SoYouWanttoRunforLocalOffice * 44111°-
So , You Want
to Run for
Local Office . . .
A Guide for Prospective
City Elected Officials
Updated April 2020 LOC
League of Oregon Cities
iLOC LOC
League of Oregon Cities
So, You Want to Run for
Local Office...
A Guide for Prospective
City Elected Officials
What every person interested in becoming an elected official
should know about roles, responsibilities, and representing their
community and city government.
This guide is primarily intended for candidates for city council. It serves as a reference and
deals with a variety of important topics. This guide is meant to serve as an orientation for those
who wish to assume a leadership role at the local level. The guide will outline:
• How to file for elective office;
• What to expect once elected;
• Roles and responsibilities;
• The sources of local government law;
• Communications;
• Visioning and goal setting; and
• Resources.
This guide is not a substitute for legal advice. Candidates are encouraged to speak with their
privately retained attorneys for specific legal advice.
So You Want to Run for Public Office...A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 2
Table of Contents
Welcome Message from the LOC President 4
Filing for Elective Office 5
What to Expect 5
Roles and Responsibilities 6
Policy Role 6
Administrative Role 6
The Mayor 6
Quasi-Judicial Role 7
Council as"One Voice" and Balance 7
Intergovernmental Relations 7
Sources of Law 7
Home Rule and Limitations of Power 7
Government Ethics 8
Public Meetings Law 8
Public Records Law 9
Budget and Finance 9
Liabilities 9
Communications—The Key to Success 10
Elected Officials and the Public Spotlight 10
Representing the Public 10
Community Visioning and Goal Setting 11
Visioning: Sustaining Quality of Life 11
Setting City Goals 11
About the League of Oregon Cities 11
Resources and Recommended Reading 12
So You Want to Run for Public Office...A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 3
Welcome Message from the 2020 LOC President
Welcome to the club! The number of people willing to run for elected local office is pretty small, and for
good reason: it's not an easy job if you want to do it right. If you're just looking for a fancy title and all-
expenses-paid junket to exotic locations,you're going to have a rough time of it, and you won't have much
fun. But if you're looking for a way to use your knowledge, experience and wisdom to help make your
community a better,more functional place,you may find that lending your hand to local government is
one of the most rewarding endeavors you've ever undertaken.
If you haven't already gotten your feet wet by volunteering for your local planning commission,budget
committee, or other municipal body,you should seriously consider doing so before you declare a
candidacy. Having some experience doing"city stuff'is a good way to get a better idea about what you're
likely to spend your time doing as a city councilor or mayor, and will better prepare you to answer the
sorts of questions you're likely to get as a candidate.
If you haven't already started attending city council meetings, start doing so now. You're going to want to
become as familiar as possible with both the issues in your city and the way the council conducts business
before you're up there on the dais. If you're running because there's a single burning issue that's
compelled you to run,remember that there are hundreds of other issues you're going to have to wrestle
with during your term of office. If you want to do a good job,you'll want to know what those are, and
tackle them with just as much energy and honest consideration as you would your pet issue.
Remember that your opponents(and your eventual fellow council members)are people too. Assume the
best of them—that they're also running for office because of a genuine desire to help your community.
The people you're meeting in this process tend to be good folks who remain involved with civic matters,
so they're just not going to go away after the election(in fact, it's likely that you'll find yourself working
with them in the not-so-distant future). So, feel free to explain why you disagree with their proposed
policies,but resist any temptation to sling mud. Taking the high road is not only the right choice ethically,
it's also likely to pay dividends later.
Once you've won the election and you're seated on the council,the work isn't over. Instead,that's when it
begins in earnest, and the learning curve can be pretty steep. Luckily,the League of Oregon Cities has
some fantastic training opportunities to help you be the best elected official you can be. Please don't
hesitate to reach out,and we'll do our best to help you help your city.
