He Won!

Not only did the first black man become President this week but also the first black sheep of the community was elected to the City Council in Lincoln City. By 73 votes, Dick made it! It was a big unknown to us as to how large the Mayor's circle of friends is but the "mavericks" in town (and I am not talking Republicans) jumped on the bandwagon to elect someone from the outside. It has been amazing to us to be at Starbuck's or Safeway and people walk up and say "I voted for you" or "congratulations, Dick" from people we don't even know. The planning commission meetings are cable televised and I guess people are watching because they voted. There were a couple of email trees going around also started by people we didn't know personally. We did have coffee with one couple who backed Dick from day one and started one of the email trees. What amazing people in Lincoln City. We love it here but are really even more impressed with the quality of the people. Here is what the local reporter wrote about the elections:

11/4/2008 5:00:00 AM Email this article • Print this article News Guard Post-Election CoveragePatrick AlexanderThe News GuardBarack Obama received strong support from Lincoln County as he swept to victory on Tuesday night, receiving 13,991 votes compared to 8,649 for John McCain.Lincoln City Council Other races were much closer, including the contest for Lincoln City Council in which Dick Anderson defeated fellow planning commissioner Erick Feuerborn by 494 votes to 421. Feuerborn, who has served on the planning commission for two and a half years, and Anderson, who was appointed to the body in July, were competing for a two-year term representing Ward II, from North 21st Street and South 14th Street. Feuerborn had received endorsements from Mayor Lori Hollingsworth as well as several members of the city council and planning commission, all of whom said he has the skills and experience to do the job. Meanwhile, Anderson received praise as an independent thinker, drawing support for several dissenting votes in which he moved to deny vacation rental dwelling permits in cases where neighbors raised concerns. Anderson said he was surprised when campaigning by how many people were aware of his work on the budget committee and planning commission. "They were just pleased with the questions being asked and the clarity those questions brought," he said. As the retired director of the Fannie Mae Business Development Center for Oregon and Idaho, Anderson says he has skills qualities and life experiences that will make him an asset to the council. He identified workforce housing as an area in which he would like to see progress. Anderson said he hopes the exchange of opinions carried out recently on The News Guard's letters page between he and Feuerborn supporter Councilor Rick Brissette will not make for a difficult working relationship. "I know I need six other individuals," he said. "I would hope to have their ear in any discussions and not be blocked out." Anderson will be joined in representing Ward II by Chester Noreikis, who was elected unopposed. Brissette was re-elected unopposed to his northern Ward I while Tim Crenshaw, planning commission vice-chair was elected unopposed to represent the southern Ward III.