GEARHART — After a campaign centered on key issues like the city’s water supply and aging firehouse, the next City Council will likely be made up of familiar faces.

Voters saw three races on the ballot Nov. 5: one for mayor and two for City Council.

In the mayoral race, Mayor Kerry Smith was leading Robert Morey, a developer, 55% to 44% with most of the vote counted. Smith, who has a background as a general contractor, served on the City Council for eight years before being appointed mayor in 2022.

During his campaign, Smith expressed a desire to close the loop on projects like building a new public safety building to replace crumbling infrastructure at the city’s firehouse and working to increase the city’s water supply. He’s also mentioned hopes to update the city’s comprehensive plan.

“I would like to thank all the Gearhart residents who voted for me,” Smith said. “I believe this vote represents a mandate to keep Gearhart residential with a small-town rural feel and not overly developed. I am willing to meet with the few critics of Gearhart if they can come to the table to talk, voice their concerns and provide solutions. Now is the time to start coming together to work toward a much-needed public safety building, which will benefit us all, particularly our aging population. Again thank you to everyone, and especially my lovely wife, Susan Edy.”

Morey, of Scofi Gearhart LLC, brings a background in homebuilding and land development. In 2020, he purchased the former Gearhart Elementary School and has discussed rezoning the property for residential use.

Morey touted his background as a strength as a mayoral candidate, adding that having new faces on the City Council could help prompt action on issues like the public safety building and the city’s water supply.

Position 2

For Position 2, Paulina Cockrum was leading David Savinar 60% to 39%.

After an initial stint on the Planning Commission in the 1990s, Cockrum, a retired nurse, rejoined in 2008 before being appointed and later elected to the City Council.

Cockrum was elected mayor in 2020 — a position she resigned from two years later amid public backlash over a failed $14.5 million bond measure for a new firehouse, which she had supported.

“I want to thank the voters in Gearhart for their support,” Cockrum said in a statement. “I look forward to getting back to work with other Council members to help move Gearhart forward on priority issues.”

Savinar, an artist, has an extensive background in advertising. He has been involved with several arts-based nonprofits, including a position on the board of Astoria Visual Arts.

Position 4

For Position 4, City Councilor Sharon Kloepfer was leading Patricia Roberts 52% to 48%.

Kloepfer has served on the city’s budget committee, Planning Commission and Community Emergency Response Team. She sought election for the first time this year after being appointed to the City Council in 2023.

Kloepfer has identified increasing transparency on the city’s proposed public safety building, water rights and urban growth boundary as priorities.

Roberts brings a background in historic preservation as a member of the Gearhart Landmarks Commission and the Clatsop County Historical Society board. Other priorities include an informed public process for navigating the city’s water supply, plans for the new public safety building and new federal flood plain development regulations.

Roberts also has represented the area on the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, where she narrowly survived a recall over support of a liquefied natural gas project proposed for the county.

Fire levy

Voters, by a 64% to 36% margin, approved a five-year operating levy for fire and emergency services for the Gearhart Rural Fire Protection District.

The measure renews a tax of $0.33 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Passage of the measure allows the fire protection district to continue contracting with the city to maintain its current levels of service.