–2020 LOC President Jake Boone, Councilor, Cottage Grove
So You Want to Run for Public Office...A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 4
Filing for Elective Office SPOTLIGHT:
Qualifications for various city offices differ. Before filing for Policy Process Steps
candidacy,review the city charter and statutory requirements of the 1. Identification of problems or needs
office for which you plan to declare your candidacy. Requirements 2. Establishment of community goals
for filing for city office are found under Oregon Revised Statutes 3. Determine objectives
(ORS)Chapters 221 and 249. The forms that you will need are 4. Development/analysis of alternative
available from the city's elections official and the Oregon Secretary solutions (including short-term and
of State's Office,Elections Division. long-term implications)
Every candidate and prospective candidate are required to establish a 5. Establishment of priorities
principal campaign committee within three business days of receiving 6. Development of programs and
or spending any money to support the candidacy. This includes strategies
expenditures of personal funds by the candidate. It also includes 7. Implementation of programs and
payment of the filing fee if the candidate files by declaration, any strategies
costs relating to circulating a nominating petition, or any voters' 8. Monitoring and evaluation of
pamphlet costs. For more information on campaign finance reporting programs or strategies
requirements please see the Secretary of State Elections Division 9. Feedback
Candidate Finance Reporting in Oregon Candidate"Quick Guide"
available at: 10. Program or strategy improvement
https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/candidatequickguide.pdf. and modification
What to Expect
As a local elected official,you will have the opportunity to shape SPOTLIGHT:
policy governing the future of your city. In addition to serving as a Basic City Services
community leader,being a model of civility and cooperation, an
educator and interpreter of public opinion—the role of an elected The services provided by cities vary
official will change the way you are viewed in your community. from community to community.
You'll rarely stop by the neighborhood coffee shop without someone However, some typical services include:
complaining about roads or taxes. You may be cornered anywhere, Public Safety—police, fire, and
at any time, on anything. Local elected leaders are in direct contact sometimes ambulance service
on a daily basis with the people they represent.
Utilities—water and sewer, trash
You will spend a lot of time attending meetings—not only city collection, electricity, and natural gas
council meetings—but regional and statewide meetings as well. You
will spend time preparing for meetings,reading any preparatory Land Use—planning, zoning, code
material in order to make informed decisions in the course of all enforcement, and other regulatory
meetings. activities
If elected,you will utilize the skills you already have, skills you Transportation—street construction
never knew you had,and skills you wished you had. You may be and maintenance, traffic safety, and
called upon to facilitate meetings, speak to the press,respond to sometimes public transit
angry and sometimes hostile citizens,testify before legislative Recreation and Cultural—parks,
committees,and negotiate with contractors,bankers and engineers. recreation, libraries, and sometimes
You will make decisions on everything from who to hire as the next cultural facilities
city manager,which bid to accept for paving the roads,how to pay Legal—ordinances protecting the public
for solid waste disposal,to joining with neighboring cities in a health, safety and welfare of the
regional approach to providing dispatch services. community
So You Want to Run for Public Office ..A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 5
Roles and Responsibilities
The specific roles and responsibilities of members of city leadership will vary from community to
community. Each position plays a vital role in the governance of the city. The council serves as the city's
legislative body by adopting a budget and adopting local laws—called ordinances—and regulations.
Policy Role
The council is the highest authority within city government in deciding issues of policy. For a council to
effectively assume a positive and active role in bringing issues forward for discussion in setting policy,
councilors need a clear understanding of policy process and the stages at which council intervention is
most effective.
Administrative Role
The council, as a collective body,is responsible for the oversight of SPOTLIGHT:
administration in every city,but the roles that the mayor and individual
councilors play in city administration vary considerably, depending on Council-Manager Form of
city size and form of government. Typically,the only city staff Government
overseen by the council is the city's chief executive and potentially a The chief characteristic of the council-
handful of department heads. manager form of government is that
Council/Manager Form—The majority of Oregon cities follow this the council appoints a qualified
structure where the council is comprised of volunteers who decide the professional person as city manager
policy for the city,which is overseen by a paid city manager who or administrator to take charge of the
serves as the chief executive. Approximately 55%of cities nationwide daily supervision of city affairs. The
utilize this form of government, and it is most popular in the Southeast manager or administrator serves at the
and Pacific Coast regions. pleasure of the council—the council
sets policy and the manager carries
Strong Mayor Form—The only city in Oregon with a strong mayor out that policy. While an absolute
structure is the city of Beaverton. Under this form of government,the separation between policy and admin-
mayor is elected but also serves as the city's chief executive. istration does not really exist, the
Approximately 34%of cities nationwide utilize this form of council-manager form works best
government and it is most popular in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest when the council exercises its respon-
regions. sibility for policy leadership and re-
spects the manager's leadership role
Commission Form—The city of Portland is the state's only true and responsibility for administration.
commission form of government. In this form, elected commissioners Council-manager charters commonly
serve as the administrative head of selected city departments as include specific provisions that prohibit
assigned by the mayor. While the commission is the oldest form of individual councilors from giving
local government in the country,only 1%of cities nationwide utilize a orders to city employees and from
commission form of government. attempting to influence or coerce the
manager with respect to appoint-
The Mayor ments, purchasing, or other matters.
