At a hearing in Tillamook County Circuit Court on January 12, 2023, Circuit Court Judge Mari Trevino ordered a new special election for two contested Tillamook City Council positions. The new special election is expected to take place March 14, 2023.
The outcome of the November 2022 Tillamook City Council elections in Ward 2 and Ward 5 were contested in December 2022, by petitions filed in Tillamook County Circuit Court.
The Tillamook County Clerk agrees that several electors in both Ward 2 and Ward 5 should have received different ballots. The errors in ward boundaries were unintentional and may have influenced the outcome of the election in Wards 2 and 5. The Tillamook County Clerk, attorneys for the
petitioners, the city and the county all agree that a new special election is the appropriate remedy.
Between now and the March election, Tillamook City Council positions in Wards 2 and 5 will be filled as prescribed by Oregon law: in Ward 2, Rebekah Hopkins, the incumbent, defeated Paige Folkema by 24 votes. Per ORS 258.065(3) Ms. Hopkins, as the incumbent, remains in office until a successor is
elected.
In Ward 5, Nicholas Torres defeated the incumbent Dean Crist by two votes. Per ORS 258.065(4), the Ward 5 position “shall be declared vacant” as the incumbent (Mr. Crist) lost the election to Mr. Torres.
The Tillamook County Clerk’s Office has developed a plan to correct any address discrepancies prior to the special election.