Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Millersburg City Council Election 2026
2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's noticeThese 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.
City Council
Vote for up to 2- Nicholas AlexanderSystems analyst at the Oregon Health Authority. His candidate filing lists earlier work at the Oregon Secretary of State, Roseburg Forest Products and the U.S. Navy.1sourced
- Scott CowanIncumbentMillersburg's current mayor, retired from the Albany Fire Department after 30 years. He started volunteering on the City Council in 2000.9sourced
- Mike HickamIncumbentMillersburg city councilor who works in financial management. His candidate filing lists a military background and service on the Millersburg Planning Commission.9sourced
- Chuck WithrowRetired Oregon Department of Corrections officer. His candidate filing lists the U.S. Navy under prior government experience.1sourced
Both seats are elected citywide: voters choose up to two of the four council candidates.
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.
- Governor
- Brett Smith · Pacific Green
- Tina Kotek · Democrat, Working Families
- Christine Drazan · Republican, Libertarian
- U.S. Senate
- David Brock Smith · Republican
- Jeff Merkley · Democrat, Working Families
- Gary Lyndon Dye · Libertarian
- Chris Henry · Progressive, Pacific Green
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.
- Ray HuntCouncilor; term ends December 31, 20277sourced
- Dick PerdueCouncilor; term ends December 31, 20276sourced
- Mark RaumCouncil President; term ends December 31, 20276sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Hiring a new city manager3 sourced facts
Where it standsCity Manager Janelle Booth has resigned and will stay until the end of January; the council put off recruiting her replacement and a new city engineer until after the election.
What's on the tableThe new council will set the job duties, pay and structure for the city manager and city engineer positions and choose who to hire.
- Janelle Booth submitted her resignation as City Manager and will stay until the end of January. City of Millersburg · Oct 13, 2026
- The council decided recruitment for the city manager and city engineer should wait until after the election so newly elected councilors can help decide the details. City of Millersburg · Oct 13, 2026
- The council approved a salary range of $116,000 to $152,000 for the city engineer position (passed 4-1). Millersburg City Council minutes, September 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026
02Water and sewer rates3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council dropped a planned 3 percent sewer increase in January 2026, kept the water increase, and is running a new utility rate study.
What's on the tableThe council will decide future water and sewer rates once the rate study results arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.
- The council voted 4-1 to drop the 3 percent sewer rate increase scheduled for February 1, 2026. Millersburg City Council minutes, January 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026
- A motion to freeze water rates for a year failed 2-2 with one abstention. Millersburg City Council minutes, January 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026
- Staff proposed a subscription rate-study tool costing about $10,000 in its first year, with results expected in late 2026 or early 2027. Millersburg City Council minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
03Utility and sidewalk assistance2 sourced facts
Where it standsIn October 2026 the council approved a water and sewer assistance program and a sidewalk repair assistance program, both paid from the General Fund.
What's on the tableThe council will oversee how the new assistance programs are funded and run.
- The new program cuts 50 percent off base water and sewer charges for qualifying seniors or people with disabilities who meet income limits. City of Millersburg · Oct 13, 2026
- The utility assistance and sidewalk repair programs are funded through the City's General Fund. City of Millersburg · Oct 13, 2026
04Conser Road pedestrian connection1 sourced fact
Where it standsIn August 2026 the council voted 3-2 to move ahead with a path linking the Conser Linear Park trail to the sidewalk near City Hall.
What's on the tableThe council decides which sidewalk and path projects the city pays for and when.
- The council later moved $50,000 from Street Fund contingency to build the path connection. City of Millersburg · Sep 8, 2026
05How the mayor is chosen2 sourced facts
Where it standsIn July 2026 the council discussed letting voters elect the mayor directly and decided not to pursue a charter change.
What's on the tableThe council chooses one of its members as mayor every two years and could refer a charter change to voters.
- The council decided not to pursue charter changes, so it will continue to appoint one of its members as mayor every two years. City of Millersburg · Jul 14, 2026
- Any charter change must go to voters, and the soonest it could be on the ballot is spring or fall 2027. Millersburg City Council minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
No sign-in · answers stay on your phone
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. What should Millersburg do with water rates?
2. Should the city pay now for the Conser Road pedestrian connection?
3. How should the city pay for utility bill help for low-income seniors and people with disabilities?
4. Should Millersburg voters elect the mayor directly?
Key dates
- Last day to register to voteOregon Secretary of StateOct 13, 2026
- Counties begin mailing ballotsOregon Secretary of StateOct 14, 2026
- Election Day (last day to return ballots using a drop box)Oregon Secretary of StateNov 3, 2026
The seat math
3 stay (not up this year): Ray Hunt, Dick Perdue, Mark Raum2 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The City Council has five councilors who serve four-year terms. City of Millersburg
- The council elects the mayor at its first January meeting after a general election, for a two-year term. City of Millersburg
- Millersburg uses the council-manager form of government; the council appoints the City Manager. City of Millersburg
- Council positions are nonpartisan, unpaid and elected at large. City of Millersburg · May 26, 2026
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