Single vote swings council election

Lon Kellstrom edged out Dave Moyer by one vote last week to earn a two-year seat on the Sisters City Council. Kellstrom received 151 votes to Moyer's 150.

Incumbent Tim Clasen received 182 votes to extend his council service for another four years. Maggie Hughes will also serve a four-year term after receiving 175 votes.

Wayne Kimball (122) and Libby Bottero (97) were also defeated.

The new councilors will be sworn in January.

Mayor Steve Wilson will appoint a replacement to serve the two-year balance of City Council President Gordon Petrie's four-year term. Sisters voters ousted Petrie from his council position with a 203-126 recall vote.

The recall was launched in September after Petrie signed a letter asking the Oregon Economic Development Department to deny grant funding for Sisters' sewer project. In the letter, Petrie referred to his position as council president.

According to city administrator Barbara Warren, the law requires that Petrie relinquish his seat after the election is officially certified. The county clerk must certify the election within 30 days of November 3.

According to Warren, the city will seek letters from citizens interested in taking the position.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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