Oregon Public Broadcasting

This year’s election has resulted in yet another historic first.  A small Oregon town has elected a trans-gender man as its mayor.

Silverton is a Willamette Valley farming community about 15 miles northeast of Salem.  

City Council member Stu Rasmussen ousted 16-year incumbent mayor Ken Hector on Tuesday.  Rasmussen has been quoted saying he's heterosexual, but likes to "look like a female".  

He previously served as Silverton’s mayor in the early 1990’s.  That was before he began cross-dressing openly.

Rasmussen says the people of Silverton have come to accept him for who he is.

Stu Rasmussen:  “It has been a very positive experience for me.  The town has embraced me as their native son, and I think the election results kind of show that.  I did win with a substantial majority."

Rasmussen ran on a platform of slow-growth.  His gender identity did not become an issue in the campaign.

He’s co-owner of a local movie theater.  Just Out Magazine calls him the first openly trans-gender mayor of a U.S. city.