• When is the next election? 
• When is the next Milwaukie City Council election? 
• When do Council terms begin? And how long are they?
• Which Council positions will be up for re-election? 
• How do I register to vote? 
• What are the requirements to run for City Office? 
• Where do I get the paperwork to file for office? 
• So now I have all the forms. Now what?
• What if I change my mind and decide not to run? 
• If I run, how do I get in the voters' pamphlet? 
• What are the rules of putting up political signs? 
• Where can political signs be displayed?
• Are there identification requirements?
• Who do I contact if I still have questions about City of Milwaukie elections? 

Question: When is the next election? 

Answer: The next election is November 4, 2008 and is a general election. To find registration information visit https://www.co.clackamas.or.us/elections/. Ballots will be mailed October 17 and must be returned by 8 p.m. on November 4. All elections are vote by mail, but there are drop sites for ballots throughout the County. One of these is at the Milwaukie Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st Avenue. Sorry, Milwaukie City Hall, Public Safety Building, and Johnson Creek Facility are not ballot drop sites.

Question: When is the next Milwaukie City Council election? 

Answer: The next Council election is November 4, 2008. Incumbents Greg Chaimov and Joe Loomis are running unopposed for Positions #1 and #3. If a member of Council resigns for some reason and does not serve a full term, Milwaukie Charter Chapter IV sets out requirements for filling vacant positions, so, under certain circumstances, it’s possible for a Council election to be on another election date. 

Question: When do Council terms begin? And how long are they? 

Answer: Terms begin with the first regular council session in January following the election, and the oath of office is administered at that time. Full terms are four (4) years, and no person may serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms as Mayor or Councilor. 

Question: Which Council positions will be up for re-election?

Answer: Current terms will expire January 2009 for Councilor Greg Chaimov (Position #1) and Councilor Joe Loomis (Positions #3). New terms will begin in January and run through December 2012. The other positions – Mayor and Council Positions #2 and #4 – will run through December 2010.

Question: How do I register to vote? 

Answer: If you are a Milwaukie resident, you will register to vote in Clackamas County. There are mail-in registration forms available at Milwaukie City Hall, 10722 SE Main Street, and the Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st Avenue, or you may visit the Clackamas County Elections website for additional locations or to download the necessary form:
 
https://www.co.clackamas.or.us/elections 

Question: What are the requirements to run for City office?

Answer: In order to file for candidacy, a person must be a qualified elector and resident of the City of Milwaukie for six (6) months prior to the election. After filling out the appropriate forms and having them approved by the city elections officer, the prospective candidate must collect the signatures of twenty (20) electors living in the City of Milwaukie. All Council positions are non-partisan and at-large, i.e., Milwaukie does not have a ward system. The prospective candidate must, however, choose which position he or she is running for.

Question: Where do I get the paperwork to file for office? 

Answer: All of the forms needed for filing for candidacy are published by the Secretary of State’s Office.  The prospective candidate will need to refer to the current City Elections Manual and the current Campaign Finance Manual.  There are several options for obtaining these:

Download from the Internet:

• https://www.co.clackamas.or.us/elections/forms.htm

• https://www.sos.state.or.us/elections 

• Request copies from the elections office at Milwaukie City Hall, 10722 SE Main Street.

• Request copies at Clackamas County Elections Office, 1710 Red Soils Court, Oregon City, Oregon 97045

Question: So now I have all the forms. Now what?

Answer: Visit your local elections officer at Milwaukie City Hall, 10722 SE Main Street or call 503.786.7502 to discuss your next steps. Generally, a candidate must:

Step #1 – Register your campaign committee

Prospective candidates must file a Candidate’s Statement of Organization (SEL 220) and Campaign Account Information (SEL 223) with the Secretary of State’s Office within three (3) business days of receiving the first contribution or making an initial expenditure.

Step #2 – File your prospective petition

Complete the three (3) forms listed below and file them with the City Elections Officer:

SEL 120 Filing of Candidacy for Nonpartisan Nomination
SEL 121 Petition for Nonpartisan Nomination
SEL 300 Statement of Paid or Unpaid

According to City Charter, all nomination papers comprising a petition shall be assembled and filed with the City Elections Officer as one instrument not earlier than 100 nor later than 70 days before the election.

The candidate must sign the first line on the signature sheet of the prospective petition. All signature sheets must be approved in writing before circulating. Failure to do so will result in the rejection of those signature sheets. Each prospective candidate must determine in advance which position he or she plans to run for.

Step #3 – File your completed petition

Circulate the approved petition (SEL 121) for signatures (do not sign the petition at the bottom until you are done getting signatures). City Charter requires that petitions be signed by no fewer than 20 City of Milwaukie electors to place a name on the ballot. Although people may have a Milwaukie mailing address, they may not be residents. It is always a good idea to get more than the required 20 signatures. Completed signature sheets may be submitted to the City Elections Officer for verification with County Elections. Once verified, the City Elections Officer will certify the names as they are to appear on the ballot. Petitions with an insufficient number of signatures will be returned to the prospective candidate who may seek additional signers within the allotted time period.

Step #4 – Sign acceptance form

Candidates will be notified by the City Elections Officer of their nomination and must sign an acceptance form within five (5) days of receiving the notice. By signing this form the candidate agrees to serve if elected.

Step #5 – Follow State campaign finance reporting requirements
Be sure to review the contribution and expenditure reporting requirements and observe the filing deadlines outlined at:

https://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/publications/candidatequickguide.html.

All finance reports are submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office. All candidates are required to have a dedicated campaign bank account if they receive contributions or make expenditures over $300 during the calendar year.

Question: What if I change my mind and decide not to run? 

Answer: There’s a form for that too.

Question: If I run, how do I get in the voters’ pamphlet?

Answer: Each candidate is responsible for his/her own submission, which generally includes a current photograph, brief biography and statement on issues. Milwaukie City Council positions are considered paid positions, so Clackamas County does charge a fee to the candidates. For more information, visit the County Elections Office website:

https://www.co.clackamas.or.us/elections/voter.htm  

Question: What are the rules about putting up political signs? 

Answer: Political signs are permitted in all zones of the City of Milwaukie. No permits are necessary if the signs meet these criteria:

“Temporary signs which are non-illuminated, have an overall face area not exceeding sixteen square feet, are not permanently installed, and are intended to be located on property for short duration of time. Such signs may include, but are not limited to, real estate lease and sales, political signs, construction signs, garage sale, open house, special event and similar signs. Such signs shall only be posted for the duration of the activity.” (Milwaukie Municipal Code Section 14.12.010(B))
 
Question: Where can political signs be displayed?

Answer: Signs must be placed on private property with the owner’s permission. They must not be placed on public property or in the public right-of-way (i.e., streets, sidewalks, utility poles, parks, school grounds, etc.). Generally, the public right-of-way is all the property on the street side of utility poles, sidewalks and fence lines. All signs found posted in the public right-of-way or affixed to power, utility, or traffic control poles must be removed or they will be confiscated.

Be aware, too, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has some stringent regulations. If you are considering posting political signs along Hwy. 224 or 99E (McLoughlin Boulevard), contact ODOT before doing so.

Question: How long can the political signs be displayed?

Answer: The City of Milwaukie requests the signs be removed within ten (10) days after the election

Question: Are there identification requirements?

Answer: The State does not enforce identification requirements. The Elections Division does, however, strongly recommend that identification be voluntarily included so the public knows who is authorizing the publication.

Question: Who do I contact if I still have questions about City of Milwaukie elections?

Answer: You may call 503.786.7502 or e-mail

Last updated: 10/03/2008