Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Vernonia Mayor & City Council Election 2026
3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 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.
No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone.
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.
Mayor
1 seat- Charlie KibbenRetired U.S. Army colonel and former Vernonia small business owner. He was board president of the Vernonia Senior Center from 2020 to 2025 and lists no prior government experience.5sourced
- Susan WagnerVernonia city councilor and former Vernonia School Board member who retired from Community Action Team in 2025. She served six years on the Planning Commission before joining the City Council.17sourced
City Council
Vote for up to 2- Gary BrownService manager at a local Caterpillar equipment dealership who serves on the Vernonia Budget Committee. He recently joined the city's Parks Committee.4sourced
- Joseph DombekRetired chiropractic physician who practiced in Vernonia for 10 years. He was once elected constable in Kingston, Pennsylvania.3sourced
- David Paul SternerWithdrawnDied September 24, 2026; his name remains on the November ballot1sourced
- Richard TraverRuns Calypso's Soft Serve in Vernonia and is a former special education teacher. He also worked as an instructional assistant and has been a volunteer park host at Vernonia Lake.4sourced
Every Vernonia voter picks one mayor for a two-year term and up to two City Council members for four-year terms; all seats are citywide. Councilors Donald Normand and Dennis Weller are not on this ballot.
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.
- Donald NormandCity Councilor; term ends December 31, 202811sourced
- Dennis WellerCity Councilor; term ends December 31, 20288sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Police costs and coverage4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council cut police on-call pay in May 2026 and asked the county sheriff to cover emergency calls when Vernonia officers are off duty.
What's on the tableHow much to spend on the city police department and how to cover hours when local officers are not working.
- The council voted 5-0 to direct the City Administrator to eliminate on-call time from the police budget. Vernonia City Council minutes, May 4, 2026 · May 4, 2026
- The City Administrator said the police budget was increasing by $100,000 next year while taxes were increasing by only $40,000. Vernonia City Council special meeting minutes, April 27, 2026 · Apr 27, 2026
- The council approved a contract for Police Chief Shawn Carnahan 3-2, including three months' severance. Vernonia City Council minutes, May 4, 2026 · May 4, 2026
- In June 2026 the council agreed on a letter to the Sheriff's Office about emergency coverage, for Mayor Hobart to sign. Vernonia City Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026
02City budget and revenue3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted the FY 2026-2027 budget in June 2026, and the city plans a public hearing on higher system development charges.
What's on the tableHow to balance the budget, whether to raise fees, and which projects to fund.
- The council voted 4-0 to adopt the FY 2026-2027 budget. Vernonia City Council minutes, June 15, 2026 · Jun 15, 2026
- The city will hold a public hearing on December 10 on proposed increases to its System Development Charges. Vernonia's Voice
- The City Administrator said other departments would have to cut and money would need to be transferred in from the reserve fund to cover police costs. Vernonia City Council special meeting minutes, April 27, 2026 · Apr 27, 2026
03Backyard burning rules3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted an emergency burning ordinance in July 2026 and approved a revised version in October 2026, pending a second reading.
What's on the tableHow the new burning rules are enforced and whether to change them.
- The council voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 950 regulating illegal burning as an emergency ordinance. Vernonia City Council minutes, July 20, 2026 · Jul 20, 2026
- In October 2026 the council voted 4-1 to adopt Ordinance 951, which limits burn piles to 15 feet in diameter and sets a $500 fine per violation. Vernonia's Voice
- The ordinance bans burning household garbage, plastics and other materials that emit dense smoke or noxious odors. Vernonia's Voice
04Illegal camping2 sourced facts
Where it standsCity staff and the police chief are discussing an ordinance revision with time, place and manner limits on camping.
What's on the tableWhether to adopt camping limits and how to enforce them.
- The police chief and City Administrator told the council they are discussing time, place and manner camping restrictions to address illegal camping. Vernonia's Voice
- In July 2026 residents raised concerns about illegal camping, and one urged the city to pass a time, place and manner ordinance. Vernonia City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
05Local economy and the lake campground3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city applied for state grant money for a Vernonia Lake campground but was not awarded it.
What's on the tableWhether and how to fund the lake campground and other projects to draw visitors.
- The council agreed to apply for $310,000 in grant funds for the Lake Campground project with a $67,800 city match. Vernonia City Council special meeting minutes, May 27, 2026 · May 27, 2026
- The city was not awarded state grant funding for the Lake Campground project. Vernonia's Voice
- The council voted 4-0 to apply for regional infrastructure funding for the city's water intake on Rock Creek, estimated at $927,000. Vernonia's Voice
3 notes on these statements
Six candidates are on the ballot: Charlie Kibben and Susan Wagner for Mayor, and Gary Brown, Joseph Dombek, David Paul Sterner and Richard Traver for two City Council seats. Columbia County Voters' Pamphlet, November 3, 2026 General Election
David Paul Sterner died on September 24, 2026; his name remains on the ballot, and if he places in the top two the council will appoint someone to fill the seat. The Spotlight (Your Oregon News) · Aug 28, 2026
The seats on the ballot are now held by Mayor Rick Hobart and Councilors Susan Wagner and Dale Webb; Rick Hobart and Dale Webb did not file to run. City of Vernonia
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. Should the city pay its police officers for on-call hours?
2. How should Vernonia handle tight budgets?
3. How should Vernonia grow its local economy?
Key dates
- Last day to register to voteOregon Secretary of StateOct 13, 2026
- First day ballots are mailed to votersOregon Secretary of StateOct 14, 2026
- Election Day (last day to return ballots)Oregon Secretary of StateNov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): Donald Normand, Dennis Weller3 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The city's governing body is the mayor and four council members elected by Vernonia voters. City of Vernonia
- The mayor is elected for a two-year term, and council members for four-year terms. City of Vernonia
- The mayor and council members are not paid for their service. City of Vernonia
- Mayor and council positions are nonpartisan and elected at large. City of Vernonia
- The mayor votes on council motions along with the four councilors. Vernonia City Council minutes, May 4, 2026 · May 4, 2026
Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
See something wrong? Report an error
Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.