We Did It Again!
Progressive Salem Worked Successfully to Grow our Progressive Majority on the Salem City Council in 2022
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Chris Hoy Wins the Mayor's Race
​
Linda Nishioka Wins in Ward 2
Progressive Salem helped to recruit a terrific progressive candidate to take the seat of our first progressive victor way back in 2014. After serving two terms on the City Council, Tom Andersen will represent House District 19 in the Legislature next year. Linda Nishioka has been active in civic affairs, serving on the Downtown Advisory Board and other City committees. She was fortunate to be able to run unopposed in the May election and was later appointed to Andersen's seat when he resigned to focus on his legislative campaign. She will begin a four-year term on the Council in January. Congratulations Councilor Nishioka!
​
Dynee Medlock Defeated in Close Runoff Election in Ward 4
Progressive Salem helped to recruit Dynee Medlock to run against a wealthy Realtor who moved to Ward 4 only a year ago to run. Before then she didn't even live in Salem. Dynee's opponent raised over $96,000 and outspent her nearly four to one. But Dynee's all-volunteer, people-to-people campaign still managed to eke out a six vote win in the primary. It was not enough though to avoid a runoff election in November where her opponent's massive fundraising advantage, most of which came from Realtors and homebuilders, powered her to a 306 vote advantage over Dynee. We are hoping that Dynee won't be discouraged by her first run for office and will consider a future run in Ward 4.
​
Stacey Vieyra-Braendle Unsuccessful in Ward 6
Our one loss in the May 2022 primary was to a candidate who happened to share the same last name as our popular Mayoral candidate (no relation) and was willing to spend $45 dollars per vote to get the win in Ward 6. We helped to recruit an impressive young progressive in Stacey Vieyra-Braendle who serves on the City Budget Committee and is an activist in the community. We hope Stacey will stay active and engaged and we look forward to assisting her in a future campaign.
​
Micki Varney Wins in Ward 8
Progressive Salem supported and worked for Micki Varney when she ran against a long-time incumbent Councilor in 2018. She came up short in a close election, but she maintained her civic involvement and ran again this year for an open seat. Like the other candidates we faced this year, Micki's opponent raised over $50,000 from special interests and outspent Micki three to one. But once again organized people beat organized money and Micki's low-budget grassroots campaign scored a decisive victory. Congratulations to Councilor-Elect Varney.
​
​
In 2023 Salem Will Have One of the Most Progressive City Councils in Our History
​
When Progressive Salem began in 2014 it was our aspiration to take back our City government from the special interests that had taken over beginning in 2002. We worked at that beginning with Councilor Tom Andersen's victory in 2014 and continuing in 2016 with the election of Sally Cook, Cara Kaser and Matt Ausec. We helped to elect Chris Hoy to the Council in 2017. In 2018 we reelected Tom and Chris and in 2020 we helped to elect Virginia Stapleton, Vanessa Nordyke and Trevor Phillips. We stayed out of the Mayor's race until the time was right and we had an outstanding candidate. 2022 was our year. And for the first time since the late Mike Swaim occupied the Mayor's seat, Salem will have a progressive mayor. Even with the lose of seats in Wards 4 and 6, this fall we will have a solid progressive majority — a mayor and five councilors. We will look forward to great things in the years ahead from our progressive Council, and we invite you to join our winning team as we continue to work for a Progressive Salem.​
