I’m Sara Duncan, and I’m running to be your next Marion County Commissioner.

Our communities need local leaders who know firsthand the struggles working families face. Sara Duncan is that leader who has bused tables through college and now manages public dollars with an A+ rating.

Help build a Marion County that works for everyone.

Sara Duncan with friends and community members at Salem Pride.

I’ve lived in the Salem community for most of my life, serving the greater Salem community in leadership roles that span from non-profits and public service to healthcare and small business.

Currently, I serve as the Secretary of the Cherriots Board of Directors and the Chair of Cherriots’ DEI Committee. I’m also the Development Manager for PCUN, an organization that advocates for Oregon farmworkers and working Latinx families.

Previously, I worked at Lifesource, one of Salem’s only locally-owned grocery stores, and coordinated a recycling program for the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association. I’ve spent years working with various local nonprofits from the Rotary Club to the Great Salem Race.

I’ve also spent nearly a decade consulting for small businesses across the valley without pay (or for trade to help keep business local.

I live here in Salem with my partner Allison as well as our dog and two cats. As a proud queer and disabled woman, I’m a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and disabled Oregonians.

For more than 40 years, the county commissioner seats have been held by people who dismissed and left behind those in Marion County who need the most help. 2026 is the best opportunity we’ve had in my lifetime to change that.

A woman in a red coat holding a protest sign with religious and spiritual symbols, standing outdoors with an umbrella on a rainy day.

Photo credit: Miranda Crowell Seble // @FactorKites

$11M+ federal grant funding to maintain essential transportation secured

924,000 free bus rides with the Youth Zero Pass in one year (FY2025)

$3 million for South Salem Transit Center

Has been serving the community since she was 18 years old

1 Public Health

Access to inclusive, quality healthcare is essential to a healthy community. As Marion County Commissioner, I will prioritize education on preventable diseases, LGBTQIA+-informed healthcare, and continuity of care for residents managing mental health conditions and chronic illnesses after hospitalization. As a disabled LGBTQIA+ person, I understand firsthand the gaps in our healthcare system. I believe strengthening public health is key to addressing houselessness, community violence, and ensuring no one falls through the cracks.

2 Houselessness

Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home. I believe addressing houselessness requires tackling its root causes through a Housing First approach, affordable housing, and access to mental health and substance use services. As Marion County Commissioner, I will bring together nonprofits, healthcare providers, and people with lived experience to expand coordinated, wraparound services. My goal is to ensure every Marion County resident has access to safe, affordable housing and the support they need to build a stable future.

3 Transparency & Accountability

County government impacts nearly every aspect of our daily lives, yet too many residents don't know how it works or what services it provides. I believe transparency, accountability, and community engagement are essential to changing that. As Marion County Commissioner, I will work to make county government more accessible, responsive, and transparent to ensure residents have a voice in decisions, understand how their tax dollars are spent, and can easily connect with the services they need. My vision is a county government that works for its people, not just its leaders.