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Are you interested in running for City Council? Click here for Information!

Posted on: October 23, 2023 - 9:49am
City of La Grande - City Hall
City of La Grande - City Hall
 
 

CITY of LA GRANDE

City Recorder/Elections Officer:     Stacey Stockhoff   

Phone#   (541) 962-1351        Email: sstockhoff@cityoflagrande.org

How to Run for Mayor or City Council

To qualify as a candidate:

  • a resident of the City of La Grande during the six (6) months immediately preceding the Election; and,

  • a registered voter of the City of La Grande.

Please see the Rules for Order and Procedure and the City Charter for the detailed qualifications, powers and duties of the Mayor and City Councilors.

City Council Rules of Order and Procedure                       City Charter for the City of La Grande

Filing for Candidacy

Prior to beginning your campaign, you must complete forms required by both State and Local election laws.   The complete packet of required forms and information will be available from the City Elections Official, Stacey Stockhoff, at City Hall in the City Manager's Office, located at 1000 Adams Ave, or call 541-962-1351 to schedule an appointment to review the Candidate Information Packet. 

                                                      
The City of La Grande is governed and managed by a Council/City Manager form of government.  This is the most common form of government and means that the Council serves as the policy-makers for the City, while the City Manager is responsible for ensuring that those policies are carried out, as well as for the daily administration of the City’s operations and supervision of Staff, either directly or through a variety of Department Directors and Managers.
 
The City Council is comprised of seven (7) members, including the Mayor, all of whom are elected at large, by Position Number.  The position of Mayor is nonpartisan, which has been assigned Position Number 1, and is typically a two (2)-year term.  The Mayor may introduce, provide a Second to, and/or vote on any Motions before the Council; the Mayor has no veto power.
 
Councilor positions are also nonpartisan, which have been assigned Position Numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7; and, under routine circumstances, are all four (4)-year terms.
 
Neither the Mayor nor Councilors have individual control or authority separate from that of the full Council; have no authority to act or speak individually on behalf of the Council or City without delegation of authority from the full Council; and may not individually direct Staff, consultants, or contractors.  All seven (7) members of the Council have an equal vote on issues before the Council.
 
The following Mayor and Councilor Position Numbers will be placed on the Ballot for the General Election in 2024.  The Position Numbers reflected below represent the traditional Mayor and Councilor rotation (Open offices), as established by the City Charter of the City of La Grande, Oregon.
 
Terms expire on December 31, 2024, for the following positions:           
Position Number 1                Mayor                         Two Year Term
 
  Position Number 2                Councilor                   Four Year Term
 
   Position Number 3                Councilor                   Four Year Term
 
       Position Number 4                Councilor                   Four Year Term    
 
The 2024 Primary Election (if necessary) is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2024
The 2024 General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024
 
FILING DEADLINE
State and Local deadlines SHALL BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO when filing Completed Petitions, as follows:
 
Completed Petitions with an adequate number of eligible signatures MUST be filed in person in the Office of the City Recorder/Elections Officer on the Second Floor of City Hall, 1000 Adams Avenue, La Grande, Oregon, no later than Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
 
Contact Stacey Stockhoff, City Recorder/City Elections Official, at sstockhoff@cityoflagrande.org or 541-962-1351 to schedule a time to go over all paperwork.
 
You are encouraged to file your Completed Petition as soon as you are confident you have secured adequate eligible signatures, to ensure that even if several signatures are disqualified, your Petition will be valid, enabling your name to be placed on the Ballot.  If you file your Completed Petition prior to the deadline reflected above, you may have an opportunity to correct deficiencies which could otherwise result in a rejection of your Petition.  Filing before the deadline may be a benefit if you fail to gather the necessary signatures. 
No additional signatures will be accepted after Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m. deadline.