In a dedicated effort to remain nonpartisan in its coverage, The Chronicle does not endorse any political candidates; instead, we offer all candidates equal opportunity to submit a guest column on a topic of their choosing, answer a carefully curated Q&A, and submit background information in a biography. We believe[Read More…]

Erin Weatherly-Derminer, Position 4: Lane Library District Age: 44  Home state: Michigan  Marital status: Married since 2007  Partner occupation: Owner/Operator Derminer Painting and Wood Care  Children: 3 sons: ages 14, 12, 5 public school  Residence neighborhood: City of Creswell  Party registration: Independant  Education: Bachelor’s of Science Eastern Michigan University, Masters[Read More…]

Candidate overview: Kandace Lemhouse Worsham (Position 1), Sarah Cox (Position 2), and Mary Stayton (Position 7) did not respond to requests for participation. Debi Wilkerson (Position 3) declined participation. What is your position on the Creswell School Bond measure put to voters this election  cycle? Are there specific portions of[Read More…]

Ronald Colletti, Position 2 Age: 39  Hometown: Barker, N.Y.  Marital status: Married  Partner occupation: Business owner/secretary  Children: Ages 12, 10, 9, 7  Education: Masters Certificate Fisheries and Wildlife Management,  Bachelors Natural Resource Management-Water Resource Minor, Associates Environmental  Science, Associates Information Systems Technology  Occupation(s): Owner/president Full Circle Property Management  Public sector[Read More…]

Chris Wig Age: 38 Hometown: My wife and I moved to Springfield five years ago Marital status: Married Partner occupation: Legislative assistant Children: N/A Ward neighborhood: Ward 3 Online: ChrisWig.org Education: MS, University of Oregon; BA, University of Toronto Occupation(s): Executive director at Emergence Addiction & Behavioral Therapies Public sector[Read More…]

Candidate Overview: Johnny A. Lake did not respond to requests for participation. Voters are asked to select three  of the six candidates to serve on  the Willamalane  Board of Directors.  What are your top goals for increasing health and wellness in Springfield and how would you work to achieve those[Read More…]

Candidate Overview: Incumbents Tammy Hodgkinson (Position 1) and Joe Tucker (Position 6) did not respond to requests for participation. Both candidates are running unopposed. Dustin Bengtson, Duane Taddei and Martha Allen are running for Position 3, and Tina Murphy is running against incumbent Gary Mort for Position 7. As a[Read More…]

Candidate overview: Nick Skelton (Zone 2), Rich Cunningham (Zone 2), Zach  Mulholland (Zone 2), Bob Baldwin (Zone 6 – At Large), and Kyle Reallon (Zone 7 – At Large) did not respond to requests for participation. Denise Diamond (Zone 1), declined participation.  Community colleges across the country have been facing[Read More…]

Dustin Bengtson, Position 3 Age: 53 Hometown: Cottage Grove for nearly 30 years Marital status: Married Partner occupation: Public school employee Children: Two teenagers in the South Lane School system Party Affiliation: None Education: Bachelor’s Degree, University of Iowa Occupation(s): Deputy operations project manager Current employer: U.S. Army Corps of[Read More…]

Steve Mital, Zone 5 Age: 53 Hometown: Eugene, Ore. Marital status: Married Children: 18 and 14 in public school Ward neighborhood: Ward 1 Education: Masters Degrees in Environmental Science and Planning from University of Oregon Occupation(s): Sustainability Director Current employer: University of Oregon Elected office held:  LCC Board 2021-present; EWEB[Read More…]