GearhartNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Gearhart City Council Election 2026

2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 3 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 3 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Election Day: ballots due by 8 p.m. (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

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

All Gearhart voters choose one councilor for Position 1 and one for Position 3; the mayor and the councilors in Positions 2 and 4 stay on the council.

Election Day: ballots due by 8 p.m. · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Lodging tax increase3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council held a public hearing on raising the transient lodging tax in September 2026 and continued it to its October meeting.

What's on the tableThe council decides whether to adopt an ordinance raising the lodging tax, and by how much.

02Fire station and public safety buildings3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn May 2026 voters rejected Measure 4-239, a bond of up to $10 million for city facilities, with 61.83% voting no.

What's on the tableThe council decides how to deal with the fire station and other public safety buildings after the bond failed.

03City budget and revenue3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted a 2026-27 budget of $7,925,836 in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe council decides how to close the gap between revenue and spending, including any new fees or taxes.

04Water rates and supply3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council approved a 10% water rate increase that took effect July 21, 2026.

What's on the tableThe council sets water rates and decides how to pay for the water system.

05Land divisions and zoning updates3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn August 2026 the Planning Commission approved the tentative plan for the seven-lot Gearhart Garden Subdivision.

What's on the tableThe council decides on zoning code amendments, including how partitions and subdivisions are processed.

2 notes on these statements

There are no incumbents in this race: Position 1 is held by Councilor Dana Gould and Position 3 by Councilor Preston Devereaux, and neither is running again. The Astorian · Sep 29, 2026

Jack Zimmerman wrote in a guest column that he is running as a write-in candidate against Virginia Dideum for Position 3. Seaside Signal guest column · Oct 14, 2026

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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. 1. How much should Gearhart raise its tax on short-term lodging stays?

  2. 2. How should Gearhart close its budget gap?

  3. 3. Should Gearhart raise water rates to pay for its water system?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted4 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Paulina Cockrum, Sharon Kloepfer, Kerry Smith2 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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