Randy Hibbard

Weiser Mayor Randy Hibberd officially announced on Monday that he is running for re-election.

Hibberd, who served two years of a four-year term on the City Council before running for Mayor, was elected in 2019 and took office in January 2020.

“We’ve made some changes within the city and I would like to make sure that those changes are fully in place before I leave,” he said, speaking on his motivation to run for a second term. “Also, we have several things going on in town that I’d like to see through.”

Hibberd ultimately appointed current city councilman Mike Hopkins to fill out his remaining two years.

He added that he feels driven to continue now that he is well past the learning curve all first-time mayors experience.

“The first part of the term, you are kind of learning the ropes and feeling out how to get things done,” he said. “The second part, you are actually starting to do it, so I’d like to keep the momentum going.”

Hibberd worked in the banking industry for 39 years.  

He started out in Parma where he attended high school and got his professional start at a local bank. He moved to Weiser in 1994, working for West One Bank.

“Most of it was in lending, concentrating on commercial and agricultural lending,” he said of his long career. “I started off as a teller and worked my way up.”

Hibberd said he has appreciated his time serving as Weiser’s Mayor thus far.

“Overall, it’s been great,” he said. “I got into office right as COVID hit, so that was interesting and, of course, totally unforeseeable. I enjoy working on several things at one time and that’s a part of what I loved about banking. 

“That’s what I love about this job; that there are so many aspects to it that can utilize my talents. We have an amazing group of people here at the city; they work extremely well together.”

Elections this year are Tuesday, Nov. 7. Candidates can submit their declarations of candidacy beginning Monday, Aug. 28 at 8 a.m. 

The deadline for submitting paperwork is Friday, Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. Candidates must either have five signatures of registered City of Weiser voters or pay $40, according to Hibberd.

Current city councilmembers Layna Hafer, Cliff Barberis, and Larry Hogg, who have all served multiple four-year terms, are up for re-election. 

Hafer and Barberis do not plan to run for re-election, according to Hibberd.  

Marg Chipman, who was recently appointed to fill a spot vacated by former councilwoman Alicia Fowler, must run in the Nov. 7 election in order fill out the remaining two years of Fowler’s four-year term.

“She has been an integral part of this community for a long time and is well respected,” Hibberd said of Chipman, who served a total of 29 years on the Weiser School District board of trustees. “She was at the top of the list of people to ask to fill that position when Alicia decided to move out of the area.”

From Weiser Signal-American – Wed, August 23, 2023 – By: Philip A. Janquart