Debra Callahan Puts in Bid for Mayor

WAITSBURG – Filings to run for City Council opened Monday and several new contenders wasted no time tossing their hats into the ring. Current council member Debra Callahan is running for mayor while Karen Stanton-Gregutt and Kate Hockersmith will compete for first-time seats on the council.

Mayor Walt Gobel has only been opposed once during his tenure as mayor. The Truth & Trust slate of candidates, then made up of Mayor Walt Gobel and council members Kevin House, Orville Branson, Marty Dunn, Karl Newell, and Scott Nettles were elected in 2010.

In 2011, Bart Baxter opposed Gobel in a bid for mayor but received only 64 votes to Gobel’s 276. Greg McVey ran unsuccessfully for a council seat that year, in support of Baxter.

K.C. Kuykendall joined the Truth & Trust slate to win the spot vacated by Branson, who retired from the council in 2012. Tiffany Laposi and Bart Baxter both ran for council seats that year but were not elected.

In 2013 Nettles was unseated in close call by Callahan, who received 156 votes to Nettles’ 154.

The council and mayor ran unopposed in both 2014 and 2015.

Current council member Kevin House was the only other candidate that had filed as of press time Tues. afternoon.

Candidates have until Fri., March 18 to file a Declaration of Candidacy at City Hall.