2 weeks Ago By ALEX POWERS [email protected]
Local business owner David McClain appeared to unseat an incumbent Tuesday night, Nov. 5, solidifying a Lebanon City Council majority under a conservative political organizer that Republicans have sought to disavow. Lebanites also were on track to defluoridate their municipal water supply, with a narrower but comfortable lead for the anti-fluoride vote .
Dave McClain. Mid-Valley Media attempted to reach candidates-elect for their responses to voters and opponents in closely watched local races. McClain, a member of the local Planning Commission, did not return a voicemail seeking comment.
McClain had 798, or about 48%, of returned votes in the latest figures by noon Wednesday, Nov. 6, maintaining an about 12-point lead over incumbent KJ Ullfers — a pro-police, pro-veterans Republican appointed in 2021 to represent the city’s northwestern neighborhoods. Ullfers said Wednesday he tried to concede the race to McClain.
"I did send him a text saying congratulations on his win, but he hasn't responded," Ullfers said. Cordero Reid took about 15%, or 248 votes, with a little more than two-thirds of all eligible votes returned citywide, according to early results from the Linn County Clerk. Remaining ballots may not be enough to shift the race to Ullfers.
Lebanon voters returned around 71% to 76% of ballots in presidential elections in 2016 and 2020. Lebanon’s six-member council now operates under a majority of candidates who paid into Candidate Identification and Support Committee for representation. The nonpartisan political action committee claims online and in organizing documents to back conservative and “traditional values” candidates.
Republican Party representatives in October publicly distanced themselves from Support Committee. Two years ago saw the PAC in action when Carl Mann narrowly beat Tami Cockeram for a seat on the council . Likewise, Dave Workman took 975 votes that year, defeating Cassie Cruze by a 55-37 margin.
Both appeared on Support Committee-printed signs, alongside Lebanon Mayor Kenneth Jackola. McClain’s addition gives Support Committee-backed candidates three of six positions passing citywide legislation, with Jackola as the tie-breaking vote. Jackola won reelection Tuesday after running unopposed.
Lebanites voted about 52% to 48% against a ballot measure asking whether Lebanon should continue treating water with fluoridating compounds — a difference of 283 ballots. County elections officials counted about 4,271 votes against and 3,988 votes for Measure 22-204. Voters previously shot down efforts to fluoridate Lebanon’s drinking water in the 1950's, '60s and '80s.
The city was the last major population center in the mid-Willamette Valley to fluoridate drinking water. Lebanon’s elected officials agreed to add fluoridating compounds to city-provided water in 2000, then twice upheld fluoridation ahead of city efforts to build its new water treatment plant in 2018. Voters appeared set to ban magic mushroom-related businesses inside city limits, approving a prohibition of psilocybin by about 10 percentage points — 4,515 of around 8,241 returned ballots.
Oregon legalized psilocybin-containing mushrooms in 2020 for therapeutic use, but cities including Lebanon paused permitting businesses that would administer or package the fungus. Not wanting to become psilocybin-friendly by default, councilors successfully put a temporary ban on mushroom businesses on the ballot two years ago. It was set to expire at the end of this year.
More Lebanon news More mid-valley election coverage Alex Powers (he/him) covers agri-business, Benton County, environment and city of Lebanon for Mid-Valley Media. Call 541-812-6116 or tweet @OregonAlex. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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