Elections

Candidate's Guide to Running for Local Office

From Eligibility to Election Day

Complete Guide for Molalla residents

Note: This information is an excerpt of the Candidate Information Packet (provided below in Supporting Documents)

City Council Election Information

In order to serve on the Molalla City Council, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Applicants are required to be a Clackamas County Registered Voter
Lived within Molalla City Limits prior one year prior to the election year

Should a candidate meet criteria and have interest in utilizing knowledge and experience to volunteer on the Molalla City Council, the City encourages candidates to read the Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials published by the League of Oregon Cities.

This brief publication provides valuable insights for individuals interested in serving on City Council. The Candidate Manual(PDF, 812KB) produced by the Secretary of State is included in the Supporting Documents; this resource can be a helpful guide through the election process.

Election Forms & Resources

All the election forms referenced herein can be found in Supporting Documents and downloaded for convenience. Paper copies are available at Molalla City Hall.

Additionally, candidates are welcomed and encouraged to attend City Council meetings in order to observe and understand how the meetings work, including Council's role and responsibilities. Visit the City Council for more information on the expectations and functions of the City Council.

Applicants may find examples of how to complete the SEL 102 and SEL 121 forms below to help with application.

Candidates receiving the highest number of notes on the ballot will fill the positions.

Important Dates

June 5th: First day to file nomination papers with the city elections officer.
Important: Signature sheets must be approved before being circulated.

August 20th: City Hall deadline to submit signatures for verification to the City Elections Officer.
Important: The Elections Officer takes signature sheets to Clackamas County Elections Office for verification. Please allow for travel and processing time.

August 27th: Last day to file nomination papers with the City Elections Officer. Due at 9am.
Important: Signatures must be verified by the county elections office by 5 p.m. on this day.

August 29th: Last day for candidates to file voters’ pamphlet statements with the Clackamas County Elections Office.

August 30th: Last day to withdraw candidacy.

Forms can be downloaded (see Supporting Documents ) or picked up in-person at: (Please note: the City of Molalla does not charge a fee for filing candidate application.)

Molalla City Hall
117 N. Molalla Avenue
Molalla, OR, 97038

How to File for Candidacy by Petition

Step 1: File Nomination Papers

Candidate nomination papers must be filed with the:

City Recorder

Forms SEL101 and SEL121 must be approved in writing by the City Elections Officer before circulating. Failure to obtain approval will result in the rejection of signature sheets. Each candidate must determine in advance which position they plan to run for.

Form SEL101: Candidate Filing(PDF, 230KB)
Form SEL121: Candidate Signature Sheet – Nonpartisan(PDF, 662KB)

A candidate may submit the SEL101 and SEL121 forms (with only the top portion of SEL121 completed) to the City Elections Officer (By June 5th of an Election Year when position vacancy is available) in-person at:

Molalla City Hall
117 N. Molalla Avenue
Molalla, OR 97038

A sample of the SEL101 and SEL121 forms is available on the City website.

Step 2: Get Approval to Collect Signatures

Once the City Elections Officer verifies eligibility, a Letter of Approval will be sent, allowing a candidate to begin collecting signatures.

Do NOT begin collecting signatures until Letter of Approval has been received.

Step 3: Collect Signatures

In reference to Form SEL 121, candidates must obtain a minimum of 20 signatures from registered voters who reside within Molalla City limits.

Please note: It is advisable to gather additional signatures in case some are deemed invalid (example of an invalid signature: the signer is not a registered voter or resides outside the City limits).

Step 4: Submit Signature Pages for Verification

Once a candidate has collected the required signatures, submit those signatures for review, and submitting Form SEL 338, to the City Elections Officer. The Elections Officer will send them to the Clackamas County Elections Office for verification.

If a candidate does not gather enough valid signatures, candidate may continue collecting additional signatures until the filing deadline.

If the submitted signatures are verified and confirmed as valid, the candidate's name will be submitted to the County Clerk to appear on the ballot. A confirmation notice will then be sent by the City Elections Officer to the candidate.

Step 5: Campaign

Once signatures are verified, candidates may begin their campaigns. This includes reaching out to voters, speaking at community groups, and engaging with neighbors. Campaigning does not require significant funding—time, effort, and passion is all a candidate needs to listen to the community.

Should a candidate choose to set up a campaign fund (Original website says to see step 5 - no step 5?)
Should a candidate distribute campaign signs, be sure to check the guidelines on Political Sign located in Candidates Election Packet