Candidate filing period closes

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg City Council races will see competition in November after a large field of candidates have qualified to run.

Two candidates had qualified to run in all of the city’s four wards when the candidate filing period closed Tuesday, Aug. 27. Each city ward has one seat up for election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

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. That person registered to run, picked up forms from City Recorder Amy Nytes on Friday, Aug. 23, and began gathering voter signatures. But she notified the city recorder she was discontinuing the effort on Monday, Aug. 26, and did not turn in signatures.

Opponents will face three current City Councilors. A fourth, Councilor Patrice Sipos, is not running for re-election.

“I think the more candidates, the better,” said Nytes. “It’s good that we have people willing to serve.”

Candidates for mayor and 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.

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, have qualified. In Ward 2, Councilor Andrea Zielinski and Roseburg Public Schools Board Member Steve Hammerson have qualified. In Ward 3, Councilor Tom Michalek and adventure elopement photographer Sam Starns have qualified. In Ward 4, Glide Elementary School teacher Blake Meacham and business owner Zack Weiss have qualified.

City candidates will have a chance to submit candidate statements that will be included in a voter’s pamphlet posted online in October so voters can learn more about each candidate. Candidates have until Friday, Aug. 30, to withdraw.

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.

“To me, it’s a privilege to be able to vote. Not everybody can vote,” she said. “Exercise your right to vote. Let your voice be heard.”