Roseburg Lists Candidates for Mayor, Four City Council Seats in November Election
Roseburg has published its current list of candidates for mayor and four City Council seats ahead of the November 3 election, with races forming in several wards and the candidate withdrawal deadline set for 4 p.m. Friday.
ROSEBURG, Ore. - The field for Roseburg's 2026 municipal election is taking shape, with candidates listed for mayor and Position 1 seats in all four City Council wards ahead of the November 3 general election.
According to the City of Roseburg's election information page, the mayor and four council positions will be on the ballot this year. The mayor is elected citywide to a two-year term, while councilors are elected by voters within their respective wards to four-year terms. Roseburg's mayor and City Council positions are nonpartisan and unpaid volunteer positions.
For mayor, the City currently lists Max Smoot and Steve Loosley. Smoot completed his filing on August 10, while Loosley completed his filing on August 5. Smoot identified his current occupation as a self-employed artist, with previous work in design and production, customer service, education, recreation and childcare. Loosley listed his current occupation as real estate development and his occupational background as a small business owner. Loosley also listed service on the Umpqua Community College Board of Education beginning in 2017, including service as chair.
Current Mayor Larry Rich's term expires December 31, 2026. The City's current elected-official page continues to list Rich as mayor, but he is not included among the mayoral candidates on the City's 2026 election filing page.
In Ward 1, the City lists R.J. Mills, who submitted a prospective filing on August 7. The City's online table does not currently show a completed filing date for Mills. His candidate filing identifies him as a small business owner and lists no prior elected or appointed government experience.
In Ward 2, Mike Baker completed his filing on July 14. Baker listed his current occupation as a region transportation planning manager and identified the Oregon Department of Transportation in his occupational background. His filing also lists previous service on the Roseburg Planning Commission and Roseburg City Council, along with service involving the Housing Authority of Douglas County, Umpqua Public Transportation District, Roseburg Charter Review Committee, Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority and Roseburg Budget Committee.
The Ward 3 race currently includes Samuel Denney and Matt Kowal. Denney completed his filing August 10, while Kowal completed his filing August 14. The City's page also lists current Ward 3 Councilor Ellen Porter as withdrawn.
Denney listed two current positions on his filing: director of operations for Adapt Integrated Health Care's Opioid Treatment Program and registered nurse in the Mercy Medical Center Emergency Department. He also listed appointed service on the Roseburg Parks and Recreation Commission and current service as treasurer of the Umpqua Valley Audubon Society. Kowal identified his current occupation as commercial team lead with Oregon Pacific Bank and listed previous work as a regional market manager.
In Ward 4, the City's election page currently lists David Bolhuis, Tiffany Fouse and Ruth Smith. Bolhuis submitted a prospective filing July 28, but the City's online table does not currently show a completed filing date for him. Fouse completed her filing August 13 and Smith completed hers August 18. Smith is the incumbent Ward 4 councilor, with her current term scheduled to expire at the end of the year.
Bolhuis' filing identifies him as self-employed, with a background in real estate and prior service on the Roseburg Planning Commission. Fouse listed her current occupation as community engagement specialist with Roseburg Schools and reported no prior elected or appointed government experience.
The City's candidate packet says the mayoral term elected this November will run through December 31, 2028, while the four council terms will run through December 31, 2030. Candidates for mayor must collect at least 50 signatures from Roseburg electors, while council candidates must collect at least 20 signatures from electors in the ward they seek to represent.
The packet also sets 4 p.m. Friday, August 28, as the deadline for a candidate to withdraw and be removed from the November ballot. Because that deadline has not yet passed, the City's published candidate information could still change.
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Additional candidate filings, ward information and election resources are available through the City of Roseburg's election information page.
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