Candidates for City Council
Learn about candidates who have filed to run for City Council.
What this symbol means
Candidates and elected officials with this symbol took the GoodParty.org Pledge, promising to serve people first, independent of both major parties and big-money interests.
Who's currently in office
Learn about who represents you in Salem.
What this symbol means
Candidates and elected officials with this symbol took the GoodParty.org Pledge, promising to serve people first, independent of both major parties and big-money interests.
- View profile
Paul TiganWard 1Nonpartisan · Current term 2025 to 2028 - View profile
Linda NishiokaWard 2Nonpartisan · Current term 2023 to 2026 - View profile
Shane MatthewsWard 3Nonpartisan · Current term 2025 to 2028 - View profile
Deanna GwynWard 4Nonpartisan · Current term 2023 to 2026 - View profile
Irvin M. BrownWard 5Nonpartisan · Current term 2025 to 2028 - View profile
Mai VangWard 6Current term 2025 to 2026 - View profile
Vanessa NordykeWard 7Nonpartisan · Current term 2025 to 2028 - View profile
Micki VarneyWard 8Nonpartisan · Current term 2023 to 2026
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About City Council
About this position
- Office level
- City
- Election frequency
- Every 4 years
- Typical salary
- No compensation.
- Commitment level
- Part Time
- Affiliation
- Nonpartisan
- Positions
- 1 open seat
Election type
- Partisan election (party labels appear on ballots)
- Run-off election
How to run for City Council
- Step 1
Meet eligibility requirements
Must be a qualified elector who has resided in the city ward they seek to represent during the 12 months immediately preceding the election. Must be a registered voter and not a current employee of the city.
- Step 2
File for office
- Filing requirements
- File form SEL 101 and file by petition with more than 50 qualified signatures from voters residing within the ward in which the candidate resides and seeks to represent with form SEL 121 (must be approved before circulating) [note: all signatures must be numbered and verified by the city elections official and filed with SEL 339] Certify signatures with Marion County
- Filing period
- June 3, 2026 - August 25, 2026
- Paperwork instructions
- Submit paperwork to the City Clerk's office.
- Where to file
- 555 Liberty Street SE, Salem OR 97301
- Filing phone
- 503-588-6255
- Step 3
Launch your campaign
A real campaign starts with a real plan. Get a custom campaign plan from GoodParty.org, personalized for your race and district.
Get started
Need help? You don't have to run alone. Join the GoodParty.org Community to get advice from real independents who have run and won.
