Ballots being mailed this week

Ballots for the May 21 Primary Election are being mailed out this week by the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office.

Voters will be choosing candidates for federal, state and local offices. For partisan races, the top vote getters in each party will face off in the November General Election.

Locally, there are only two contested races on the ballot — Lincoln County Commissioner Position 2 and the office of Lincoln County District Attorney. These are both non-partisan offices.

Because there are only two candidates — Kathryn Benfield and Jenna Wallace — running for the seat being vacated by the current district attorney, Lanee Danforth, the winner will be decided in this May election and then take office next January.

There are five contenders in the county commission race — incumbent Claire Hall and challengers Don Gomez, Ryan Parker, Rick Beasley, and Tyrone (Ty) Halbrook. In order for the winner of that office to be decided in the May election, one of these individuals would need to receive more than 50 percent of the overall vote. If that doesn’t happen, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will face off in November.

There are also a number of local ballot measures that will be voted on in the May election. They are:

• Measure 21-224 — Oregon Coast Community College is asking voters to approve up to $33,165,000 in bonds to construct a new trades education facility and improve classrooms, safety and technology. If approved, OCCC would not impose the levy for these bonds before OCCC’s currently outstanding bonds mature in 2025; OCCC estimates these bonds will not increase the current tax rate of 21 cents per $1,000.

• Measure 21-222 — The Lincoln County Library District is seeking renewal of its local option tax for library services. The current levy is 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, and voter approval would extend this levy for another five years, beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

• Measure 21-223 — The Depoe Bay Fire District is seeking a 5-year local option levy of $1.39 per $1,000 of assessed value. This is an increase from the current local option levy of $1.09 per $1,000, which expires June 30, 2025. Passage of the proposed levy will allow the fire district to cover increased costs and maintain minimum staffing of three firefighters 24/7.

• Measure 21-225 — The Gleneden Beach Sanitary District is seeking a five-year local option tax of 77 cents per $1,000 each year for five years, beginning in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The levy would fund capital projects.

• Measure 21-226 — The city of Newport is asking voters to approve an increase in its gas tax to 5 cents per gallon, year-round. Funding would be used for street resurfacing and reconstruction projects. The current gas tax is 3 cents per gallon during the months of June through October, and 1 cent per gallon for the remainder of the year.

• Measure 21-227 — The city of Toledo is seeking approval of a bond measure in the amount of $2,650,000 to replace its Ammon Road water tank. The city says the existing tank does not meet the current standards for seismic resiliency, and making the needed repairs and upgrades would cost more than replacing the tank. The average annual bond tax rate is estimated to be 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

Drive-up ballot drop boxes are available at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Newport, Newport City Hall, Lincoln City City Hall, Toledo Police Station, Waldport City Hall, Depoe Bay City Hall, Siletz City Hall, and Yachats City Hall. These drive-up drop boxes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Also on Election Day, there will be a drop box located inside Eddyville Community Church, available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballots must be received at the county clerk’s office at the Lincoln County Courthouse, dropped off at a designated drop site, or postmarked by the post office by Election Day. As of 2022, ballots postmarked on Election Day will still be counted if they arrive up to seven days after the election. Because of this, election results will be posted once on election night and updated over the following days until complete.

Election results will be reported on the following schedule:

May 21 at 8 p.m.May 22 at 5 p.m.May 24 at 5 p.m.May 28 at 5 p.m.June 11 at 5 p.m.June 14 at 5 p.m.

For more information about the May Primary Election, go to the Lincoln County Clerk’s website at www.co.lincoln.or.us/208/Current-Election