The City of Oregon City’s Mayor, Rachel Lyles Smith, submitted her resignation on March 30, 2022. Lyles Smith’s early resignation creates a vacancy which will require the City to hold a special election on August 23, 2022. The mayor elected in August will serve until December 31, 2022.
Filing for the 2022 Mayor candidate election is available through declaration, by paying a fee, or by petition gathering signatures. Applications will be accepted May 1, 2022 through June 17, 2022 (petitions) or June 20, 2022 (declarations). The deadline to withdraw is June 22, 2022.
Per the Oregon City Charter, Commission President Denyse McGriff shall have and exercise the power to perform all duties of the mayor until the new mayor is elected in August. The mayor elected in August will serve until January 1, 2023.
In November 2022, two Commission positions (number 1 and 4), as well as the position of mayor will be open for election. The City Commission is comprised of five members elected by positions, in staggered general election years, with the mayor elected independently of the four commissioners. All elected City Council members hold four-year terms and are volunteers. Read more about elections and Commission positions here.