GRANT COUNTY — As the 2024 general election approaches, Grant County’s mayoral races are all decided, but most communities will cast votes in contested city council elections.

The largest and most contentious city council election in the county will be in John Day, where six candidates are vying to fill three council positions. Much like national politics, the candidates are split right down the middle.

During the tenure of Nick Green as John Day’s city manager, two factions began to take shape: those who agreed with Green’s vision for John Day’s future and those who didn’t.

The latest installment of that ongoing debate took place in mid-September, when voters rejected an effort to recall three city councilors who have pushed back against the former city manager’s policies.

In Long Creek, two council seats will be decided in a pair of one-on-one contests. Mt. Vernon voters will choose from four candidates competing for two at-large seats.

Four candidates will be competing for three seats in Prairie City’s council election, and Seneca voters will have to reject one of three candidates for two open city council seats.

In Canyon City, two candidates have filed to run for the two available city council seats.

Granite, a town with a population of around 30, saw no candidates file to fill two city council seats up for election or the office of mayor. Monument saw no candidates file for any of that city’s three open city council seats.

In mayoral races, Steve Fischer (Canyon City), Ed Clark (Prairie City), Valli Hettinga (Dayville), Don Porter (Long Creek), Ron Ford (Long Creek) and Ken Delano (Mt. Vernon) are all running unopposed. The cities of John Day and Seneca do not have mayoral races in the 2024 election cycle.

The Grant Soil and Water District and Monument Soil and Water District will also see no contested elections.

Rick Henslee (zone two), Pat Voigt (zone three) and Phil St. Clair (at-large) will all fill seats on the Grant Soil and Water District board.

The Monument Soil and Water District will welcome John A. Volle (zone one), Lisa S. Atkin (zone two) and Brian Campbell (zone three) to the board. No candidates filed for the Monument Soil and Water Conservation District’s two at-large seats.

According to the Oregon State Elections Division, ballots will be mailed to Oregon voters starting on Oct. 16. Election Day is Nov. 5.