Julie Hoy is acting like she doesn’t want to be reelected as Salem mayor

I’m beginning to think that Julie Hoy feels she would be happier if she wasn’t the mayor of Salem, which entails putting in a lot of time for exactly zero money, the position being unpaid.

I say this because while Hoy has filed for reelection, she’s been making some dubious choices if she truly wanted to defeat Councilor Vanessa Nordyke in the May election.

For example, (1) Hoy has declined to admit that she violated Oregon’s public meetings law, even though the Oregon Government Ethics Commission determined that she was the instigator of prohibited private conversations with city councilors about the City Manager’s employment status; (2) Hoy declined an invitation from the Salem Reporter to debate Nordyke under the same rules and format the then-candidate-for mayor agreed to in 2024; (3) most recently, Hoy declined to put her name on a letter to Trump administration officials signed by 31 other Oregon mayors that criticized how ICE and other federal agencies are carrying out immigration enforcement efforts.

That’s a lot of declining for a conservative mayor seeking a second term in a city that leans progressive. With the election just three months away, seemingly Hoy should be buttressing her support among independents and moderates who she’ll need to have a chance of beating Nordyke, who is a considerably more skillful campaigner and communicator.

The last item about the Oregon mayors’ letter regarding abuses of power by ICE and other federal agents is especially perplexing. A recent PBS News/NPR/Marist Poll found:

Six in 10 Americans disapprove of the job ICE is doing, while about 3 in 10 approve. Opinions about the agency and its actions are sharply divided along political lines, with 91% of Democrats and 66% of independents registering their disapproval. Republicans, however, remain supportive, with 73% approving of the agency’s work.

…Nearly two-thirds of respondents in the latest poll – 65% – feel ICE has gone too far in enforcing immigration laws, a jump from 54% last June, when the Trump administration began enhanced enforcement efforts in Los Angeles. That’s driven largely by Democrats and independents, but a growing share of Republicans say the same.

Yet Mayor Hoy declined to sign the letter, even though the mayors of Portland, Eugene, Bend, Detroit, Philomath, Monmouth, Lincoln City, and 24 other cities in Oregon did. The letter to Kristi Noem and Tom Homan starts off with:

We write to you as elected leaders who represent Oregon communities that are fearful andmorally opposed to the tactics that federal officers are deploying in Oregon and across the country.

Whenever law enforcement uses lethal force, there must be a full, fair investigation and accountability at the highest legal standard. The administration’s blatant disregard for the factson the ground in recent incidents in Minneapolis, coupled with increasingly aggressive tacticsand rhetoric against people exercising their First Amendment rights, compromises the integrityof the current investigations. The situation erodes public trust and normalizes an environmentwhere it seems acceptable to harm people who disagree with what the government is attempting to do.

This is in direct opposition to the civil liberties and freedoms on which this country was founded.We demand an immediate halt to federal immigration enforcement actions in Oregon until thorough investigations of use of force incidents in Minneapolis, in Portland, and all other use of force incidents by federal agents are thoroughly investigated and those involved are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Sounds reasonable to me. And not surprisingly, to Vanessa Nordyke, Hoy’s opponent, who wrote on Facebook:

A coalition of 31 Oregon mayors recently signed a letter to the Trump Administration, demanding “an immediate halt to federal immigration enforcement actions in Oregon until thorough investigations of use of force incidents in Minneapolis, in Portland, and all other use of force incidents by federal agents are thoroughly investigated and those involved are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Whenever law enforcement uses lethal force, there must be a full, fair investigation and accountability at the highest legal standard. The administration’s blatant disregard for the facts on the ground in recent incidents in Minneapolis, coupled with increasingly aggressive tactics and rhetoric against people exercising their First Amendment rights, compromises the integrity of the current investigations. The situation erodes public trust and normalizes an environment where it seems acceptable to harm people who disagree with what the government is attempting to do. This is in direct opposition to the civil liberties and freedoms on which this country was founded.”

Those are excerpts from the letter signed by 31 mayors across the state. But the mayor of Salem didn’t sign it.

Similarly, in September, a coalition of Oregon mayors opposed the federalization of the Oregon National Guard. Salem’s mayor was notably absent from both efforts. Our mayor was the only one of Oregon’s seven most populous city mayors to not sign the letters.

The people of Salem keep waiting for their mayor to stand up for them. Parents are afraid to take their children to school or go to the doctor’s office. People are scared to go to work or the grocery store, let alone support our local businesses. We must stand up to federal overreach, for the safety of our communities and for our constitutional rights to govern.  

As Oregon’s capital city, and its second-largest, our voice carries significant weight. Our silence sends a message too. These collaborative statements from 31 Oregon mayors represent important opportunities for leadership and solidarity that Salem should not miss.

As your next mayor, I will ensure Salem has a seat at the table when Oregon cities come together. Effective governance requires strong partnerships with our state and neighboring communities, relationships that benefit us in good times and become essential during challenges.

Most importantly, I will actively seek your input to guide my leadership. My goal is to authentically represent Salem’s values and interests at every level. Our city deserves a mayor who is both its biggest champion and its strongest advocate – someone who shows up, speaks up, and ensures our voice is heard. 

In order for Salem to be safe and welcoming, we must not be silent. When elected, I will work to strengthen Salem’s presence in regional and statewide conversations. We can lead our state with our community’s response to challenges and in our support for one another.