UPDATED: Seaside’s vacant Ward 4 position still open

Published 2:48 pm Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Council tables appointment  

By AISLIN TWEEDY

Seaside Signal / The Astorian 

This story has been updated.

The Seaside City Council on Monday, Jan. 12, tabled the planned appointment to fill a vacant City Council seat after allegations of homophobia and more came up following a question-and-answer session with the candidates.

Two candidates, Padraic Ansbro and Brandon Kraft, are vying to fill the Ward 4 seat on the City Council following the resignation of David Posalski in December. 

Both candidates met with councilors on Monday and were asked a series of questions about their priorities and plans for Seaside. Following those interviews, councilors brought up allegations against Kraft as they discussed the merits of the two candidates.

The allegations allegedly come from an email from a constituent that was circulated to councilors. The email purportedly alleged Kraft was named on a government watch list for posting on an extremist group’s website, according to a post Q&A discussion. 

Other questions arose from a Substack blog post titled “Hot-Button Issues,” written by former editor of the Seaside Signal and reporter for the Astorian, R.J. Marx, where Kraft’s stances on LGBTQ issues were questioned in a Q&A format.

Marx asked: “The city’s LGBTQ support proclamation? Would you advocate that proclamation next year?”

Kraft answered: “For me, it’s kind of a staple; it’s a kind of thing that just happens. I know you choose to live how you live, do that on your own. I don’t have a problem with it — just don’t force it down my throat.”

The Astorian/Seaside Signal reviewed the Substack post but have not been able to review the email as of press time.

According to a story by KMUN’s Katie Frankowicz, Kraft, a regional manager for Lincoln Asset Management, denied the allegations against him.

He called the accusations of homophobia “laughable,” and told KMUN he is not on any government watchlist.

With the meme flagged in the constituent’s email, Kraft told KMUN this had been in response to a situation with a friend who was tagged in the post as was Posalski.

Kraft said it was meant as a joke between the three of them referring to a specific situation with the other friend. It read, “Roses are red, violets are blue. I really love being on a government watch list with all of you.”

Councilor Seamus McVey said he was troubled by the email.

“To me, that would bring concern about what kind of candidate we’re putting up here,” McVey said. “All other things being equal, I would have difficulty supporting a candidate who, by their own posting, may be on a government watch list.”

The bruhaha appears to have split the six-member City Council, who voted 3-3 on which candidate to appoint for the position. 

Seaside Mayor Steve Wright and councilors Seth Morrisey and Chris Binnicker voted in favor of Kraft, while councilors McVey, Tita Montero and Heidi Hoffman cast their votes for Ansbro.

Unable to reach consensus, the issue was tabled until the City Council’s Jan. 26 meeting. 

“We leave it at that,” Wright said. “It will be on the agenda of the next meeting and we’ll see if we can come to any other conclusions.”

Candidates outline priorities during Q&A

Earlier interviews with the two candidates didn’t mention the controversies, instead they focused on the candidates’ plans for Seaside, if appointed. 

Wright asked Ansbro to identify what he saw as the council’s top three priorities for 2026. 

Ansbro cited affordable housing for local workers, emergency preparedness and tourism.

“Tourism is part of Seaside’s lifeblood,” Ansbro said. “But, to be honest, tourism also drives wear and tear on our infrastructure. There’s got to be a balance there.”

Kraft’s top priorities for Seaside focus on finalizing the city’s comprehensive plan for the next decade, improving road infrastructure for both residents and tourists, and public safety, citing homelessness in Seaside.

“I don’t see Seaside as unsafe,” Kraft said. “There are always opportunities to improve, and I like the direction it’s going. But safety and security are definitely top priorities for the City Council.”

Wright also asked Ansbro how he defines a healthy relationship between the council and city staff.

“City staff have their jobs, they’re professional,” Ansbro said. “When I have a question, I always defer to the people who have the most knowledge, I don’t have the answer to everything, nor would I ever suggest that I did.”

Ansbro said cooperation is essential.

“There should never be animosity or an impasse when you’re working together as a team,” he said, noting that lesson came from his military experience.

Wright asked Kraft who bears the burden when difficult decisions are made.

“That’s a tough question,” Kraft said. “With a panel of seven individuals (on the City Council) with varying views, coming to a consensus satisfies both sides to a degree. You’re never going to have a perfect solution.”

Councilors explain their votes

Wright asked each councilor about the qualities they are looking for in a candidate. 

Hoffman said she is looking for a candidate who has a history in public service and volunteering, but said the questions regarding Kraft were troubling.

“(I’m looking for) someone who shows concern for the minority groups and who takes the oath to the Constitution seriously,” she said. “I also saw the email Seamus (McVey) is referring to and it is concerning. That is not something you should joke about.” 

Hoffman said there is a gap in Kraft’s concern for minority groups in the city, based on her own interactions with Kraft about Marx’s article.

“I would not endorse putting someone on the council who I feel is openly homophobic,” Hoffman said. “I am gonna cast my vote for Padraic Ansbro.”

Council President Morrisey, however, said he is committed to giving the tourism and business community a vote — showing his support for Kraft, who sits on the city’s planning commission.

Binnicker said after taking feedback from the community, she feels that Kraft is well rooted and connected locally. 

Montero, who voted for Ansbro, said the first quality that she wrote down was being able to see the big picture and look past themselves and their own situation. 

“(I want) someone who puts effective communication high on their list,” she said. “I think there’s different ways that people have an effect on our community and some of them are more evident than others.” 

The City Council’s next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 at City Hall, 989 Broadway St., in Seaside.

KMUN is The Astorian’s media partner.

An earlier version of this story has been updated to include both the question and the answer from R.J. Marx’s blog post, providing more context.