McHaddad: Union County League of Women Voters is Rocking 2026

This week I participated in a campaign forum in La Grande host by the Union County League of Women Voters. As the City Administrator of Elgin, I was there to discuss three City ballot measures:

• 31-124: Make the City Administrator appointed by the City Council, versus elected.
• 31-125: Give the Mayor the responsibility to appoint all City committee members with a vote of the City Council, versus only giving the Mayor the authority to appoint and remove Councilors from City committees at will.
• 31-126: Make the City candidate filing period 12 weeks, versus roughly 2.5 weeks.

The League asked important questions about Elgin’s ballot measures, including what problems an appointed versus elected City Administrator position was trying to solve, and whether the Mayor would be given more power if Charter reforms passed. I also got to highlight the City’s Charter review process, where a committee chaired by former City Councilor Mary West solicited public feedback over a string of meetings. Attendees also got to hear about the City of La Grande’s ballot measures, as well as questions for Commissioner-elect Cory Miller along with Commissioner candidates Matt Scarfo and Donna Beverage.

This is exactly what the League excels at, and it is exactly what local communities need during election season. Rural areas do not benefit from running big flashy ads on Portland TV stations, paying for an audience of millions to pass a ballot measure in a town with 1,800 residents. Out here in Eastern Oregon, we like people to meet us on our turf, look us in the eye, and ask for our vote. With dozens and dozens of elected positions across Union County where both candidates and voters work full time, knocking and doors and making phone calls is not always convenient, and these forums are vital to bring people together to learn about our ballots. Special recognition goes out to Union County LWV leader Kathleen Cathey, who retired from a fruitful career of public service to Union County residents working for Senator Ron Wyden and immediately went to work trying to continue that legacy. Keep up the good work, Union County League of Women Voters! I look forward to many great community forums in the future!

Watch the Forum on YouTube

The Elgin ballot measures segment starts at timestamp 8:06.

Editor’s Note

Right Now Oregon, LLC President Alex McHaddad is the City Administrator of Elgin, Oregon. His views are personal and do not reflect a policy or stance of the City of Elgin.