Name: Candace Lamb Solesbee
Age: 55
Hometown: Cottage Grove native
Marital status: Happily married to my best friend
Partner occupation: South Lane Fire & Rescue division chief & fire marshal
Children: Proud mother of 3 grown children
Ward neighborhood: Ward 3
Online election platform: Candace Solesbee for City Mayor
Employer and occupation: Small business owner: Shampoo Dolls Salon and 5 Flying Monkeys vintage, antiques, and gift store.
Public sector/ elected office held: Cottage Grove mayor, 2022-present; Ward 3 city councilor, 2018-’22; Chamber of Commerce board of directors, 2014-’20’ Chamber vice president, 2016; Chamber president, 2017; advisor/board member, Cottage Grove Community Foundation; Downtown Cottage Grove (DCG) Budget; and Lane Council of Governments.
Unsuccessful runs for office: NA
One word to describe your leadership style: Honest
One word to describe you at your best: Dedicated
OnOne word to describe you at your worst: Impatient
I am proud to be a fourth-generation Grover with deep family roots in public safety and the timber industry. I have a strong connection to my hometown. I am a wife, mother, and grandma to two beautiful granddaughters.
My father served as the fire chief in Cottage Grove throughout my childhood, and I always admired his intelligence and problem-solving abilities. Losing him to leukemia when I was only 23 was incredibly challenging, especially since I still had so much to learn from him.
However, the lessons he imparted remain invaluable to me. One of the most impactful pieces of advice he shared during my teenage years was to pay attention to my critics; he believed they often reveal truths that friends might shy away from sharing.
In today’s divided climate, I hold onto hope that we can engage with those who have different beliefs without resorting to anger. It’s essential that our council embraces a variety of perspectives. Celebrating dissenting voices is crucial because it fosters collaboration and compromise and ultimately leads to the best solutions for our community. Disagreement doesn’t have to breed division; it can stem from a genuine desire to improve our surroundings.
We must be mindful of merely going along to fit in and remember that our role is to represent our constituents and advocate for their needs, even if it’s not the most popular stance with fellow councilors. This commitment to always listen to diverse viewpoints should be essential for the council as we work together for the betterment of our community and those we serve.
I humbly ask for your vote.
Candace Solesbee
Cottage Grove incumbent mayoral candidate
Read the Q&A with all candidates here and other candidate biographies and columns on Chronicle1909.com under the City Government tab.