Seven candidates are running for mayor and two commission seats in Oregon City's Nov. 3 election.

Mayor Denyse McGriff and Commissioner Rocky Smith are both term-limited out, opening the top office and two citywide seats on the same ballot.

The Oregonian/OregonLive profiled all seven candidates, several of whom share tangled political histories stretching back to the 2020 recall of then-Mayor Dan Holladay.

One commission candidate, Paul Espe, works as a planner for the city of Lake Oswego.

All three seats are unpaid.

The mayoral race

Commissioner Adam Marl, 26, announced his candidacy in July and has endorsements from every sitting commissioner and McGriff.

A lifelong Oregon City resident, Marl works on the government relations team at the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). He managed the successful 2020 recall campaign against Holladay, then joined the commission in 2021 at age 20.

"Despite my age, I bring over five years of experience on the city commission and recently led the adoption of a balanced city budget while voting against property tax increases," Marl told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Damon Mabee, 62, a retired Navy officer and former commissioner, said he entered the race because no one had challenged Marl.

Mabee defeated Holladay for a commission seat in 2004, lost his own reelection in 2008 to Smith and Jim Nicita, then lost the 2018 mayoral race to Holladay.

He co-chairs the Oregon City Parks Foundation and said water rights and deferred park maintenance are top priorities.

Rodney La Barr, 46, a facilities safety technician, is the third candidate. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported La Barr did not respond to its questionnaire and does not appear to have a campaign website.

The commission race

Voters pick two candidates; the top two vote-getters win. Espe, 66, chairs the Oregon City Planning Commission and has lived in the city more than 30 years.

He cited infrastructure strain from state-mandated housing development as a key concern. Gordon Lawrence, 46, a general contractor who serves on the city's Historic Review Board, said he offers a fresh perspective after decades of the same political figures in office.

Betty Mumm, 69, a former commissioner and widow of recalled Mayor Holladay, said the city's 60-year-old swimming pool needs replacement. Nicita, 63, a retired attorney, was himself recalled from the commission in 2011 after opposing a proposed $200 million mall. He said he is running to hold urban renewal accountable.

How to vote

The voter registration deadline is Oct. 13. Clackamas County Elections will mail ballots starting Oct. 14, and ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 or returned to an official drop site by 8 p.m. on Election Day.