Silverton's New Mayor

Silverton City Council member Stu Rasmussen took a comfortable lead in early election results against longtime mayor Ken Hector.
Rasmussen, 60, served as mayor from 1988-92 and ran against Hector in 2006. He has served on the city council for four years.

Rasmussen said he had a number of volunteers helping him this time.

"I need to maintain the things we're doing well and examine some of the problem areas I brought up in the campaign," Rasmussen said. "Traffic issues, the condition of Silver Creek Dam and proper spending of resources."

Rasmussen said he did not see a "significant change in direction but perhaps a change in tenor."

Hector, 62, who has served as Silverton's mayor for 16 years, said he was disappointed by the early results. He said he did not think there was a reason for change.

"Watching the election results tonight nationally, there's a major shift in what the country is looking at, and if I'm caught up in that, so be it."

Also running for the mayoral spot, but receiving fewer votes than Rasmussen and Hector, was longtime resident Jim Squires, 54. Squires ran against Rasmussen and Hector in previous elections.

In Stayton, a close mayor's race put Gerry Aboud in front by a narrow margin. Aboud, 65, was mayor of Stayton from 2001-06. He currently serves on the city's planning commission.

Aboud said the early results were too close to call.

"I hope it remains that way, but one never knows," Aboud said.

He said he was not surprised that the race was close.

Aboud ran against council member Jack Fiske, 65, who has lived in Stayton for most of his life and recently retired from Jack Fiske Insurance. Fiske has been a member of Stayton City Council since June, when he was appointed to the position.

Fiske, too, said there were no surprises in the mayoral race.

"I knew it was going to be a close race, and the people of Stayton are hopefully going to get what they want," Fiske said. Aboud "did a good job campaigning, and I had fun. The outcome is the outcome."

It was the first contested race for Stayton in years.

For Silverton City Council, candidates taking the top leads included Judy Schmidt and Kyle Palmer. Also in front for the third spot was Sherry Hoefel. The council race was tight this year. Six candidates vied for the three spots.

In Mount Angel, Darren J. Beyer received the most votes, with Kelly Grassman and Andy Otte following. They will replace council members Bill Schaecher, Joan Cuff and Shari Riedman.

For Stayton City Council, a write-in candidate whose name was not available in early results also took the lead for one of the three open positions. Official candidates James Loftus and Scott Vigil held comfortable leads.

druttan@salem.gannett.com or (503) 769-6338