Five Clatsop County residents have submitted applications to be selected Sunset Empire Transportation District (SETD) commissioners as the SETD Board of Commissioners moves forward to fill its three vacancies.
The candidates are: John Layton of Warrenton, former SETD transit center manager and IT specialist; William Ray of Astoria, former SETD driver and driver supervisor; Matthew Stolberg of Astoria who has served on the Seaside Transportation Commission; Kathleen Teeple of Seaside who serves on the Seaside Library Board; and Penny York of Seaside who has served on the Corvallis City Council where she participated in the creation of the Multimodal Transportation Advisory Board.
In keeping with their commitment to transparency, the SETD Board will host a public Meet & Greet event for the public to meet and learn about the candidates. The Meet & Greet will take place on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the SETD Astoria Transit Center office, located at 900 Marine Drive, Astoria, Oregon.
The public is invited to attend to meet and learn about the candidates as they introduce themselves and respond to questions. This open-house style event provides an opportunity for riders, residents, visitors, and stakeholders to engage directly with those seeking to represent them on the SETD Board.
Those attending will be provided feedback forms to express their opinions to SETD Commissioners who will be making appointments at their regular business meeting. The SETD board meeting will occur on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at the Astoria Transit Center starting at 9 a.m.
“This Meet & Greet is an important opportunity for our community to hear from individuals who are committed to shaping the future of public transportation in Clatsop County,” said SETD Commissioner and Board Chair Kathy Kleczek. “We encourage everyone to stop by, participate, and share their thoughts.”
Light refreshments will be provided. The event is free and the public is invited to participate.
For more information, contact SETD Commissioner Tita Montero: [email protected]