Willer grabs Port Seat with Margin of 38 votes; Incumbents Fare Well in Election

John Willer won the seat for Port of The Dalles in a squeaker.

By Tom Peterson

The scrum for a seat on the Port of The Dalles was the closest race in Tuesday's election as John Willer and Marcus Swift were within 38 votes in the unofficial results released at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18.  

Willer had 1,768 votes to Swift’s 1,730. The race for Position 3 had become a bit contentious as Swift had called Willer out for endorsing Frank Polehn on Facebook. Polehn has been convicted of a felony for attempted sex abuse of a minor. Willer later recanted the “Vote Frank Polehn” statement and at this point has emerged victorious in his candidacy. 

Nate Stice won his bid to become a member of the Columbia Gorge Community College Board, beating Frank Polehn.

Polehn, however, did not fare as well in his push to capture the Columbia Gorge Community College Board Position 1. While he did garner 1,229 votes, his competitor Nate Stice ran away with 2,762 votes or 68.7 percent.

Robert Wallace was voted in as Position 1 for Port of The Dalles.

The Port of The Dalles also featured a second race for Position 1. Robert Wallace won the seat,  receiving 1,965 votes to Jack Hay’s 1,341.

Voters returned incumbent John Nelson to the D21 Board in Tuesday’s election.

It was a good night for North Wasco County School District Incumbents as both John Nelson and Rebecca Thistlethwaite retained their seats. 

In the race for Position 4, Nelson received 230 votes or 63.3 percent to his competitor Carla McQuade who took 35% or 127 votes.

Rebecca Thistlethwaite was also given the nod in her bid for a second term on the North Wasco County School Board.

Newcomer Brian Stevens will join Nelson and Thistlethwaite on the D21 Board.

The race between Thistlethwaite and Mary Morehouse was a bit tighter in their bid for Position 1. Morehouse received 206 votes to Thistlethwaite’s 264 or 56.05%

The North Wasco County School District will see newcomer Brian Stevens join the board as he grabbed 378 votes to Holy Gove’s 202.

Rachel Carter will take a seat on the North Wasco County Parks and Recreation Board after a victory on Tuesday.

North Wasco County Parks and Recreation District had a three-way race for Position 1. Rachel Carter, who moved to The Dalles in 2019, was able to win the seat with 1,230 votes or 45.7%. Michael Held was a close second with 1,091 votes and 40.5 %. Justin Brock finished with 362 votes.

Annette Byers was returned to the Parks and Recreation board in a landslide on Tuesday, garnering 71 % of the vote.

Annette Byers is retaining her Position 5 seat on the North Wasco County Parks and Recreation District Board in a landslide. She took 1,833 votes or 71.6% to opponent Curtis Egger’s 721.

The Columbia Gorge Education Service District Zone 2 also had a race between Stacey Holeman and Holly Price. Holeman took the seat with 665 votes to Price’s 489.

Stacey Holeman wins bid for Columbia Gorge Education Service District.

Barb Ayers

The Mosier Fire District Position 3 race put Barb Ayers on top with 193 votes. Jim Appleton came in second with 55 votes, and Peter Lawson received 40.

Paul Koerschgen

Maupin also had a tight race for South Wasco County School District Zone 1. Paul Koerschgen received 190 votes to take the seat. Howard Fetz garnered 152.

To see all of the unofficial results click here. 

“Wasco County finished last night's election count with a 26.3% turnout at 4754 ballots received,” said Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee “We now enter the 14-day challenge period where voters who forgot to sign their ballot or had their signature challenged can come into our office to "perfect" their ballot. We also have ballots coming from other county ballot boxes that will be transferred to us for processing. The final day to certify the election is June 7th.”