City & town

Salem City Council

Vote for: 2
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 5
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The five-member city council sets Salem's budget, tax rates and ordinances and appoints the city manager.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jonathan D. "J.D." Taylor

No party listed

Credit union associate director; local government tax administration

The gist

Proposes business license incentives and a machinery tax moratorium.
Supports broadening the tax base to lower property taxes.
Opposes reopening council's decision against a school sales tax referendum.
Supports single-family housing and neighborhood center zoning.
Supports council action against overdevelopment of rezoned sites.

More about Jonathan

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Proposes business license incentives and a machinery tax moratorium.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“implementing a business license incentive program available to localities in 58.1-3703 and consider a Machinery & Tools tax moratorium”
Supports broadening the tax base to lower property taxes.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“broaden our tax base, and allow us to lower property and real estate taxes”
Opposes reopening council's decision against a school sales tax referendum.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“It is not my intention to manufacture an issue for our citizens.”
Supports single-family housing and neighborhood center zoning.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I am a fan of neighborhood center style zoning and have a preference for single family housing”
Supports council action against overdevelopment of rezoned sites.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“sites under development like the HopeTree property and Mill Ln are top of mind as areas council can take action to protect from over development”

Jeffrey K. Hoeflich-Nickels

No party listed

Local business owner; former financial industry professional

The gist

Opposes new development without resident input and infrastructure capacity.
Supports letting voters decide a school sales tax increase.
Proposes rehabilitating dilapidated properties into housing first.
Opposes relying on high-density development for housing.
Pledges council listening sessions in neighborhoods before development.

More about Jeffrey

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Opposes new development without resident input and infrastructure capacity.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“We should not rubber stamp every new development. … ensure our infrastructure and public services can handle the new development”
Supports letting voters decide a school sales tax increase.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I would support Salem's residents deciding whether or not to raise the local sales tax by 1%.”
Proposes rehabilitating dilapidated properties into housing first.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“We should first focus on the rehabilitation of dilapidated properties throughout Salem that can be repurposed into housing or mixed-use properties.”
Opposes relying on high-density development for housing.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“The answer isn't just high-density development that destroys our infrastructure and increases the threat of crime.”
Pledges council listening sessions in neighborhoods before development.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I will make sure the City Council is in communities to listen to our neighbors”

Mark W. Henrickson

No party listed

Construction and development business owner

The gist

Opposes holding a school sales tax referendum now.
Supports investing in infrastructure to keep pace with growth.
Supports reviewing zoning ordinances for a modern city.
Supports more hotel capacity to keep tourism revenue in Salem.
Supports timely inspections and reasonable building regulations.

More about Mark

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Opposes holding a school sales tax referendum now.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“There is not a need to call for a referendum to increase sales taxes to support the schools at this time.”
Supports investing in infrastructure to keep pace with growth.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“A significant challenge with growth is the need to invest wisely in essential infrastructure”
Supports reviewing zoning ordinances for a modern city.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“there is a need to review of zoning ordinances to ensure they support a modern city”
Supports more hotel capacity to keep tourism revenue in Salem.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“There is insufficient hotel space to support the number of visitors we bring into Salem. … It is important to support the plan to continue to strengthen tourism”
Supports timely inspections and reasonable building regulations.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“It is important that the city provide timely inspections and reasonable regulations for the oversight of safe accessible homes and businesses.”

A.J. Harpold

No party listed

Tea room owner; choreographer

The gist

Opposes a school construction sales tax referendum now.
Opposes adding to residents' everyday costs.
Supports more varied housing for young professionals, seniors and families.
Supports historic and natural preservation in Salem.
Supports new small businesses and remediating existing buildings.

More about A.J.

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Opposes a school construction sales tax referendum now.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I don't think Salem City needs to hold a referendum to raise local sales tax for school construction.”
Opposes adding to residents' everyday costs.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I honestly don't think the local population can withstand a further increase in their everyday expenses”
Supports more varied housing for young professionals, seniors and families.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“Salem needs more housing. But housing that serves a variety of residents, and a variety of needs.”
Supports historic and natural preservation in Salem.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“promote the historical and natural preservation of our beautiful city”
Supports new small businesses and remediating existing buildings.
How to vote in Salem: Salem City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“opening up possibilities for new businesses, the remediation of existing buildings and looking towards developing more diverse housing options”

H. Hunter Holliday III

No party listedIncumbent

Salem City Council member; CEO, Veteran Events and Training, LLC

The gist

No documented position found.

More about H.

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.