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Friday November 20th
How to File for Candidacy

The City Commission is comprised of the Mayor and City Commissioner Positions #1, #2, #3, and #4, and are elected from the City at-large. The Mayor and City Commissioner election is held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November, in even-numbered years. 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. The next election for Mayor and City Commissioners #1 and #4 will be on November 2, 2010.

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 read the City Charter and City Code sections on Elections.

Staff Contact

The City Recorder’s Office will supply the prospective candidate with campaign manuals, forms, and other election materials. Materials and instructions for the 2008 election are below and should be used as a guide for the 2010 election. 2010 forms will be available at a later date. Questions may be addressed to City Recorder, 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 2008 candidate election:

Filing for candidacy may be accomplished by declaration or by petition. The filing deadline is no sooner than June 4, 2008, and no later than August 26, 2008. 

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 120. 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 $300 during a calendar year

Step #2:  File Your Nomination Form with the City Recorder.

Form SEL 120, Candidacy for Nonpartisan Nomination, is accompanied by a $50 filing fee.

Step #3:  Follow Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements

See link below for "Where and how do I start?" quick guide on Candidate Campaign Finance Reporting in Oregon. Refer to the 2008 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 120. 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 $300 during a calendar year.

Step #2:  File the Following Three Forms with the City Recorder

  • Form SEL 120, Candidacy for Nonpartisan Nomination, is filed with the box checked for “Filing of Candidacy by Prospective Petition.”
  • Form SEL 121, Petition for Nonpartisan Nomination Signature Sheet.
  • Form SEL 300, Statement One or More/No Petition Circulators Will be Paid.

Step #3:  Approval Granted by Elections Official

The City Recorder reviews the prospective petition for required information and gives written approval for circulating the petition.

Step #4: Circulate Your Petition

Candidate (or circulator) circulates the approved petition (SEL121) for signatures, following all guidelines for circulation (see pages 13-14 of the City Elections Manual.) The candidate must acquire a minimum of 50 valid signatures. Electors’ signatures on the petition must be verified by the Clackamas County Elections Official before filing the candidate’s completed petition with the Oregon City Recorder. 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 Your Completed and Verified Petition

The candidate files the completed and verified nominating petition with the Oregon City Recorder between July 7 and August 26, 2008, consisting of the following:

  • A new SEL 120, Filing of Candidacy for Nonpartisan Nomination” check-marked “Filing of Candidacy by Completed Petition.”
  • Signature sheets with the sufficient number of signatures verified by the Clackamas County Elections Official.

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

Following a review of the petition documents, candidates will be notified by the elections official 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 your 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.