By James Day
Former Silverton Police Chief and Mayor Rick Lewis was re-elected in House District 18, according to early unofficial returns from the Secretary of State’s Office.
Lewis was appointed to the position in 2017 when Rep. Vic Gilliam resigned because of ill health. He has previously been elected in 2018 and 2020 to full 2-year terms.
Lewis, a Republican, was leading Democrat Jessie Smith by more than 7,500 votes (69% to 31%). House District 18 includes Silverton, Mt. Angel and Scotts Mills.
Republican Ed Diehl ran uncontested in House District 17, which includes Stayton, Aumsville, Sublimity, Turner and the Santiam Canyon. He had received 13,552 votes, or nearly 96 percent.
HD 17 and HD 18 combined form Senate District 9, which is represented by Republican Fred Girod. Senate terms are for 4 years, though, and Girod, who has held the seat since 2008, does not face the voters again until 2024.
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