McMinnville, ORVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

McMinnville City Council Election 2026

3 of 6

council seats up

3 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council Ward 1 · Unopposed

City Council Ward 2 · Unopposed

City Council Ward 3 · 1 seat

Voters elect one councilor in each of Wards 1, 2 and 3; Wards 1 and 2 have a single candidate each.

2 notes on these statements

Abigail Neilan is unopposed in Ward 1 and Zack Geary is unopposed in Ward 2; Ward 3 is the only contested race. News-Register · Sep 4, 2026

Carson Benner was appointed to the Ward 3 seat in April 2026 on a 3-2 vote of the council. McMinnville City Council special meeting minutes, April 8, 2026 · Apr 8, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Chris ChenowethCouncilor, Ward 1; term ends December 20288sourcedScott CunninghamCouncilor, Ward 3; term ends December 20288sourcedKim MorrisMayor; term ends December 20282sourcedDan TucholskyCouncilor, Ward 2; term ends December 20288sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesAffordable housing and land supply, City fees and rates, Parks and recreation bondKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Last day to register to vote

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Affordable housing and land supply

Where it standsThe council approved a development agreement for affordable housing on city-owned land in June 2026, and passed an ordinance on land-use efficiency measures on first reading in January.

What's on the tableHow the city uses its own land and fee tools for affordable housing, and how it plans land for future homes and jobs.

City fees and rates

Where it standsThe council adopted annual increases to planning, engineering, building and sewer fees in May through July 2026, none unanimously.

What's on the tableNext year's fee schedules and sewer rates, and whether to keep fee reductions for affordable housing.

Parks and recreation bond

Where it standsAfter an earlier $98.5 million bond failed, the council reviewed a scaled-down concept in June 2026 and favored a May 2027 election.

What's on the tableThe final design, cost and timing of a new bond proposal for a parks and recreation facility.

Tree and scenic view protection

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council directed staff to return with an ordinance limited to tree groves and scenic views, with no formal vote taken.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt a tree grove overlay and scenic view policies, and separately whether to require permits to remove large trees.

Street improvements on land divisions

Where it standsThe council adopted Ordinance 5174 on a 4-3 vote in May 2026 and then directed staff to review the code on minor partition improvements.

What's on the tableWhen owners dividing land must build sidewalks and street improvements or post a bond for them.

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. Should the city use land it owns, with fee reductions, to get affordable housing built?

  2. 2. When staff propose annual increases to permit, building and sewer fees, what should the council do?

  3. 3. Should the city put a bond for a new parks and recreation facility before voters?

  4. 4. How should the council approach growth and housing supply?

  5. 5. When a lot is divided into parcels, should the owner have to build sidewalks and street improvements at that stage?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Chris Chenoweth, Scott Cunningham, Kim Morris, Dan Tucholsky3 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • The council has six councilors from three wards, with two councilors listed for each ward. City of McMinnville
  • The Mayor presides over council meetings and only votes in the case of a tie vote by the city councilors. City of McMinnville
  • The winners of the 2026 council elections will serve four-year terms. City of McMinnville
  • The mayor's page on the city site says the current Mayor ran for Mayor in 2024, and lists her term as expiring 12/31/2028. City of McMinnville

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