McHaddad: So How Do We Get Term Limits in Union County?

I have been obsessed with public policy since elementary school, when a love of history convinced me that public service was the best way to get my name in the books. This obsession coalesced around local government when I was in college, where I learned about the rewarding impact that community leaders outside the spotlight. Holding these interests and living in northeast Oregon have led me toward a specific political opinion for over a decade: that Union County should have its own home rule charter.

Home rule is the idea that unless the federal and state governments have a say in a matter, local communities have the power to do what works for them. Every city in Oregon is a home rule city governed by its own city charter, which functions like a constitution. Barring any conflicts with the United States of America or State of Oregon, a city can act how it pleases. The City that I manage, Elgin, just had a public vote on our charter, and voters rejected an amendment to make the City Administrator appointed rather than elected like every other City, while also voting to adopt a 12-week filing period for City offices, like most other cities s in the Beaver State.

Counties in Oregon do not have home rule by default under the State Constitution. Home rule must be adopted by counties on an individual basis. Otherwise, counties have a nominal grant of statutory home rule from the Legislative Assembly, which legislators chip away at on every possible occasion.

Home rule charters establish the form of government for an individual county, including the size and powers of the board of commissioners. They can make certain elected positions appointed. And, unlike non-home rule counties, they can empower voters to enact otherwise unconstitutional term limits for County Commissioners.

There are two methods for initiating home rule. Voters can write their own charter and get signatures to put it on the ballot. This is a haphazard process that involves difficulty educating voters first on the merits of signing, and then on the appeal of actually passing it if it makes the ballot.

Method #2 is much simpler to initiate, even if it takes more steps. Advocates must collect signatures from a number of County registered voters equivalent to 4% of the number of people who voted in the last election for Governor. In Union County, that pool of voters is 12,643, and 4% of that number is 506. That’s it! 506 voters, and the following process automatically begins:

1. Once the county clerk verifies the signatures, a charter committee is officially appointed pursuant to ORS 203.740. The committee is made up of local electors tasked with drafting the proposed government structure. 

2. The committee drafts the charter text and must hold at least one formal public hearing to receive community input.

3. The finalized draft must be submitted to the county clerk at least 90 days prior to the target election date. The District Attorney prepares the ballot title, which is subject to standard public comment and court review.

4. The proposed charter is placed on the ballot and takes effect if approved by a simple majority of county electors voting on the measure. 

While this takes work, the public nature of this process makes for substantive debate. 506 interested citizens can mandate that Union County begin the home rule process, talking to community members as they go. Rather than chirping about politics in catty Facebook posts, advocates can engage in blunt but constructive discussions at public hearings. Supporters of home rule and opponents can make the case to voters once it makes the ballot. If the process starts now, Union County can vote on it during the 2028 Presidential election, when voter turnout is statistically highest. 

As a conservative, I am warily eyeing Salem with an expanded Democratic supermajority, worried about which unaffordable mandates the legislature will fling at my City Hall and business community next year. The more autonomy Union County has, the more empowered we are to fight back against onerous unfunded mandates from Salem. I will gladly sign and collect signatures for a home rule petition in Union County. Hopefully, advocates for a variety of local control measures will initiate this process. 506 signatures is a ridiculously low bar – but 506 signatures secures a necessary public process that can make Union County a better place for all of us. 

Editor’s Note

Right Now Oregon, LLC President Alex McHaddad was elected for a full term as City Administrator of Elgin, Oregon this year with 95% of the vote. His views are personal and do not reflect an official policy position of the City of Elgin.