Duties: Supervises daily operation of city government and employees. Works with City Council to establish budgets and ordinances.
Annual salary: $23,000
Term: Four years, beginning Jan. 1
The Candidates
Richard Hoeppner
Age: 65
Occupation: retired as a superintendent for Hagerman Construction; Army veteran of Vietnam War.
Education: high school graduate
Family: married, with two sons and three grandchildren
Party: Democratic
Website: “Richard A. Hoeppner for Mayor - City of Woodburn” on Facebook
Why you are running for office: “Woodburn is at a start of an economic boom, and I still have a leadership role to play in it.”
Why people should vote for you: “I have 16 years' experience in city government and have formed a great network with other mayors and state and local officials.”
Ryan Reichhart
Age: 37
Occupation: superintendent with Mark Hoeppner Construction
Education: high school graduate
Family: single, with three children
Party: Democratic
Website: “Ryan Reichhart for Mayor - City of Woodburn” on Facebook
Why you are running for office: “People are ready for a change, for somebody who's open to new ideas.”
Why people should vote for you: “I feel I'm pretty easy to talk to, and I think I have a pretty good grasp on what it would take.”
2 Democrats race for mayor in Woodburn
With Woodburn enjoying what he describes as the “start of an economic boom,” Mayor Richard Hoeppner says he's running for a fourth term to maintain the momentum of economic development in the city.
His opponent in the Democratic primary, Ryan Reichhart, has never held office, but he's served the city as a member of its fire department for 17 years, four of those as fire chief, and two years as a reserve police officer.
“I'd like to see us add to the police department,” he said, explaining that the town has one full-time chief, one part-time officer and six reserve officers.
“I don't think there's a lot of crime, but it's a lot for one guy to handle,” Reichhart said.
Woodburn's population has remained fairly steady, between 1,500-1,600 people, for the last 20 years. Hoeppner sees several causes for optimism about the city's future, for example:
*The Woodburn Industrial Park recently attracted a new tenant, North American Cold Storage.
*Last year, the town landed a $400,000 state grant for streetscape improvements in its downtown.
*A new truck stop has been built just off the newly upgraded U.S. 24.
Reichhart also says he's enthusiastic about Woodburn, but adds that the town needs more retail business, too, such as a grocery story.
“I'm a lifer in Woodburn; it's a great little community,” he said. “I would like to see it grow.”
Hoeppner, who was a city councilman in Woodburn before he was elected mayor, said that his being retired frees him up to devote the necessary time to the job, which is paid as a part-time position.
Reichhart said that he understands being mayor is a part-time job. To make time for it in his life, he said he would quit other part-time work he does now.
Hoeppner said he's confident that voters can pick candidates based on more than party affiliation.
“I'm a Democrat, and we're pretty much Republican out this way, but I've still won three elections,” Hoeppner said.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican mayoral candidate Joseph Kelsey in the general election.