The mayor's role varies from city to city, depending on charter However, the charters do not prohibit,
requirements. The mayor serves as the public face of the community and may affirmatively provide for the
by representing the city at community events or government functions. council to discuss administrative
The mayor also serves as the spokesperson for the council. During matters with the manager in open
council meetings,the mayor typically serves as the presiding officer meetings.
and sets the agenda for meetings. Often,the mayor appoints
individuals to committees and work groups and signs ordinances and
So You Want to Run for Public Office ..A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 6
resolutions on behalf of the council. Most importantly,the mayor serves as the chief facilitator between
the city manager and the city council.
Quasi-Judicial Role
Council members may act in a quasi-judicial capacity when sitting on land use hearings and other type of
appeals. When acting in a quasi-judicial role,the council is acting like a court of a judge—it is applying
the law to a set of specific facts.
Council as "One Voice" and Balance
The council acts as a centralized body with one voice and not as individuals. While individual council
members may make motions,the motion is only passed when a majority of the council votes in favor of its
passage. Newly elected and veteran elected officials may find this structure challenging as it may be
difficult to pass policy based on individual platforms.
The single most difficult job of a city council is to balance diverse interests with common interests. A
councilor may react to groups in isolation without considering the larger consequence of their actions. It is
important to recognize and consider citizen input,but it is equally important to develop perspective. A
council can seldom do everything that everyone wants.
Intergovernmental Relations
Beyond the myriad of issues that are specific to city government, city officials will quickly find that they
play a pivotal role in the intergovernmental arena with other cities,county government, special districts
and public schools, as well as regional, state and federal governments. Understanding these relationships
and their impact on a city government's ability to provide responsible, efficient and effective governance
and delivery of services is important,particularly when funding and staffing resources are limited.
Exploring new and innovative ways of funding and providing public services is one of the challenging
issues facing elected officials.
It is important to recognize that the reasons you are running for office will become part of a"full plate"of
issues—many of which you are not yet familiar. Because of the urgency and the complexity of these
issues, governments must work together to address them. Cities no longer do their government business in
isolation. The key to success is cooperation and collaboration.
Sources of Law
The main sources of law governing local government are the city charter and ordinances,the state
constitution, state law and the decisions of state courts. Cities are also subject to federal laws and the
United States Constitution. Local elected officials should be familiar with their city's charter and
ordinances, as well as the state laws regarding open meetings,public records,budgeting,public
contracting,and ethics, some of which are described below.
Home Rule and Limitations of Power
The term"home rule"refers to the authority of a city to set policy and manage its own affairs. Without
charter home rule, state law controls the existence, form of organization, functions,powers and finances of
So You Want to Run for Public Office ..A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 7
local government. Most home rule authority is conferred RESOURCE:
on a city by its charter. A charter can be thought of as
the city's constitution and may be amended only by a For a more in-depth explanation of
vote of the citizens of that city. Oregon Home Rule and Preemptions
see LOC's Guide to Statutory
Even in light of home rule,local governments are subject Preemption of Home Rule and White
to statutory, constitutional,judicial and charter Paper on the Origins, Evolution and
limitations. Under Oregon constitutional home rule Future of Home Rule, available on
provisions,the voters of the state have taken from the LOC's online reference library
state Legislature, and reserved to the voters of cities,the accessible at:
power to adopt and amend their own city charters. https://www.orcities.org/resources/
Initiative and referendum powers are also reserved to the reference/reference-library
voters of the city under Oregon Constitution Article VI,
section 10 and Article XI, section 2.
Article I, Oregon's Bill of Rights, also applies to local governments. Other constitutional limits and
restrictions include property tax limitations,prohibitions against lending the credit of a city, and regulation
of city elections.
Government Ethics
Public official ethics are governed by various RESOURCE:
constitutional provisions,the common law, state statutes, Oregon Government Ethics
and occasionally, charter or ordinance provisions. Commission Publications
Government ethics law is administered and enforced by
the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. State law For more information and guidance
may require officials in your city to file a statement of on government ethics for public
economic interest each year with the Oregon Government officials, see the Oregon Government
Ethics Commission. State law also requires that public Ethics Commission's Guide for
officials not use their official position or office to obtain Public Officials, and related
financial gain other than their official salary,honorariums supplement available at:
or reimbursements of expenses. The law limits the value https://www.oregon.gov/OGEC/Page
of gifts that officials, candidates or members of their s/forms publications.aspx
families may solicit or receive, or which any person may
offer, and prohibits public officials from soliciting or receiving offers of future employment in return for
their influence. The law prohibits public officials from furthering their personal gain by use of
confidential information gained through their position with the city.
