With Oregon allowing mailed ballots to be counted as long as they're postmarked on or before election day, more ballots will be received in the next few days. But the current results for key races in the Salem area likely will hold up, given the margin of victory (or defeat) in each of them.
The biggest news is the 56-44 passage of Measure 24-514, also known as the Livability Levy. Given that there was no organized opposition to an increase in Salem property taxes to fund the library, parks, and Center 50+, it wasn't a surprise that the measure passed. But 56% in favor testifies to the smart campaigning supporters of the measure put in.
Liberals are pleased that Mai Vang, the candidate endorsed by Progressive Salem in the Ward 6 City Council race to choose a replacement for Julie Hoy after she was elected mayor, appears to have won fairly handily over the conservative candidate, Deanna Garcia, and Logan Lor. This restores the progressive/conservative split on the City Council to 6-3.
The four Salem-Keizer School Board seats up for election got some national attention from Taniel, a political observer who I follow on X, but will always think of as Twitter. Currently the progressive slate is leading in three of the four races.
In Zone 1 Harnisch, a progressive, has a 56-44 lead over Mitchell, a conservative.
In Zone 2 Parker, a conservative, has a 52-48 led over Arredondo Baca, a progressive.
In Zone 5 Guzman Ortiz, a progressive, has a 52-48 lead over Kroker, a conservative.
In Zone 7 Fuller, a progressive, has a 54-45 lead over Radka, a conservative.
Lastly, the Chemeketa Community College bond measure is passing by a 52-48 margin.
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