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Council asks staff for more research on vacancy appointment rules; will not pursue charter change now
Summary
Council directed staff to research options for mayor and council vacancy appointments and did not advance a charter amendment now; members cited recent experience with rapid, successive elections and said more analysis is needed.
The Eugene City Council on Sept. 24 voted 8-0 to direct staff to prepare additional research on the mayor and council vacancy appointment process and agreed not to pursue a charter amendment on the topic at this time.
Councilors said the current charter language requires appointment within 90 days and contains timing rules tied to the municipal election calendar; that sequence has at times forced appointees to run in multiple elections in quick succession. Several councilors said the existing approach could be revised (for example, by changing when an appointee must next stand for election or aligning recall/special-election timing with regularly scheduled elections), but that the details are complex and warrant further analysis before placing a question before voters.
Council President Evans moved that staff perform additional research and to defer charter changes for now; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Staff noted the calendar and staffing constraints for drafting specific charter language in time for the May 26, 2026, ballot, but agreed to return with options for council deliberation.
