Holden

MILTON-FREEWATER — For the first time in decades, Milton-Freewater will have a new mayor and a new city councilor leading Ward 2.

Political newcomer Michael Odman won the race for mayor in a landslide.

Odman received 76% of the vote, or 545 votes on Election Day, May 21, according to unofficial results from the Umatila County Elections Division. Incumbent Lewis Key, who has held the seat for nearly 32 years, received 170 votes, or 23.7% of the total. There were nine write-in votes.

The race for Ward 2, which serves the southern end of Milton-Freewater, had a similar outcome, with challenger Emily Holden cruising past incumbent Brad Humbert.

Humbert received 38.5% of the vote, or 144 votes, while Holden, who ran on a platform of transparency and change, garnered 229 votes, or 61.2% of the total. There was one write-in vote.

The winner of the night’s simple majority will appear on the November ballot, Umatilla County election officials said.

Milton-Freeewater had two uncontested council races, as well. Incumbent Jose Garcia, Ward 3, received 98%, or 119 of 121 total votes, alongside two write-in votes.

Destiny Jensen, running as a newcomer for the At Large, Position 1 city council spot, got 96.75%, or 357 votes out of 523. Twelve write-in votes took 3.25% of the total.

Odman said the support and encouragement he heard from “just about everybody” was overwhelming.

“It was helpful to see how excited they are for some change. I think they are hungry for new life in Milton-Freewater,” he said.

Odman said he will be honored to serve as mayor and to work alongside the city council and new City Manager Chad Morris.

“I look forward to representing our community,” he said. “I look forward to making Milton-Freewater an even better place to live.”

Holden said while she knows the people’s wishes won’t be known for sure until after the Nov. 5 election day, at this point she is grateful people are willing to trust her.

“I’m looking forward to serving Milton-Freewater,” she said.