Bemis elected mayor
Council president unseats Mayor Charles Becker with 58 percent of the vote
Carole Archer / The Outlook
Mayor-elect Shane Bemis holds son Derek, 4, while wife, Julie, applauds his victory at Boticelli's restaurant in downtown Gresham on Tuesday night.
Gresham Council President Shane Bemis unseated a two-term incumbent, winning Mayor Charles Becker’s post with 58 percent of the vote.
So now what?
“We’re going to Disneyland,” Bemis told a crowd filling his Italian restaurant, Boccelli’s, on Tuesday night after the second round of results rolled in at 9 p.m.
Bemis, his wife Julie, and their sons Derek, 4, and Jacob, 1, will travel via recreational vehicle to Southern California on Friday, Nov. 10, for some rest and relaxation.
“I’m pretty excited,” Bemis said of the election results. “I’m pleased with the numbers, I’m pleased with the campaign. I’m glad it’s over, and I’m ready to start the transition process.”
Three blocks south on Main Avenue, Gresham Mayor Charles Becker worked the crowd at Jazzy Bagels, which baked bagels dotted with red, white and blue stars, or Becker Bagels, for the occasion.
When election officials posted the first round of election results online at 8 p.m., Becker began by announcing results of other Gresham City Council races.
Carol Nielsen-Hood was winning Position 6 with 43 percent of the vote. Opponents John Kilian and Bryant Lister garnered 35 and 21 percent, respectively.
Richard “Dick” Strathern, who was in the audience at Jazzy Bagels, was winning Position 4 with 58 percent. Mike Mattingly, who decided not to run in September due to medical reasons, earned 30 percent of the vote, with R. H. “Bob” Pung Sr. getting 11 percent. Because Mattingly missed the deadline to officially withdraw, his name still appeared on ballots.
And Mike Bennett, the only name to appear on the ballot for Position 2, pulled in 98 percent of the vote.
As for the Gresham mayor’s race, 12,625 votes were in. Of those, 7,417 were for Bemis, with 5,208 for Becker.
A stunned silence followed Becker’s announcement.
“It’s early folks, don’t give up the ship,” Becker said. “We’re gonna win.”
“Chuck’s always so positive,” one supporter commented.
Over at Boccelli’s, Bemis backers celebrated his victory with wine, pasta, steamed clams and a chocolate cake emblazoned with the words “Congratulations Mayor Bemis.”
Bemis said he welcomes Becker’s participation in future city endeavors and plans to talk to him about what level of involvement he’d be interested in. Becker has served as mayor since 1999. Before that he was a city councilor from 1973-76 and from 1981-84.
Back at Jazzy Bagels, Becker was not quite ready to concede the race. When told of Bemis’ intent to talk to Becker about his future political involvement, Becker said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Becker needs to weigh his options and consider his areas of expertise, such as regionalism, Metro Regional Government issues and transportation, he said.
By 9 p.m., a second round of updated results rolled in.
With the exception of one more vote for Becker, the numbers were the same.
With his sense of humor firmly intact, Becker approached a nearby table of supporters.
“I got a vote,” Becker joked. Then turning to his wife he said, “Thanks Elaine.”
“Was it yours or mine?” she replied with a grin.