City of Donald, Oregon

The City of Donald is holding elections on November 5th for the Mayor and three council member positions. The ballots for this election are write-in only. Although names will not be on the upcoming ballot, the community members who have committed to running for these positions are listed below with their respective office of choice:

​

Mayor (2 years) - Vote for One

• Rick Olmsted - It is my greatest honor to be your Mayor. I am a 18-year Donald resident, Oregon native, 24-year Air Force veteran, husband, father, and grandfather. I would truly appreciate your vote for re-election and pledge to continue to work with our City Council, Planning Commission, City Staff, residents, and businesses to make Donald a safe place to enjoy country living. Recent accomplishments: 1. Helped establish the Hubbard-Donald Police Department. 2. Establishing a additional water well with a $1,000,000 federal grant.

• James Houdyshell - Jim Houdyshell moved to Donald in the spring of 2019. He and his family were attracted to the area by the beautiful open spaces, the mild climate, the small-town atmosphere, and the opportunity to further his career. Jim is the father of two daughters, and recently, his father moved to the Donald area to be closer to Jim and his grandkids. “I am committed to providing strong leadership, improving services, and supporting economic development while keeping the ‘small town’ community atmosphere for all residents of Donald.”

• Jan Olsen - Moved to Donald in 2005 (19 years) and have been elected your City Councilor from 2008-2018 and then voted in again from 2022-current. I believe volunteerism and the community working together is vital to a small town and have volunteered many hours on many projects for both the community and with the city on things like the Community Center, Community Rock Painting, past involvement with the Donald Days/Hazelnut Festival Parade, City Clean up, Ice Cream Social, Santa Sing Along to name a few. I believe growth with any city is inevitable, but it is important that that growth is not to the detriment of the community as a whole. I plan to evaluate each project and their effects on the community.

​

Councilor (4 years) - Vote for Three

• Amanda Johnson - As a single mom and business professional with years of community service experience, I am committed to supporting the City of Donald. My goal is to encourage business growth while making sure that Donald doesn't lose the small-town charm that I moved here for.

• Michael Coffman​

• Gabrielle Plunkett​​ - When I was younger, I spent a lot of my time volunteering in my city. Though, even with those dedicated hours, I never felt connected to the community because it was so large. That changed when I moved to Donald Oregon, finally feeling a part of something. I know that with my organizational skills, outgoing personality, and dedication that I can make a difference here. Whether big or small, helping the voices of this community be heard is something that I would strive towards. My career is in senior living, this is something I started when I was 18 years old. Later I earned a position in management. In doing this role, I have learned a lot of things including leadership skills that will help me be the best council member I can be. One thing working with seniors has taught me is that it’s important to lay the foundation for the next generations to come. Change is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be scary. With the right people representing members of this community, I believe that we can grow and become a part of something greater. Please consider me for the next Councilor position and allow me to show what my skills can do for this beautiful town.