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Sweet Home council moves to advance petition to put elected mayor question before voters
Summary
During a work session the Sweet Home City Council reached a consensus to place proposed charter language on the Feb. 25 regular meeting agenda for possible referral to the ballot that would make the mayor an elected position, while discussing timelines, signature requirements and election costs.
The Sweet Home City Council agreed during a Feb. 11 work session to advance a proposed charter amendment to its Feb. 25 regular meeting for a resolution that could send a question to voters on whether the mayor should be elected directly by residents.
City staff summarized three parallel paths to amend the city charter — a direct council referral, a citizen petition and review by the citys Charter Review Committee — and told councilors the petition already on file cannot meet the deadlines to reach the May ballot.
Cecily (staff member) explained the timeline: a petition was filed Feb. 4 and now is in a seven-day challenge period; petitioners may submit signature sheets after Feb. 14, but Linn County elections requires about 30 days to verify signatures, and that delay makes the petition too late for the upcoming May ballot. Cecily said, "based on the timeline... it's not possible for the petition to make it to the May ballot." She also told councilors that Oregon law requires signature thresholds equal to 15% of registered voters at the time the…
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