City of Gresham - Measure 26-136

BALLOT TITLE

NONPARTISAN ELECTED OFFICIALS: CITY OF GRESHAM CHARTER AMENDMENT

QUESTION:Shall the Charter be amended to require all elections for city offices be nonpartisan?

SUMMARY:This measure would amend the Gresham Charter to require that all elections for city offices be nonpartisan.

This measure would take effect when approved by at least sixty percent (60%) of the votes cast for or against this measure.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Gresham Charter is the constitution of the City of Gresham. The current Charter was adopted in 1978 and last amended by Gresham voters in 2004. The Charter requires City Council to appoint a charter review committee every eight years beginning in 2003. Seven community volunteers were appointed in 2011 to serve on the committee. This amendment was recommended by the committee and referred to the voters by the Gresham City Council.

This measure would amend the Gresham Charter to require that all elections for city offices be nonpartisan. Local government elections in Oregon are traditionally nonpartisan. “All elections for city offices must be nonpartisan” is part of the Model Charter of the League of Oregon Cities.

If amended, Section 7 of the Gresham Charter would read:

CITY COUNCIL. The council shall consist of a mayor and six councilors elected from the city at large. All elections for city offices must be nonpartisan.
(New text is underlined)

This measure would take effect when approved by at least sixty percent (60%) of the votes cast for or against this measure.

For more information go to http://greshamoregon.gov/charterreview

Submitted by:

Susanjoy Baskoro,
City Recorder
City of Gresham

No arguments FOR or AGAINST this measure were filed.