NOTICE OF BALLOT TITLE AND EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR MULTNOMAH COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT – TERM LIMITS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a ballot title and explanatory statement for a Multnomah County Charter Amendment has been filed with the Multnomah County Director of Elections to be referred to voters in Multnomah County, at the November 8, 2016 General Election. Any registered voter dissatisfied with the Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement may file a petition with the Multnomah County Circuit Court for review on or before 5:00 PM, August 16, 2016. Any person filing a challenge must also file a copy of the challenge with the Director of Elections, 1040 SE Morrison St., Portland, by the end of the next business day after the petition is filed with the Circuit Court.

Ballot Title:

Caption: Amends charter, extends term limits to three consecutive terms

Question: Should charter be amended to extend term limits to three consecutive four-year terms in any one office in 16 years?

Summary: The current Charter limits elected officers to two full consecutive four-year terms in any one elective county office in a 12 year period. The proposed amendment would allow elected officers to serve up to three full consecutive four-year terms in any one elective county office within a period of 16 years. The Charter would retain the provision stating that if an officer is elected or appointed to an elective county office for a term of less than four years, the time served does not count against the limitation on terms within any 16-year period.

Explanatory Statement:

The current Charter limits elected officers to two full consecutive four-year terms in any one elective county office in a 12 year period. The proposed amendment would allow elected officers to serve up to three full consecutive four-year terms in any one elective county office within a period of 16 years. The Charter would retain the provision stating that if an officer is elected or appointed to an elective county office for a term of less than four years, the time served does not count against the limitation on terms within any 16-year period.

Tim Scott, Multnomah County Director of Elections