, 2026-06-15 (in the July 20 meeting packet) · Jun 15, 2026
On Sept. 22, 2026 the City Manager offered to fold a food truck discussion into a holistic system development charge conversation planned for early next year. Corvallis City Council minutes, 2026-09-22 (in the Oct 5 meeting packet) · Sep 22, 2026

Data centers and license plate readers

Where it standsOregon lawmakers regulated license plate readers in 2026 and may consider a statewide ban on Flock cameras in 2027.

What's on the tableWhether Corvallis adopts its own limits on large data centers and on license plate readers and similar surveillance, or waits for state action.

Senate Bill 1516 of 2026 lets Oregonians sue vendors of automated license plate readers and limits how long police may hold the data. KLCC / Oregon Capital Chronicle · Oct 2, 2026
Two state representatives, Willy Chotzen and Alek Skarlatos, plan to introduce legislation in 2027 to outlaw Flock cameras statewide. KLCC / Oregon Capital Chronicle · Oct 2, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Corvallis faces a multimillion-dollar yearly budget gap. How should the next council close it?
2. Measure 2-159 would cut the council to six wards, set four-year terms and add term limits. Where do you stand?
3. What should the city's main approach to housing be?
4. Should Corvallis restrict license plate readers and similar surveillance technology?
5. How should Corvallis treat large data centers?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Last day to register to voteBenton County ElectionsOct 13, 2026
Local ballots mailedBenton County ElectionsOct 14, 2026
Election DayBenton County ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 9 on this ballot

9 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

The Corvallis City Council has nine councilors, one from each of nine wards, serving two-year terms. City of Corvallis
The mayor chairs the council and votes only in the case of a tie vote of the councilors present. City of Corvallis
The mayor is elected for a four-year term. City of Corvallis
Ranked-choice voting applies this November to the mayor and Ward 7 races; all other Corvallis races are choose-one. Benton County Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026
Measure 2-159 on the same ballot would cut the council from nine to six, lengthen terms to four years and add term limits. City of Corvallis

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