By Jan Jackson
Not long after his election results hit the national media, Silverton Mayor Stu Rasmussen, the nation’s first known transgender elected official, was approached by several production companies to possibly create a reality TV show based in Silverton. In early April, a crew from a large production company came to town and shot tape for a teaser/preview reel to show the networks. That tape is being edited now. Rasmussen, who was quoted in May as saying the chances of such a show was probably one in 50, today says the odds have risen to one in 10.
“The Silverton/Mt. Angel area has some wonderful characters and social networks that could be positive role models for others,” Rasmussen said. “This is a very special place and producing an unscripted documentary-style TV show here could show others around the country and around the world how we cooperatively accomplish things here despite our differences. It seems to me to be a great concept.”
Stacey Palmer, executive director of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce said her board is waiting for more information before forming an opinion.
“We are waiting for the wheels to stop turning before we form an opinion,” Palmer said. “We don’t know if they are talking about one camera or a large camera crew so there is no way of knowing what we are getting into. We hear both apprehension and excitement from residents so we are just taking a wait-and-see attitude.”
Though Rasmussen understands that a few people in Silverton are uncomfortable with a TV show coming to town, he says he finds 19 out of 20 people excited about it.
“If the show does happen, the benefit to our communities could be substantial,” Rasmussen said. “I chatted with several people in Vernonia where the Axe Men series is centered and the economic and social benefits to the community they reported were very positive. A Silverton show could give us a year-around boost to visitor/tourist traffic with no adverse effects to our classic residential character.
“With the many available broadcast and cable channels and current shortage of programming, a ‘feel good’ show with a substantial niche audience has a good chance of success without relying exclusively on controversy to make it work. If Oregon law considers employing me (as) a conflict of interest, we’ll donate the money to various local charities and non profits to benefit the community.”
