Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Stayton Mayor & City Council Election 2026
4 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 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 3- Casey FalconerJourneyman electrician at ZAP Electric in Salem, with no prior government experience listed. He says he has served several times as president of his HOA board.4sourced
- Leonard HaysIncumbentStayton city councilor appointed in November 2025, retired after a State of Oregon career. He lists two years on the Stayton Budget Committee as prior government experience.9sourced
- Mark KronquistMarketing director who served on the Stayton City Council from 2017 to 2022. Our Town Santiam reports he currently serves on the Public Arts Committee.4sourced
- Josh MulhollemState of Oregon government program manager with 12 years of public sector experience. He lists program management for two state natural resource agencies and no prior government office.4sourced
- David A. NielsonRetired journeyman electrician and project foreman who served one earlier term on the Stayton City Council. He lists the Budget Committee, Parks Board and Charter Review Committee as prior government service.3sourced
- David PattyIncumbentStayton city councilor since January 2019 and an investigator for the State of Oregon. He lists past work as a crime analyst for Oregon State Police and an Oregon Department of Corrections officer.8sourced
All voters choose the mayor and up to three of the six council candidates; councilors are elected at large and the top three vote-getters win.
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.
What the next council decides
01Annexation and new housing4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council has approved several annexations for housing in 2026, often by split votes, and an E. Pine Street annexation failed 3-3 in September.
What's on the tableThe new council will rule on further annexation and zone-change requests, including the E. Pine Street application.
- Ordinance 26-009, an annexation and zone change for property on E. Pine Street, failed 3-3 on September 21, 2026. Stayton City Council minutes, September 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026
- The council voted 5-1 to reopen the E. Pine Street record until October 5, with a follow-up meeting on October 19. Stayton City Council minutes, September 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026
- In April 2026 the council approved annexing about 60 acres along Golf Club Road SE as medium-density residential. Our Town Santiam · May 4, 2026
- Measure 24-519 clarified that annexation proposals over three acres go to a popular vote unless state law provides otherwise. City of Stayton
02Pool and parks funding4 sourced facts
Where it standsVoters rejected parks and pool levies in November 2025 and May 2026; donations, fee increases and cuts keep the pool open through June 2027.
What's on the tableStaff asked the council to choose a sustainable pool funding model by January 2027.
- The May 2026 parks and pool levy of $0.985 per $1,000 of assessed value was rejected, with 60.51% opposed in early results. Our Town Santiam
- The city reported $168,675 donated or pledged for the Stayton Family Memorial Pool by July 6, 2026. Our Town Santiam · Jul 31, 2026
- The council voted to raise resident swim lesson fees from $52 to $100. Our Town Santiam · Jul 31, 2026
- Staff asked the council to decide on a sustainable funding model by January 2027. Our Town Santiam · Jul 31, 2026
03Street repair2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council chose E. Hollister as the next street project in February 2026, and a downtown pavement project is under way.
What's on the tableThe council sets street spending in the budget and picks which streets are repaired next.
- In February 2026 the council directed staff to proceed with E. Hollister as the next street project. Stayton City Council minutes, February 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026
- The city manager updated the council on the downtown pavement project on September 21, 2026. Stayton City Council minutes, September 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026
04Sewer and water upgrades3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is designing sewer improvements and has authorized a state DEQ loan for projects.
What's on the tableThe council will approve contracts, loans and rates that pay for sewer and water work.
- Resolution 26-022 awarded AKS Engineering and Forestry design services for two sewer infrastructure projects, passing 5-1 in September 2026. Stayton City Council minutes, September 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026
- Resolution 26-020, authorizing projects and designating a loan signer, passed 5-0 after discussion of DEQ loan documents in July 2026. Stayton City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
- The city manager gave the council an update on the Detroit Dam drawdown in August 2026. Stayton City Council minutes, August 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026
05Downtown and local business2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council authorized a state grant application for a downtown historic revitalization plan in August 2026.
What's on the tableThe council will decide how to pursue downtown planning and business support.
- The council voted 5-0 to authorize staff to apply for a 2026 TGM grant through the State of Oregon for downtown Stayton. Stayton City Council minutes, August 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026
- Staff described the TGM planning grant as an opportunity to complete a Downtown Historic Revitalization Plan. Stayton City Council minutes, August 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026
3 notes on these statements
Six candidates filed for three council seats: David Patty, Leonard Hays, Mark Kronquist, David A. Nielson, Casey Falconer and Josh Mulhollem; Brian Quigley filed unopposed for mayor. Our Town Santiam · Sep 1, 2026
Councilor Jordan Ohrt did not file for re-election. Our Town Santiam · Sep 1, 2026
Leonard Hays was appointed in November 2025 to serve the remainder of a term through 2026. Our Town Santiam · Nov 28, 2025
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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. When owners ask to annex land into Stayton for new housing, what should the council do?
2. How high should street repair rank in the city budget?
3. How much should the council focus on attracting and keeping businesses?
Key dates
- Last day to register to voteMarion CountyOct 13, 2026
- Ballots mailedMarion CountyOct 14, 2026
- Election DayMarion CountyNov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): Ken Carey, Steve Sims4 on this ballot
6 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The Stayton City Council is made up of a Mayor and five councilors who serve four-year terms. City of Stayton
- Council positions are non-partisan and elected at large. City of Stayton
- At the 2026 General Election, the Mayor and three Councilor positions are on the ballot. City of Stayton
- Voters approved a city charter amendment in May 2026 that gives the mayor voting rights on the council. Our Town Santiam · Jun 30, 2026
- All terms begin on January 4, 2027. City of Stayton
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