City Council Elections

Any qualified elector who has lived in the City for at least one year (determined by voter registration) may run for the Mayoral seat or City Council by one of the following ways: 

1. Sign a declaration of candidacy and pay a $10.00 fee to the City at the time of filing; or

2. File a petition with no less than 10 and no more than 20 signatures from registered, eligible Sweet Home voters than can be verified with the County.

By SHMC 2.04.030, both options must be done no earlier than 100 days and no later than 64 days before the election date.

No. The City of Sweet Home's elected officials are all elected at large; any person who meets the residency requirements may run for any vacant seat, and every elected official represents every Sweet Home voter.

Sweet Home uses a Council-Manager form of government, in which the Mayor and Council provide policy direction and the City Manager is responsible for operational decisions to support those policies. Sweet Home also has a "weak" Mayor system in the sense that the Mayor does not have significantly more power than Councilors and votes as a Councilor. However, the Mayor does have a few additional duties as outlined below.

The Sweet Home Charter and City Council Rules provide guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the Mayor and Councilors. Some of the most important duties of the entire City Council are to provide policy direction; to recommend, review, and approve changes to the City's Municipal Code; and to approve the annual City budget. Additional Mayoral duties include:

• Serving as Chairperson of Council meetings in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order

• Appointment of various committees provided for under Council Rules

• Signing Ordinances

• Signing City-issued checks

The League of Oregon Cities (LOC) also has a helpful guide that provides a general overview of what to expect as a candidate and elected official. We also have an online City Council Handbook with many resources and links to information.

Councilors are elected to four-year terms; the Mayor is elected to a two-year term. Terms are staggered so that three Councilors' terms expire in every election cycle.

The Mayor and Council receive a small monthly stipend for their service. The Mayor receives $200 monthly and Councilors receive $150 monthly per Resolution No. 14 for 2023.

City Council is required by Charter to meet at least monthly, and typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM. There may also be Work Sessions and Executive Sessions where attendance is expected, which are generally scheduled before the 6:30 PM meeting when possible. Councilors also usually serve as a liaison to at least one City Committee or partner agency, with meetings once a month on average and typically during normal business hours. Elected officials should expect to attend at least three public meetings per month.

No. State law prohibits you from running for multiple City offices at one time. However, a mid-term Councilor may run for Mayor without vacating their seat to run. If they win the Mayoral race, they will vacate the Council seat.

All elected officials will receive training after every election to help them with an overview of the City, Council duties and expectations, legal responsibilities, and more.

The Council Handbook is also a valuable resource, and watching past City Council meetings is a great way to familiarize yourself with how meetings are run.

The City of Sweet Home is planning to publish an electronic voters' pamphlet for the November 2026; all candidates who file will be contacted after the filing period closes and given the opportunity to participate and the pamphlet will be posted on our website. Beyond that, it is the responsibility of each person running for office to conduct their campaign as they see fit, including their public outreach efforts. Try contacting the candidate directly or via any campaign materials that are publicly available if you have questions. There are also publications which may have candidate information, such as The New Era, the League of Women Voters, or the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet.

Mayor and Councilor seats are non-partisan; candidates will not have a political affiliation on the ballot.

Sweet Home Municipal Code requires residency for Council candidates. This ensures that elected officials have a daily vested interest in the proceedings of the City.

In Sweet Home, political signs are considered temporary signs. In residential zones, they cannot exceed six square feet in total area and they must be removed within 60 days of placement; regulations in commercial zones vary depending on the property so please check our code.

ODOT regulates signage along state highways; please be sure to review their requirements if placing signs along Highway 20/Main Street.

All issues and questions related to your ballot must be handled by Linn County Elections. You can call their office at 541-967-3831 or visit them at 421 Water Ave NE, Albany, OR 97321.