A Proven Leader Ready to Serve

Vanessa Nordyke brings a rare combination of legal expertise, community advocacy, and hands-on government experience to Salem's mayoral race. As the current City Councilor for Ward 7, she has consistently championed affordable housing, public safety, and the wellbeing of Salem's most vulnerable residents.

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Fighting for Salem's Children and Families

As Executive Director of CASA of Marion County, Vanessa leads a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for abused and neglected children in foster care. This role builds on her fourteen years as an Assistant Attorney General at the Oregon Department of Justice, where she handled hundreds of child abuse cases and witnessed firsthand how the right support can break cycles of trauma.
 

Her legal career prepared her to tackle Salem's toughest challenges. She successfully defended clients in multimillion-dollar lawsuits and jury trials involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and civil rights. But it was the child abuse cases that shaped her life's mission: ensuring every child has someone who believes in them.
 

Leading Salem Through Rapid Growth

Salem is transforming. With 60,000 new residents expected by 2035, our city faces unprecedented challenges in housing affordability, infrastructure, and maintaining our community character. As a City Councilor, Vanessa has voted repeatedly to create more affordable housing across Salem, recognizing that rising property values are pushing longtime residents out of our city.
 

City Councilors work without pay, setting policy and budgets for public safety, libraries, urban development, parks, neighborhoods, public works, streets and sidewalks, and more. Vanessa has proven she can work effectively with stakeholders across Salem's diverse and rapidly growing community to find practical solutions.
 

Statewide Leadership and Innovation

In 2018, Vanessa made history as the youngest-ever elected President of the Oregon State Bar, leading approximately 19,000 lawyers and judges statewide. She spearheaded the Bar's first wellness initiative, raised awareness of rural practice opportunities, and overhauled programming for new lawyers. Her passion for mental health advocacy led her to develop and conduct trainings across Oregon. Vanessa continues to serve on NAMI Oregon's Board of Directors and the statewide Drug and Alcohol Policy Commission.

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Deep Roots, Lifelong Commitment

Vanessa is a third-generation Salem lawyer and proud graduate of South Salem High School. Her dedication to this community began in her teens, working on issues affecting homelessness, veterans, and mental health. She has served on numerous City of Salem boards, including the Youth Advisory Commission, Social Services Advisory Board, Community Police Review Board, and Citizen Budget Committee. Vanessa co-founded the Marion County Veterans Treatment Court and co-captained a mock trial team for Latinx students through the Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality.
 

Her commitment has earned recognition including the Department of Justice's Excellence in Justice Award, Marion County Bar Association's Government Lawyer of the Year, Outstanding Mentor Award from Willamette University College of Law, and University of Oregon School of Law's Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.
 

Education

• South Salem High School

• Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service

• University of Oregon School of Law
   

A Mayor Who Shows Up

When she's not in meetings or advocating for Salem families, you'll find Vanessa and her dog Sierra exploring Salem's parks and trails. She believes leadership means being present in the community, listening to neighbors, and working tirelessly to make Salem a place where everyone can thrive.