Roseburg voters’ information now available

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Residents can learn about candidates running for Roseburg Mayor and City Council -- plus how to register to vote and vote by mail in the November General Election – in a digital voters’ pamphlet that is now available.

As of Tuesday, Oct. 1, residents can find the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election Information pamphlet on the City’s website or pick up printed copies at Roseburg City Hall, the Roseburg Public Safety Center or Roseburg Public Library. Residents also may request a printed copy by contacting City Recorder Amy Nytes at 541-492-6866 or anytes@roseburgor.gov.

“I encourage voters to check out candidate’s statements to learn more about who’s running for office,” Nytes said.

Oregon holds only vote-by-mail elections. Registered voters can expect to see election ballots appear in their mailboxes about two weeks before the Tuesday, Nov. 5, General Election. The General Election Information pamphlet produced by the City may be the only place where voters find candidate statements.

Candidates for mayor and City Council run only in the November General Election and not in a Roseburg Primary Election. Winning candidates will take the oath of office and begin serving in January 2025.

The following offices are up for election:

Mayor – Two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026;

Councilor, Ward 1, Position 2 – Four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2028;

Councilor, Ward 2, Position 2 – Four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2028;

Councilor, Ward 3, Position 2 – Four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2028;

Councilor, Ward 4, Position 2 – Four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2028.

Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich has qualified with enough voter signatures to run on the General Election ballot. He’s running unopposed, although another Roseburg resident briefly considered throwing her hat in the ring. However, opponents will face three current City Councilors. A fourth, Councilor Patrice Sipos, is not running for re-election.

The following people have qualified to run for City Council on Nov. 5: In Ward 1, Councilor David Mohr and challenger Katie Williams, owner of Stinky Dog Grooming; in Ward 2, Councilor Andrea Zielinski and Roseburg Public Schools Board Member Steve Hammerson; in Ward 3, Councilor Tom Michalek and adventure elopement photographer Sam Starns; in Ward 4, Glide Elementary School teacher Blake Mecham and business owner Zack Weiss.

Qualifying to run for Roseburg mayor or City Council involves a multi-step process. Candidates must have lived in Roseburg at least a year prior to filing. Candidates for mayor must get 50 signatures from registered Roseburg voters on their nomination petition. Candidates for City Council must get 20 signatures from registered voters living in their ward.

Once candidates turn in nomination petitions and voter signatures, the city recorder verifies petitions were filled out correctly and submits petitions to the Douglas County Elections Division so signatures can be verified.

Residents who are at least 18 but not already registered to vote must have registered by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, to vote in the upcoming election. Learn more about registering to vote from the Oregon Secretary of State website.

Nytes advises voters to check the status of your voter registration online or with the county clerk and make sure your address is current – especially if you don’t get a ballot in the mail. If the county needs to verify your signature, they will mail a letter to your last known address. The signature on your election ballot needs to match the signature on your voter registration, Nytes added.

Candidates must follow Oregon state law (ORS 377.720) and the Roseburg Municipal Code to legally post campaign signs in the 90-day period before the general election. By law, campaign signs can be up through Friday, Nov. 8 – three days after the election. Campaign signs must adhere to these rules:

• Signs must not be placed on sidewalks or any other public right-of-way, which is generally the area from the street to the property line and can include sidewalk, grass, gravel, a planting strip, etc.;

• Signs should be no more than 32 square feet and the entire campaign message must be contained on one sign;

• Permission from the property owner is required to post signs on private property;

• Signs are not allowed on or within:

• public parks;
• utility poles;
• bridges or other scenic areas;
• fences, trees or other publicly posted signs.

Report potentially illegal signs as soon as possible to the Roseburg Public Works Department at pwd@roseburgor.gov or 541-492-6730. Signs found to be violating state law or City Code will be removed and stored at the Roseburg Public Works Shop, 425 NE Fulton St., for 10 days so owners can collect them.

Candidates also must adhere to state law by filing campaign finance reports online with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Learn more about campaign finance reporting deadlines and other requirements in the Secretary of State’s online 2024 Campaign Finance Manual.

Nytes encourages Roseburg voters to vote by mail or drop off ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day Nov. 5.