After announcing his intent to run for mayor of Astoria earlier this year, Sean Davis will officially be on the ballot this November.
City officials say Davis has gathered enough verified signatures to proceed as a candidate. He was required to submit a petition signed by 48 registered voters living inside Astoria’s city limits. The city recorded 55 verified signatures on Davis’ petition.
Davis is a combat veteran and the co-founder of the nonprofit Rogue Cell which looks to reduce veteran suicide and connect veterans to community. As of Thursday, he is the only person to file for one of the three seats on the Astoria City Council up for election in November. However, more than a month remains for incumbents and other candidates to file.
Current Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick has not said if he plans to run for reelection, though at a recent City Council meeting he corrected one city councilor when it was suggested a new mayor would be in office in January.
Fitzpatrick ran unopposed for the position in 2022 and previously served on the Astoria Planning Commission.
Davis said he wants to face a challenger in the mayoral race.
“I do hope somebody (runs), honestly,” he said. “I don’t think anybody should run unopposed.”
Either way, he added, “I’m still going to knock on doors. I’m still going to try to talk to as many community leaders as I can out there. I want to show that I’m doing the work so by the time November rolls around, people are like, ‘Well, he’s already out there doing it.’”
He said he believes Astoria deserves “active leadership.”
Davis has listed homelessness and housing among his top issues, but, after attending City Council meetings regularly in recent months, infrastructure and how to fund capital improvement projects have become a higher priority for him.
The city has identified $246 million in infrastructure needs, projects that touch on water, wastewater, stormwater and transportation systems. The city has long depended on outside funding to finance such projects.
Davis also sees room for deeper community partnerships and collaboration.
He said he respects Fitzpatrick and thinks he has done a good job.
“But I don’t think leadership is making sure the meetings start on time and end on time,” Davis said. “That’s part of it, for sure. You’ve got to run the meetings, but the biggest part of leadership is getting out there, leading by example, building a sense of responsibility in the people who are working with you and for you and making sure everybody’s well-informed on what’s going on and the problems that we’re having.”
Also up for election are the Ward 1 seat held by Andy Davis and the Ward 3 seat held by Elisabeth Adams.
Adams had previously said she did not plan to run for reelection but told KMUN on Wednesday she now plans to file for her seat again and will be turning in the required signatures by the end of the week.
Adams was elected in 2022. Her campaign then focused on representation, housing, economic development and improving how the public and the city interact.
“My time on the council has been incredibly challenging, but very rewarding,” she said, adding, “As a renter, single mother and business owner, I feel like my representation and perspective is still valid and needed.”
Adams owns Wild Roots Movement and Massage in downtown Astoria.
Andy Davis, a research analyst for the Oregon Health Authority, will not run for reelection to the Ward 1 seat. He was elected to the City Council in 2022, but will be moving out of his current ward and into Ward 3 when his term ends.
He said he has been approached about running for the Ward 3 seat or for mayor.
“I haven’t made a decision yet, but most days I lean toward not running for anything,” he told KMUN.
He wants to encourage people to run for his Ward 1 seat, however, assuring them they will not be facing an incumbent.
Incumbents have until August 18 to file. All other candidates have until August 25.