Damascus, Oregon is a small city located in Clackamas County, just 16 miles east of Portland. With a population of around 10,000 people, it may seem like a quiet and unassuming place. However, the governance of Damascus is anything but simple. In fact, the city has faced numerous challenges and controversies in recent years, particularly when it comes to the election of city officials.
The City Charter
In order to understand how city officials are elected in Damascus, it's important to first look at the city's charter.A city charter is essentially a constitution for a municipality, outlining its structure and governing principles. The Damascus City Charter was first adopted in 2004 and has since been amended several times. One of the key aspects of the charter is its form of government. Damascus operates under a council-manager form of government, which means that the city council is responsible for making policy decisions and the city manager is responsible for implementing those decisions and managing day-to-day operations. Under this form of government, the city council is made up of five members who are elected by the residents of Damascus. These members serve staggered four-year terms, with elections held every two years.
This means that only three council positions are up for election at any given time.
The Election Process
So how exactly are these council members elected? The process begins with candidates filing for office during a designated filing period. In order to be eligible to run for city council in Damascus, candidates must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the city for at least one year prior to the election, and a registered voter. Once candidates have filed for office, they must then campaign and garner support from the community. This can include attending candidate forums, creating campaign materials, and reaching out to potential voters. In addition, candidates must also comply with campaign finance laws and report any contributions or expenditures. On election day, residents of Damascus can cast their votes for their preferred candidates.The top three vote-getters will then be elected to the city council. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by a coin toss.
Challenges and Controversies
While the election process may seem straightforward, it has been anything but in Damascus. In fact, the city has faced numerous challenges and controversies when it comes to electing city officials. One of the main issues has been the lack of candidates running for office. In some cases, there have been fewer candidates than open positions on the city council.This has led to uncontested races and even vacant seats on the council. In 2016, for example, only two candidates filed for three open positions on the council, leaving one seat empty until a special election was held in 2017. In addition, there have been concerns about the fairness and transparency of the election process. Some residents have alleged that certain candidates have received preferential treatment from city officials or that campaign finance laws have been violated. These controversies have led to legal challenges and even recalls of elected officials.
The Future of Governance in Damascus
Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to improve the governance of Damascus.In 2018, a new city charter was adopted by voters which changed the form of government from council-manager to mayor-council. Under this new system, a mayor will be directly elected by residents and will serve as both the head of the city council and the chief executive officer of the city. In addition, the city has also implemented new measures to increase transparency and accountability in the election process. This includes creating an independent elections officer and establishing a code of conduct for candidates and elected officials.
