Registration for the 2012 City Commission election is now closed. To view the list of candidates and measures on the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot, click here.   

Open seats are Commissioner positions #2 and #3. 

Background.  The Mayor and City Commissioner election is held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November, in even-numbered years. The City Commission is comprised of the Mayor and Commissioner positions #1, #2, #3, and #4, and are elected from the City at-large. The officials are elected to four-year, staggered terms. At one election, commissioners for positions #2 and #3 are held. At the next election, the mayor and commissioners for positions #1 and #4 are elected. No person shall be elected to the office of commissioner for more than two terms of four years in any ten-year period. Commissioners are required to file a "Statement of Economic Interest" annually with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Voters shall have the right to vote for only one candidate for each position on the Commission, and the candidate for each position receiving the highest number of votes for such position shall be considered elected.

Qualifications of Officers.  (City Code Chapter III, Section 13)  No person shall be eligible for an elective office of the city unless at the time of his election he is a qualified elector within the meaning of the state constitution and has resided in the city during the twelve months immediately preceding the election. The commission shall be the final judge of the foregoing qualifications and election of its own members.

Click here to download the City Commission Orientation Manual.

Click here to read the City Charter and City Code sections on Elections.

Click here to read about the Roles, Responsibilities, and Activities of a City Commissioner.

Staff Contact.  The City Recorder’s Office will supply the prospective candidate with the required campaign forms and other election materials. Instructions for the 2012 election are below and should be used as a guide for the 2012 election.  Questions may be addressed to City Recorder (Elections Official), Nancy Ide, at 503-496-1505, or at nide@orcity.org.

Scroll down for links to manuals and other election information.

Filing instructions for the 2012 candidate election:  Filing for candidacy may be accomplished by declaration or by petition. The filing deadline is no sooner than May 30, 2012, and no later than August 28, 2012, for the November 6, 2012 General Election. 

Candidates Filing by Declaration;

Step #1: Establish Candidate Committee by filing the following two forms with the Secretary of State, Elections Division: Form SEL 220, Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee, and Form SEL 223, Campaign Account Information. Note: SEL 220 must be filed within three business days of receiving a campaign contribution or making an expenditure, but no later than when filing form SEL 101.

However, forms SEL 220 and SEL 223 are not required if the candidate:

• Serves as his/her own treasurer;
• Does not already have an existing candidate committee; and,
• Does not expect to receive or spend more than $750 during a calendar year

Step #2:  File form SEL 101, Candidate Filing, along with a $50 filing fee and with "Filing by Declaration" checked on the form.  Forms are filed with the City Recorder.  See page 41 of the Candidate Manual for instructions on how to complete this form.

Step #3:  Follow Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements, if required.  See link below for "Where and how do I start?" quick guide on Candidate Campaign Finance Reporting in Oregon. Refer to the 2012 Campaign Finance Manual for campaign contribution and expenditure reporting requirements and observe the filing deadlines. For detailed information regarding who must file and when, refer to the Campaign Finance Manual or contact the State Elections Office at 503-986-1518.

Candidates Filing by Petition

Step #1: Establish Candidate Committee by filing the following two forms with the Secretary of State, Elections Division: Form SEL 220, Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee, and Form SEL 223, Campaign Account Information. Note: SEL 220 must be filed within three business days of receiving a campaign contribution or making an expenditure, but no later than when filing form SEL 101.

However, forms SEL 220 and SEL 223 are not required if the candidate:

• Serves as his/her own treasurer;
• Does not already have an existing candidate committee; and,
• Does not expect to receive or spend more than $750 during a calendar year

Step #2:  File the Following two forms with the City Recorder (Elections Official):

• Form SEL 101, Candidate Filing, is filed with the box checked for “Prospective Petition with proposed signature sheet.”
• Form SEL 121, Candidate Signature Sheet - Nonpartisan.

Step #3:  Approval Granted by Elections Official. 

The City Recorder reviews the prospective petition for required information and will provide written approval before the candidate may circulate the petition.

Step #4: Circulate the Signature Sheets. 

Candidate (or circulator) circulates the approved Signature Sheets (SEL 121) for signatures, following all guidelines for circulation (see page 38 of the Candidate Manual for circulator instructions.)  Section 10 of the City Charter requires the candidate to acquire a minimum of 50 valid signatures. It is recommended to acquire one-third more than the required number of signatures and to allow enough time for signature verification, as petitions with insufficient signatures will be returned to the candidate to acquire more signatures, provided the filing deadline has not passed.

Step #5:  File the Completed Signature Sheets and a New SEL 101.

The candidate files the completed signatures sheets with the City Recorder according to the instructions on page 33 of the Candidate Manual. The candidate must allow enough time for the City Recorder to review the signature sheets and submit them to the Clackamas County Elections Division for signature verification before the final deadline of August 28, 2012.  In addition, a new SEL 101, Candidate Filing, check-marked “Completed Petition with certified signature sheets” is filed with the City Recorder.

Step #6: Review by City Elections Official and Signing of Acceptance Form

Pursuant to Chapter III, Section 10 of the City Charter, once the County has verified the required number of valid signatures, the candidate will be notified by the City Recorder of their nomination and must sign an acceptance form within five (5) days of receiving the notice. After signing this form the candidate’s name will be printed on the ballot.

Step #7:  Follow Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements

Click here for "Where and how do I start?" quick guide on Candidate Campaign Finance Reporting in Oregon. Be sure to review the contribution and expenditure reporting requirements and observe the filing deadlines. For detailed information regarding who must file and when, refer to the current Campaign Finance Manual or check with the elections official. Other sources of election information are the Secretary of State Election Division 503.986.1518; and Clackamas County Elections Office, 503.655.8510.