(Ballot box outside of the EMU at the University of Oregon/Photo by Caleb Barber)

In the race to represent Ward 7 on the Eugene City Council Lyndsie Leech leads with 1,990 votes, or 57.71% to Barbie Walker’s 1,433 votes, or 41.56%.

Ward 7 is currently represented by Lyndsie Leech, who was appointed to the position by the City Council in December to fill the vacancy left by recalled city councilor Claire Syrett.
Leech, who is the executive director of the nonprofit WellMama Inc., was in a three person race last May in which no candidate received more than 50% of the vote. Leech received 48.02% of the vote. Her primary opponent, local business owner Barbie Walker secured 32.36% of the vote, and a third candidate Janet Ayers received 19.09% of the vote.
As no candidate won in May, it was decided that the top two candidates, Lyndsie Leech and Barbie Walker would face off again on Nov. 7 in a runoff election.

Eugene city council races are nonpartisan, however the Democratic Party of Lane County has endorsed Lyndsie Leech, and Barbie Walker was endorsed by the Republican Party of Lane County.

Leech ran on a platform of affordable housing, mental health care and environmental policies among other things.
The winner will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2024 to serve the remainder of Syrett’s term which expires Jan.1, 2025.

Counting of the votes were delayed Wednesday, after the Lane County election office was closed for part of the day. The office reopened Thursday morning.
The closure was due to the office receiving suspicious mail, after which EPD, Eugene Springfield Fire, and Lane County Hazardous Waste appeared on the scene.
County officials say an investigation in regards to the suspicious mail is underway.

*This is a developing story, stay with us for updates.