Elgin ballot measures could reshape city leadership and elections

Elgin voters could be asked to redraw the lines of power at City Hall with three charter amendments that touch elections, committee appointments and the city administrator’s role. The city posted ballot-title notices on June 18, after the city attorney delivered the titles to City Administrator Alex McHaddad on June 17, putting the measures on track for the November 2026 ballot.

Resolution 18 would be the most visible change for anyone thinking about running for office. It would extend Elgin’s candidate filing period from three weeks to 12 weeks, a move the city says would bring its window in line with other Oregon cities. In practical terms, that would give would-be candidates far more time to gather signatures, line up supporters and decide whether to enter a race. Oregon election materials say city elections officials serve as the filing officers for city candidates, so the proposal would change how long Elgin residents have to get their paperwork in order before a local campaign can begin.

The other two measures would shift authority deeper inside City Hall. Resolution 17 would give the mayor power to appoint and remove all city committee members, with a vote of the council. That is a broader grant of power than the language quoted in a 2024 council resolution, which said the mayor appoints council members to committees provided for by council rules. If voters approve Resolution 17, the mayor’s influence would reach beyond council assignments and into the full structure of committee membership.

Resolution 16 would alter the city administrator selection process and responsibilities. The city’s summary says the mayor would appoint and remove the city administrator, with council approval, as specified by contract. That would mark a major shift in a job that Elgin’s charter describes as exercising administrative authority for day-to-day city functions under the general direction of the Common Council. A 2024 resolution also noted that voters had already adopted Measure 31-07, renaming the office from Recorder/Administrator to City Administrator.

Residents who want to challenge any of the ballot titles have until 5:00 p.m. on July 1, 2026, to file a petition for judicial review in Union County Circuit Court. They must also notify the city administrator in writing by 5:00 p.m. the next business day after filing. Elgin City Council meetings are held every second Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 790 S 8th Avenue, and City Hall is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The notices leave voters with a clear choice this fall: keep the current balance of power, or hand the mayor and council a more centralized structure for running the city.