Just two weeks after officially retiring as Philomath Fire and Rescue’s deputy fire chief, Rich Saalsaa stepped into a new role related to community service by becoming the newest member of the Philomath City Council.
Councilors appointed Saalsaa to fill the vacant seat during their regular monthly meeting Monday night at City Hall.
“I just thought this is exactly where I want to be,” Saalsaa said during a short interaction with the council before the vote, later adding in response to a question, “We answer to the people and that’s why I’m here because I’m willing to be accountable for being someone to answer to the people of our community.”
Saalsaa has lived in Philomath for 10 years and is well known to most of those on the council and city staff through his role at the fire department.
“I have been at least a peripheral part of the growth of our community and I believe that I have a unique perspective to bring to the council as a citizen, including my background in public safety, working with the schools and working with city staff,” Saalsaa said in his application.
Saalsaa will finish out the term of Matt Lehman, who resigned in November after taking a job with Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, a position he believed to be a conflict of interest. The term expires at the end of 2026.
Three residents applied for the seat. In addition to Saalsaa, the others were Amanda Polley, who works as an office specialist at Oregon State, and Kyle Cupp, a writer and strategist for a human resources tech company.
Mayor Christopher McMorran, who was leading his first council meeting, said he felt it was fortunate that three citizens expressed interest in the position and added that the city would be well served by whoever was chosen.
Cupp, Polley and Saalsaa each took turns at the table to share a few comments and to answer a question by the mayor about what they believe makes a successful city councilor.
To choose the new councilor, a vote-by-ballot procedure was followed. A first ballot ended in a tie between Saalsaa and Polley with each receiving two votes and Cupp receiving one (Councilor Diane Crocker was absent). Down to two candidates, Saalsaa received three of the five votes on the second ballot.
Moments later, City Recorder Crystal Weber swore him in as the council’s seventh member.
In addition to the seat occupied by Saalsaa, positions currently held by Jessica Andrade and Teresa Nielson will also be up for grabs in the November 2026 election. Spencer Irwin and Brent Kaseman were at the table for the first time Monday and Crocker is beginning her second term after those three were elected in November to four-year stints. McMorran, also elected in November, is beginning a four-year term as mayor.