Public officials must also avoid a conflict of interest relating to taking official action that may or will result
in financial benefit or detriment to the public official,the public official's relative,or a business with
which the public official or their relative is associated. When a conflict of interest exists,the public
official must take certain steps such as announcing the conflict and potentially recusing themselves from
any participation in the discussion or vote on the issue.
Public Meetings Law
The Oregon public meetings law that applies to public bodies is found in ORS 192.610 to 192.695. Under
the public meetings law, a governing body's meetings are open to the public with certain exceptions.
Meetings of other city bodies such as the planning commission,budget committee,library board, etc., are
also open to the public. Except in emergencies,there must be reasonable notice of regular meetings and at
So You Want to Run for Public Office ..A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 8
least 24-hour notice for special meetings. Minutes are required to be taken. Executive sessions—those
meetings that may be closed to the general public—may be held for certain prescribed reasons,but the
media must be allowed to attend these meetings and final decisions may not be made. All final decisions
must be held in a public meeting.
Public Records Law
The Oregon public records law applies to public bodies and RESOURCE:
is found in ORS 192.311 to 192.478. The public meetings
law prescribes not only how local government officials and Oregon Attorney General's Public
staff must handle public records,but also how the local Records and Meetings Manual
government must respond to and handle requests for Without doubt one of the most helpful
disclosure. resources on public meetings and
Budget and Finance records is the Attorney General's
Budgeting is an annual process by which cities identify the Public Records and Meetings
types and levels of services that can be provided within the Manual. The Manual provides
constraints of available resources. The general budgeting guidance and explanations to the
process is prescribed by the Oregon local budget law found various laws that govern Oregon
in ORS 294.305 to 294.565. The Oregon Department of public records and meetings. The
Revenue's Finance and Taxation section administers and Manual is available online free of
provides advice and assistance to cities regarding budget charge at:
matters. The section publishes a local government budget https://www.doj.state.or.us/oregon-
manual that is the basic reference document for local department-of-justice/public-
budget procedures. records/attorney-generals-public-
records-and-meetings-manual/
In its most basic form,the budget identifies city programs,
services and activities. City budgets are organized and expenditures are accounted for by"funds" such as
the general fund or street fund, etc. or"activities"such as law enforcement or transportation, in order to
permit identification and handling of revenue earmarked for such purposes. Additional resources on local
budgeting may be accessible on the Oregon Department of Revenue's website at:
https://www.oregon.gov/DOR/programs/property/Pages/local-budget.aspx.
Liabilities
To some extent, Oregon governments are liable for torts (wrongs to private parties) such as personal
injury,property damage,wrongful entry, false arrest and detention,abuse of process,invasion of privacy,
and interference with contractual relations. The Oregon Tort Claims Act places a financial limit on the
extent of the government's liability for torts.
The personal liability of public officials is governed primarily by the provisions of the Oregon Tort Claims
Act. Federal civil rights law,the common law of torts,and specific Oregon statutes also may impose
personal liability. Some examples of personal liability are budget law violations, conflicts of interests,
actions outside the scope of official duty,malfeasance in office,public contracting violations, and public
meetings law and public records law violations.
The council should routinely consult with the city attorney in making decisions on city affairs. In addition
to providing professional and technical services such as preparation of formal opinions and drafting of
legal documents,the city attorney can supply advice regarding many other matters.
So You Want to Run for Public Office ..A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 9
Some types of insurance are required by state law, and cities purchase other types for their own protection.
Insurance policies are complex documents,and the advice of competent insurance advisors and the city's
legal counsel should be sought to make certain that coverages are adequate for the exposures involved.
For more information on risk management,contact Citycounty Insurance Services online at
https://www.cisoregon.org/Contact-CIS.
