Celine Coleman

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Celine Coleman

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 21, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Bradley University

Graduate

East Tennessee State University

Personal

Profession

Government

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Celine Coleman ran for election to the Salem City Council to represent Ward 1 in Oregon. She lost in the primary on May 21, 2024.

Coleman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Celine Coleman earned a bachelor's degree from Bradley University and a graduate degree from East Tennessee State University. Her career experience includes working in government. As of 2024, Coleman was affiliated with Salem NAACP and Kids for the Culture.

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Salem, Oregon (2024)

General election

General election for Salem City Council Ward 1

Paul Tigan won election in the general election for Salem City Council Ward 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Paul Tigan (Nonpartisan)	97.1	5,316
		Other/Write-in votes	2.9	160

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 5,476
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Salem City Council Ward 1

Paul Tigan defeated Celine Coleman in the primary for Salem City Council Ward 1 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Paul Tigan (Nonpartisan)	58.9	2,250
		Celine Coleman (Nonpartisan)	40.5	1,549
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	21

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 3,820
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Coleman in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Celine Coleman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Coleman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an excited candidate ready to listen and act for my constituents in Ward 1. I live in the Highland neighborhood and have enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere Salem has to offer. My background is in public health and I work for Marion County in their Health and Human Services building on Center St. As an epidemiologist I have worked with various levels of government in addition to many organizations at the local level. Throughout my career active listening, process development, determination, and collaboration have been key to create a successful and fulfilling career. I advocate for people regardless of their background so that our communities will grow sustainably. In my free time I like to visit the Oregon coast, read(thrillers), and hike. Locally I've been involved with the Salem NAACP chapter, and the Salem YMCA. A vote for me is a vote for public safety, business development/growth, and collaboration.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• The payroll tax measure voted on in November 2023 had a good intent, poor execution. The nearly $400,000 the city spent to get this to voters could have been spent elsewhere and had a much greater return on investment. Our city needs to do a deep dive on their expenses and have greater fiscal accountability for its residents. I applaud the increased transparency that has been implemented since then by the city and would love for it to continue. We must engage our citizens before guilting them into taxes and must be wise about spending city funds to purchase buildings only to have them close in a few years.
• Safety is essential. Safety at the public level involves police, fire, and ambulance personnel. Continuing to cut these positions directly impacts us and has a domino effect. Cut positions, increase overtime, increase turnover= increased city spending. At minimum these areas need to be fully staffed with a community element so familiarity and trust can be established and maintained. Many of you pay taxes to our city thus the funding should be used in a justified manner.
• Business growth and development is an excellent foundation in areas such as downtown Salem and along Wallace Rd in West Salem. Within the northern part of Salem I would love to see more small to mid-sized business being incentivized particularly as more companies leave locales such as Salem and Portland. In regards to funding some of these endeavors our city should partner with community-based organizations and continue working with the county as braided funding is stronger and more sustainable then our city funding alone.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Economy, infrastructure, sustainable policies, and health

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Willing to learn, compromise, and listen. One must also care about their constituents. City Council is about uploading, altering, and/or creating policies that maintain or improve the Salem community which is where the care element is necessary.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked for Old Navy as a store associate when I was in high school until I graduated. Working in retail you have to be flexible whether you are putting together a customer's perfect outfit, trying to find a specific item in another store, or sign them up for a store credit card to get a purchase discount. In retail one size doesn't fit, so I would always go out of my way to make sure our customers left the store happier than when they arrived. In City Council we have to be flexible with our other city councilors to see their viewpoints on things and see how we can reach a common goal that will pass and benefit the city. Our residents should be content with our city council most of the time.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

City council members are often involved with the selection of committee members. Stay engaged and know who represents you on committees that you are passionate about.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter

Mid-Valley Association of Realtors
Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell
Cynthia Richardson
Dr. Satya Chandragiri

Gregg Peterson

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

This is paramount. There have been increasing concerns about where funds are being spent since the ARPA funds were allocated. Which city contracts are cost-effective, which are not? What funds are being spent sustainably, which are not?

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

Salem City Council Ward 1

Website

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