Richardson brings new face to TD Council

Dan Richardson is ready to start setting goals and finding ways to support local business during the pandemic.

The Dalles City Council will welcome one new City Councilor on Jan. 1 after four contested races on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

City Council incumbents Darcy Long-Curtiss and Rod Runyon and Mayor Rich Mays all won their own contests, according to unofficial results.

Long-Curtiss and Runyon were both in tight races that were decided by less than 114 votes.

They are apparent winners, however, results still must be certified by the Oregon Secretary of State in the next 20 days before becoming official.    

Dan Richardson grabbed 3,968 votes in his race for Council Position 4 against John Grant, 1,258 votes, and F John Ercole, 596 votes, in unofficial Wasco County Election results.

“I am gratified about the results,” Richardson said. “We worked hard and prevailed. I am honored that my neighbors in The Dalles have entrusted me with a Council seat. A lot of thanks go to my family and volunteers who supported my campaign.’ 

Richardson has worked as a reporter and news editor covering local government including a stint as the editor at The Goldendale Sentinel.  

And he is eager to get working. “I am going to encourage and advocate for goal-setting sessions that have fallen off during the past few years.”

He said he was also concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the City’s budget, noting property taxes that are currently coming due will provide a barometer of how locals are fairing in the pandemic. It will also reveal how much revenue the city will have for the forthcoming year.

He was also concerned about local businesses. “Businesses in the city have taken punches from this thing (COVID-19)…,” he said. “It’s time for the city to get off the mat and show some leadership in a transparent way.”

Rich Mays

Rich Mays, who got the nod for two more years as Mayor, said his focus was on business as well. “The downtown is a big project that we need to put on the forefront,” he said. “We will work with city staff and Urban Renewal and make the downtown grow and prosper.” 

Mays bested Solea Kabakov and Jason Garrett Gibson to earn the Mayor’s position with 62.5 percent of the vote. 

Mays has a  40-year career in public service that includes 33 years in municipal government with 28 as a City Manager. 

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Park Administration from Western Illinois University and a Masters’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University.

Rod Runyon

Rod Runyon beat Tiffany Prince in the poles in a real squeaker. Just 113 votes separated the two in the push for Council Position 5.

“I applaud everybody that put a hat in the ring,” he said. “Win or lose, people should keep putting a hand in public service.”

Runyon who was a Wasco County Commissioner for eight years said he has not tired of public service. “I am enjoying what I am doing, and I have enough experience to ask enough questions on both sides of the issues. I see myself as a moderate… Sometimes you don’t make the most popular decision but one for the general good.”   

Darcy Long-Curtiss

Darcy Long-Curtiss had an even tighter race against John Willer- with 98 votes being the difference. Long-Curtiss was raised in The Dalles and graduated from TDHS prior to attending Willamette University to study political science and international studies. She has two sons, ages 23 and 20.  Darcy is an independent financial advisor and owns Empower Financial, serving clients in Oregon, Washington, and California.  She has been a long-time advocate for children and adults with mental health issues and respite care for families with special needs children. She is currently working on the shelter for the houseless on Bargeway Road.

A note from Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee:

• Wasco County is at 78.27% turnout, with 14,228 ballots returned. We did not yet break the 2016 turnout which was 78.61%, but the number of ballots processed was a record for us (we have a higher number of registered voters). I imagine that by the time we certify, we might squeak past the 2016 turnout.

• How ballots were returned was different this time as well. Drop boxes accounted for 64% of returned ballots, mail was 27% and Rotary collection was 8% (1086 ballots on Election Day)! Clearly the big winner this time was drop boxes.