Recall petition advances against Seaside city councilor over potential book restrictions

Jasmine Lewin, The Daily Astorian, Ore.
·2 min read

SEASIDE — Freedom to Read Seaside collected enough signatures for a recall petition against City Councilor Steve Dillard, who has sought age restrictions on books at the Seaside Public Library.

Dillard has until Wednesday to either resign from the City Council or turn in a form stating his justification for remaining in office. If he chooses not to resign, a recall election will be scheduled for Ward 1.

Voters would decide on the recall in a July 31 election.

Dillard, who was elected to a four-year term in 2022 after running unopposed, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The recall petition was filed in May by R.J. Marx, a former editor of the Seaside Signal and South County reporter for The Astorian, on behalf of Freedom to Read Seaside. Marx’s wife, Eve, serves on the Library Board.

Marx said the drive to restrict access to books is part of a national movement that Dillard has adopted locally.

Last year, a record number of books were challenged across the United States, largely over LGBTQ+ themes or content deemed sexually explicit. Oregon has also seen a recent historic high in book challenges.

“No single institution embodies our values more than the Seaside Public Library,” Marx said. “We are gratified that the voters of Ward 1 in Seaside have stepped forward to defend their public library and its integrity.

“We hope he makes the right decision and steps down to save the city the cost of the recall election.”

Dillard has raised concerns about library content at City Council meetings several times over the past several months. He has alleged that the library was providing and promoting sexually explicit material to minors.

“This certainly wasn’t our preferred route to begin with,” Jessica Greenlee, of Freedom to Read Seaside, said of the recall petition. “And we don’t want it to be contentious. But it is, you know, kind of resoundingly clear that there are many people who would prefer different representation.”