Moscow to see new mayor in 2021 elections

Candidates for City of Moscow elections have been finalized with the declaration of candidacy filing window closing today. 

This year’s elections include the mayoral election, with Mayor Bill Lambert not running for a third term, and three city council seats. All opening positions have a term of four years. 

Finalized today, the 2021 mayoral candidates include Art Bettge, Olivia Moses, Jim Gray and Barb Rathbun. 

Moscow City Council candidates include Gina Taruscio, Julia Parker, Steve Harmon, Jason Stooks, Kyrk Taylor, Hailey Lewis, Shaun Dareshi and Melissa Cline. Each is running for one of three Council Member positions. 

Current city councilor Bettge was first voted into Moscow City Council in 2013 and is finishing his last year as a councilor as his second term expires. Having confirmed his plans to not run again, Lambert endorsed Bettege, supporting his run to be Lambert’s successor. Bettege has also been a part of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for 10 years, serving seven years as the chair.  

Councilor Taruscio is running again to reclaim her seat with her first term coming to an end. Taruscio has a background in business and spent five years as executive director of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce.  

Parker has experience working on the boards of the Moscow Food Co-op and the Moscow Civic Association. She has also worked as a nurse for 16 years, according to her webpage.  

The deadline for candidates to withdraw is Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. 

The Argonaut will update with more details on candidates as information is made available.  

Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @haadiyatariq