Baker City Council Weighs Two Candidates to Fill Vacancy
Two residents, Randy Schiewe and Deanna Johnson, applied to fill a vacant seat on the seven-member Baker City Council before the Jan. 1 deadline, leaving councilors to choose a replacement who will serve through the end of 2026. The decision will shape local representation on issues the council handles and will be discussed at the council's Jan. 13 meeting, though no appointment will be made that night.
Baker City officials confirmed that two applicants sought appointment to the Baker City Council seat left open when Stephen Carr resigned Oct. 7. Randy Schiewe and Deanna Johnson submitted applications in December; no other candidates applied before the Jan. 1 deadline.
The vacancy arose after Carr wrote that he believes he can “better serve the community off the City Council than on it.” The remaining six councilors moved to solicit interest in a replacement from Nov. 1 through Jan. 1, creating the pool that produced the two December applicants.
Megan Langan, city recorder, said councilors will discuss the appointment process during their next meeting, scheduled for Jan. 13, but will not make an appointment at that session. The six sitting councilors — Randy Daugherty, Loran Joseph, Helen Loennig, Roger Coles, Doni Bruland and Gratton Miller — will ultimately appoint one person to serve the remainder of Carr’s two-year term, which runs through the end of 2026.
One applicant, Randy Schiewe, is a former councilor. He was initially appointed to fill a vacancy in July 2018 and was later elected in November of that year to a two-year term continuing through the end of 2020. Deanna Johnson's background was not detailed in city records released with the application summary.
The appointment carries familiar responsibilities for a citizen-legislator in a small city: the council seat brings influence over municipal policy, budget decisions and local land-use matters that affect daily life in Baker City. Council members are compensated modestly under the city charter, receiving $10 per meeting to a maximum of $150 per year, underscoring the civic nature of the role.
For residents, the immediate significance lies in representation and continuity on the council as elected officials prepare for regular work in the coming year. Filling the seat will restore the full complement of seven voices to deliberations and votes, which can affect timelines and outcomes on local projects and ordinances.
Council discussion on Jan. 13 will focus on how the appointment process will proceed and on next steps for considering the two applicants. The appointed councilor will serve the remainder of the term through 2026, rejoining a body that has sought to balance continuity and fresh participation in city governance.
Sources:
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
