City council challenger elected by landslide

Across the nation last week, voters elected challengers over incumbents in many races. Here in Sisters, voters made a similar choice. The lone challenger for a seat on Sisters City Council was the top vote-getter with 435 tallied. Bill Merrill won a four-year term on the council. Incumbents Sharlene Weed and Lon Kellstrom won two-year terms. Mayor Dave Elliott was unseated.

"I appreciate and thank everybody for their confidence," said Merrill.

The retired Army colonel said friends "strongly encouraged" him to run.

"I just think it's time for change. It's time to get things done," said Merrill.

Merrill is no stranger to city politics, having served as chair of the Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission. Also, he worked on the Budget Committee and was involved in drafting the city's Comprehensive Plan.

Merrill said there are many big decisions that need to be made about the future of Sisters and he'll make them "based on facts and research - not opinion." He said the sale of U.S. Forest Service land in downtown Sisters is a big opportunity. Merrill said the first decision to make is how best to acquire the land. The second decision is how best to use the land. Citizens have voiced opinions ranging from affordable housing to a public park or auditorium.

"We want to maximize the benefit to the city," said Merrill.

While in the U.S. Army, one of Merrill's biggest jobs was to turn a barely used military base into a home for 5,000 soldiers and family members. To rebuild Fort Irwin, California, Merrill acted in a capacity similar to a city manager to create a base where military families would have all that they needed - from a grocery store to a hospital. To build a functioning city out of the sand, Merrill learned an important lesson about goals. He said goals need to be reviewed regularly to ensure they turn into reality. He would apply the same review process to documents containing goals for Sisters, including the comprehensive plan and vision project.

Merrill said that he'll enjoy working with his fellow council members and with city employees who he said are dedicated and hard-working.

"We have a lot of good people," said Merrill. "I look forward to working with them."

Merrill will begin his seat on Sisters City Council in January. The council will then vote to elect a new mayor.