Boyd, Elliott and Trego win council seats

Brad Boyd is finishing ahead of John Rahm to earn a seat on the Sisters City Council, along with incumbent councilors Judy Trego and Dave Elliott. As of press time, the race was still not officially over.

According to the Deschutes County Clerk's office there are about 300 countywide "challenge ballots" still to be examined. These are ballots with possible conflicts that for some reason were rejected in the first ballot count.

It is unknown how many of those ballots apply to the Sisters City Council race, but an accurate count might not be available until November 15, the deadline for ratification.

As of Sunday night (November 7) Judy Trego led the polling with 422 votes. Brad Boyd and Dave Elliott both had 346. John Rahm had 266.

Trego is clearly the number one vote-getter. But second place has been bouncing back and forth between Boyd and Elliott, with seldom more than a spread of a few votes.

Second place is important because the Sisters City Charter calls for the second place vote-getter to serve for four years, third place for two years.

In case of a tie, "The successful candidate shall be determined by a public drawing of lots in a manner prescribed by the council."

The charter also calls for an election of the mayor by the council at the first January meeting. The mayor's term is two years.

Elliott is currently mayor. Judy Trego is City Council Council President.

Trego, Boyd and Elliott will join Lon Kellstrom and Sharlene Weed on the five-member council.

Trego adds four more years to the two she has served since being appointed to a vacancy in 2002. She said she is looking forward to working with the new council.

Mayor Elliott continues the council position he has held for six years. He has been mayor since 2002. He also served as councilor and mayor in the 1980s.

Boyd said he is looking forward to serving on the city council and plans to have an open-door policy. He will be available to all citizens of the community for questions and concerns. He plans to attend workshops and meetings in December, then take his place officially on the Council at the January 6 meeting.

Rahm is leaving after more than three years years on the council. He has already accepted an invitation from Mayor Elliott to fill the recent vacancy created by Ted Johnson's resignation from the Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission. Planning commissioners are appointed by the mayor.

Rahm expressed disappointment in not continuing on the council, then added, "It's been a privilege. I've really enjoyed it and I hope I've made a difference."