LINCOLN CITY, Ore. — The Lincoln City Council has appointed Nicole Petersen to the vacant Ward 1 seat, filling the spot left by former Councilor Mitch Parsons, who stepped down in July to prioritize his duties on the Lincoln County School District Board.

Petersen’s term runs through December 31, 2026.

A nine-year resident of Lincoln City, Petersen owns two local businesses: Lincoln City Gifts and Lincoln City Ceramics. She’s no stranger to community leadership, currently leading as president of the Kiwanis Club and serving as vice president on the Chamber of Commerce Board.

Petersen shared her motivation: “I care deeply about the people of Lincoln City and want to help shape decisions that keep our community thriving.”

The move happened at the October 13 council meeting, addressing a vacancy first announced in August following Parsons’ exit. Parsons, a former councilor passionate about youth initiatives, took on the school board’s Zone 1 role in January 2025 to finish an unexpired term and secured a full two-year term in the May 2025 election. As a dedicated volunteer and parent, he cited the demands of school board work as the reason for resigning from the council.

The council opened applications in August, highlighting the chance to serve until the term’s end.