Communications - The Key to Success
Council effectiveness is dependent upon good group
dynamics. Each new configuration of the council creates it RESOURCE:
owns personality and style of operation. As with any group,
each council must go through the usual evolution of forming, For sample rules of procedure, see
storming,norming,performing and,eventually,reforming. LOC s Model Rules of Procedure
A number of city councils in Oregon have adopted internal for Council Meetings available on
rules of council procedure to promote effective governance LOC's online reference library
and establish ground rules for working together. accessible at:
https://www.orcities.org/resources/
Elected Officials and the Public Spotlight reference/reference-library
Becoming an elected official means living in the public
spotlight 24 hours a day. Elected officials come to realize that this is simply a condition that accompanies
the position—for better or worse. Don't be alarmed if your personal life becomes front page news and the
"talk of the town." It's bound to happen sooner or later. Media relations is a skill that can work in the
city's favor. It is wise to develop a respectful relationship with a local reporter and attempt to create a
reciprocal relationship. Be sensitive of the reporter's job and their need to meet deadlines. At the same
time,be careful and never speak"off the record." Expect anything you say or write to be used. Don't
assume an interview is over until the reporter has left the scene. Also,before speaking with the press on a
matter related to the city,make sure you and your council have identified any needed protocols for
interactions with the media. Some cities have identified,through their council rules of procedure,how
elected officials communicate with the press—identifying what a councilor or mayor can do when they
"speak for"the city as opposed to when they are"speaking for"themselves.
Representing the Public
Two of the most important tasks of local government officials SPOTLIGHT:
are to discover citizen opinion and to ensure that citizens have Guidelines for Surviving Life in
sufficient information to form knowledgeable opinions. For the "Public Fishbowl"
these tasks to be carried out successfully, elected officials
must solicit public input and encourage citizen participation V Be truthful.
and involvement. V If you don't know the answer,
say so.
Communication is important in achieving effective citizen
V Anticipate all situations and
participation in local government. Success depends on both questions.
the attitudes and interests of citizens and city officials. ,i Be prepared.
Citizens need to know their efforts are recognized and valued
in the decision-making process. Public hearings, advisory `7 Be accountable and responsible
committees,town hall meetings,televised council meetings, for everything you do and say.
volunteer participation,public opinion polls,and interest
groups are ways to connect citizens with city government in a significant way.
So You Want to Run for Public Office...A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 10
Community Visioning and Goal Setting
City councils should develop community visioning and conduct annual goal setting processes in order to
provide a roadmap for all city decisions.
Visioning: Sustaining Quality of Life
City governance is an institution that enables a community of citizens,through their elected representa-
tives,to maintain safety and a good quality of life,which is accomplished by developing policy, adopting
implementing laws and ordinances, and planning for the delivery and financing of public services.
Success is dependent upon the ability to stay in touch with the public's needs and desires,to understand
the issues,and to balance the short and long term social, economic and environmental impacts. A vision
statement provides a blueprint for the future and helps the council, staff and citizens to set priorities, goals,
and make decisions to achieve desired outcomes.
"Every city has an unbelievable talent pool that can help change a city from
average to outstanding. However, members of the community must realize how
important their involvement can be. I truly believe that King City is a great example
of what can happen when a diverse group of dedicated residents are committed to
helping the city government represent the people, as city councilors. Progress in a
city can only be made by the people who represent the people in the community in
which they live and deeply care about."
- Ken Gibson, Mayor, King City
Setting City Goals
A clear set of goals provides the framework within which nearly all city activities can be accomplished.
Goals provide direction,reduce crisis management environments, develop cohesiveness among council
members, allow managers and staff to manage their time and activities effectively,and permit periodic
evaluation of progress to manage any necessary mid-course corrections.
Without goals,a council cannot distinguish between movement and progress. Individuals and groups can
spend tremendous effort and resources preforming activities that, in retrospect,were not necessary. Often
the reason for this wasted effort is the absence of a clear set of priorities and specific plans for accomplish-
ing them.
Typically, council goals are developed for a one to two-year period. They are a tool for focusing the
council's efforts; communicating priority issues to the community; and providing clear direction to city
staff Council goals should be articulated in such a way that they are specific,realistic, outcome-based,
within the city's control,and measurable. Once goals have been set and adopted by the council,they can
be used as a measure for evaluating staff performance,guiding budget decisions, and managing
unanticipated issues that arise during the year.
About the League of Oregon Cities
The LOC is the trusted,go-to resource that helps Oregon city staff and elected leaders serve their cities
well and speak with one voice. The LOC is here to provide cities what they need to build thriving
So You Want to Run for Public Office...A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 11
communities,through advocacy,training,and information. Created in 1925 through an intergovernmental
agreement of incorporated cities,the LOC is essentially an extended department of all 241 Oregon cities.
Resources and Recommended Reading
The LOC provides numerous resource available online at www.orcities.org. The public can access
reference materials such as"Topics A-Z"and the Reference Library under the"Resources"tab.
Resources include white papers,guides,model ordinances, and FAQs.
So You Want to Run for Public Office...A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials 12