Mayor’s City Seal Task Force named; appointees stress representation and historical review

The Salem City Council confirmed the mayor’s appointments to a City Seal Task Force on Thursday, seating a mix of local residents, artists and historians charged with reviewing the city seal.

Councilors voted to confirm Rachel Tonatha (confirmed 10–0 on a separate roll call) and the remaining task-force appointments on a later roll call (11–0). The mayor also named four associate members who may participate in meetings but are non-voting.

Appointees who spoke after confirmation said the process should balance tradition and contemporary representation. Suzanne Barnes, professor emeritus and longtime Salem resident, urged thoughtful contemporary representation while preserving beauty in the city’s imagery. Dakota Russell, executive director of the House of the Seven Gables, said tradition matters but symbols chosen to represent the city also matter. Dr. Miyabi Shields urged the group to consider historical context, including how colonial-era imagery affects Asian Americans. Professor Michael Feiner, participating remotely from Japan, said he looked forward to contributing to the process.

Councilors said the task force will examine cultural perspectives and return recommendations. Several members noted the effort is intended to be an inclusive conversation about how Salem represents its history and communities.